Description
Steve Vai – Sex & Religion – Compact Disc
Steve Vai’s Sex & Religion, released on July 27, 1993, is a bold and eclectic departure from his previous instrumental work, featuring a full band and a vocal-centric approach. Teaming up with vocalist Devin Townsend, bassist T.M. Stevens, and drummer Terry Bozzio, Vai created an album that blends progressive metal, hard rock, and experimental elements with philosophical and spiritual themes. While the album divided fans and critics upon release, it has since gained a reputation as one of Vai’s most ambitious and polarizing projects.
Coming off the success of his groundbreaking instrumental album Passion and Warfare (1990), Vai sought to explore new creative directions. For Sex & Religion, he assembled a supergroup of virtuoso musicians, including the then-unknown Devin Townsend, whose aggressive vocal style brought an edge to Vai’s intricate compositions. The result was an album that combined Vai’s signature guitar virtuosity with a heavier, more vocal-driven sound, breaking from the purely instrumental format that had defined much of his solo career.
The album’s title reflects its central themes of human connection, spirituality, and existential exploration, topics that Vai has often explored in his work.
Sex & Religion fuses Vai’s trademark guitar wizardry with progressive metal, alternative rock, and avant-garde influences. The production is layered and intricate, with Vai’s expressive guitar work weaving through Townsend’s powerful and dynamic vocals. Bozzio’s complex drumming and Stevens’s groovy basslines provide a muscular and versatile rhythm section, grounding the album’s experimental tendencies.
Track Highlights
An Earth Dweller’s Return
The album opens with an atmospheric intro, setting a dramatic and otherworldly tone that hints at the philosophical themes to come.
Here & Now
A high-energy track that showcases Townsend’s aggressive vocals paired with Vai’s intricate guitar riffs and solos. The song reflects the album’s theme of living in the moment.
In My Dreams with You
A melodic and accessible track that features a strong chorus and a balance between Vai’s guitar virtuosity and Townsend’s emotive delivery.
Still My Bleeding Heart
A power ballad with soaring guitar melodies and deeply emotional lyrics, highlighting Vai’s ability to blend technicality with heartfelt expression.
Sex & Religion
The title track is a fast-paced and chaotic song with provocative lyrics and intense vocal delivery, challenging societal norms and exploring spiritual conflicts.
Dirty Black Hole
A dark and heavy track that combines aggressive riffs with Townsend’s raw and theatrical vocal performance, embodying the album’s edgier side.
Survive
A dynamic and anthemic song with an uplifting message of resilience and self-discovery, driven by Vai’s intricate guitar work.
Pig
A complex and experimental piece that blends unconventional time signatures and avant-garde textures, reflecting Vai’s willingness to push boundaries.
Touching Tongues
A sensual and atmospheric track that features Vai’s expressive guitar phrasing, evoking intimacy and connection without words.
Rescue Me or Bury Me
The album’s climactic track, combining dramatic shifts in tone and intensity. Townsend’s emotional delivery and Vai’s sweeping solos create a powerful closing statement.
Sex & Religion explores themes of spirituality, human connection, self-reflection, and societal norms. The album’s lyrics, often delivered with Townsend’s raw intensity, question morality, purpose, and the human experience. Vai’s compositions reflect these themes, alternating between moments of aggression, introspection, and transcendence.
Upon its release, Sex & Religion received mixed reviews. Some critics and fans appreciated Vai’s willingness to experiment and incorporate vocals, while others were disappointed by the departure from his instrumental focus. Despite its polarizing reception, the album peaked at No. 48 on the Billboard 200, and songs like ‘In My Dreams with You’ received radio play and attention on MTV.
The album has been re-evaluated as a daring and innovative project, with Townsend’s contributions in particular gaining recognition as a precursor to his later success as a solo artist and with Strapping Young Lad.
Sex & Religion is often viewed as a transitional album in Vai’s career, showcasing his desire to challenge himself and explore new artistic territory. The collaboration with Devin Townsend introduced a new generation to Vai’s music and highlighted the potential of combining virtuosic musicianship with powerful vocals.
The album’s experimental nature and philosophical themes have influenced progressive metal and rock artists who aim to balance technical skill with deeper artistic expression.
Sex & Religion is a bold and unconventional entry in Steve Vai’s discography, blending virtuosic guitar work with thought-provoking themes and dynamic vocal performances. While it may not have achieved the widespread acclaim of Passion and Warfare, the album stands as a testament to Vai’s creativity and willingness to take risks. For listeners who appreciate genre-defying music and ambitious concepts, Sex & Religion offers a unique and rewarding experience.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic sealed
Track Listing
An Earth Dweller’s Return
Here & Now
In My Dreams With You
Still My Bleeding Heart
Sex & Religion
Dirty Black Hole
Touching Tongues
State Of Grace
Survive
Pig
The Road To Mt. Calvary
Down Deep Into The Pain
Rescue Me Or Bury Me
