Derek Sherinian’s Vortex—the follow up to 2020’s The Phoenix—will be available July 1 from InsideOut Music, and a new visualizer video for the title track has just been released.
Per a release to the press, “Vortex includes eight tracks built on [Sherinian’s] signature chameleonic sound that blends rock with elements of funk, prog, and jazz, which he started writing even before The Phoenix was finished.”
"Vortex is a continuation of The Phoenix," Sherinian states. "However, I feel the composition is stronger on the new album, and I would describe it as a modern day 70s style fusion record, but with newer heavier tonality."
For the album Sherinian recruited a who’s who of guitarists, some of which Sherinian has collaborated with before: Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather (Toto), Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), Sons of Apollo bandmate Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, plus a few new familiar faces in the likes of Michael Schenker, Mike Stern (Blood, Sweat & Tears, Miles Davis) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme).
“The choice of guitarist works itself out in the writing,” Sherinian explains. “Also, like in the case of Steve Stevens, we co-wrote the song together, so it was natural for him to play on it.” Of his new collaborators, he says of Bettencourt, who appears on the scratchy “Fire Horse,” “I have always been a fan of his playing, and I am glad that we finally got to record together. He has the Van Halen swing and swagger to his playing that I love.”
Here's more from the press release: “Derek Sherinian has more than made a name for himself. After all, MusicRadar.com deemed him ‘A true shredder, his virtuoso playing has seen him dubbed the keyboard-playing version of Eddie Van Halen,’ in 2020. Moreover, in 2021 he was voted Greatest Keyboardist of the 21st Century, and the eighth Greatest of All Time by the same site, and Prog Magazine saw him voted the ninth Greatest Keyboardist Ever. But then you don’t rack up a resumé such as his without some serious chops, having worked with the likes of Dream Theater, Black Country Communion, Billy Idol, and Whitesnake, with David Coverdale stating in 2020, ‘Derek plays like the son of Jon Lord (Deep Purple).’”
The track list for Vortex is as follows:
- "The Vortex" feat. Steve Stevens
- "Fire Horse" feat. Nuno Bettencourt
- "Scorpion"
- "Seven Seas" feat. Steve Stevens
- "Key Lime Blues" feat. Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather
- "Die Kobra" feat. Michael Schenker, Zakk Wylde
- "Nomad's Land" feat. Mike Stern
- "Aurora Australis" feat. Bumblefoot
