Progressive rock veterans Steve Hackett (Genesis) and Steve Rothery (Marillion) have officially announced their long-awaited collaborative instrumental album, The Roaring Waves. After years of anticipation, the record is set for release on August 28, 2026, through InsideOut Music.
Developed over nearly a decade, The Roaring Waves features seven instrumental compositions that blend cinematic soundscapes with more intimate passages. According to Hackett, the project grew into something that stands apart from the typical guitar collaboration.
“It’s not the kind of album that guitarists normally make together.”
Recording sessions took place intermittently at Racket Club and the pair’s home studios, with the music taking shape through improvisation, jam sessions and the exchange of ideas. That process allowed both musicians to build an album driven by chemistry and a shared musical vision.
The songs throughout The Roaring Waves lean into rich atmospheres and visual storytelling, encouraging listeners to create their own images as the music unfolds.
“You’re trying to create an atmosphere… like painting a picture,” says Rothery. “Taking people on a journey.”
The announcement also brings the release of the album’s first single, “The Black Sea”. The accompanying music video features Hackett and Rothery performing alongside collaborator Riccardo Romano, who co-wrote the album while also handling keyboards, bass and mixing duties, as well as drummer Leon Parr. The video was directed by Tim Sidwell.
Discussing the track, Rothery said: “I think ‘The Black Sea’ is the perfect introduction to the sonic world we’ve created between us. We have a very special chemistry.”
Hackett added: “For ‘The Black Sea’, our joint guitar sounds with the keys created a strong vibe of intrigue along with a sense of a musical dark sea adventure…”
Fans will be able to pre-order The Roaring Waves in several formats, including a limited CD/Blu-ray mediabook featuring Andy Bradfield‘s Dolby Atmos and high-resolution stereo mixes. The album will also be available as a standard CD and a gatefold 180-gram vinyl edition, cut at half speed at Abbey Road Studios by Miles Showell. Artwork and layout design for all editions were created by Simon Ward.
