In all honesty, when I received this particular album, it took me a little while to find the time to really sit down and listen to it. With so many guitarists releasing solo albums in 2010; Satriani, Bonamassa etc, I was slightly dubious as to whether Steve Senes would stand out from the rest, or simply blend into the background. As it turns out, my relaxed and laid back attitude was very wrong and after listening to ‘De-Evolution Of Theory’, it is no wonder that Steve secured himself Guitar Player Magazines’ Superstar 2009.  Furthermore, this isn’t your average solo album, as it is completely self written, performed, produced, engineered and mixed by Steve.
It is often hard to put into words just what a guitarist on this level is able to offer musically, but let me assure you one thing; once you hear the opening track ‘The Swami’, you will undoubtedly by hooked on the magic of Senes. Exploring scales and melodies on numerous levels and screaming through a range of musical genres, the fretboard is truly warmed up at the hands of Steve. If you are reading this review and have never really found instrumental releases worthy of your time, you will find enough content hear to forget your longing for vocals. This is a body of work, not a slap dash three minute radio friendly piece of junk.
 ‘Ruth’ for example has a quality and zest surrounding it, akin to ballads of old, where layers of music is built up and harmonised beautifully. In many respect, this is more orchestral than simply an album showcasing the work of a supreme guitarist. Fear not my friends, Steve does light up the axe just in time for a heartfelt solo; whilst distorted elements stake their claim in the background. ‘Facecheck’ in contrast is like stepping back into the 80’s and 90’s where guitarists knew how to squeak and squeal, taking the listener by the balls and reminding them what it meant to be Rock and f**king roll! In fact, this particular example reminded me of my personal favourite guitarist Nuno Bettencourt (another very underrated and often overlooked musician).
 You might wonder why you have never heard of Steve before and quite simply it seems that although his contributions to music span many genres and artists, he has also been sadly overlooked. However, once De-Evolution of Theory makes its way into the homes of true musicians around the world, he will shine through. A great effort and worth getting hold of!
8/10

Review by Zorro

(Source: sonicshocks.com)