Joe Bonamassa Releases Breakthrough, His Most Propulsive, Striking Album Yet
Blues-rock powerhouse Joe Bonamassa has officially released his brand-new studio album Breakthrough, out today via J&R Adventures. Marking his most stylistically diverse and emotionally resonant effort to date, the 10-track LP spans genre and geography, blending global influences with deeply personal songwriting and, of course, Bonamassa's signature guitar mastery.
To coincide with the album launch, Bonamassa has also released the record’s latest single, “Broken Record” – a haunting, slow-burning meditation on resilience, reflection, and the emotional weight of long roads traveled. With its brooding arrangement and introspective lyrics, the track reveals another side of Bonamassa’s ever-evolving artistry: “I’ve been lost in the wilderness / For too long, too long / Singing the same old song.”
Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, Journey, The Black Crowes), Breakthrough was recorded across Los Angeles, Nashville, and Greece. It captures Bonamassa at his most fearless, venturing beyond his blues roots and leaning fully into a wide-open palette of sound and story. From Texas swing and singer-songwriter intimacy to swaggering rock and funky soul, the album brings together everything he’s honed over more than 50 releases.
Reviews for Breakthrough have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising both its artistic range and emotional depth. Premier Guitar featured Bonamassa on its cover and called Breakthrough a “full-hearted essay in expressive playing and singing,” noting the album’s balance between “hard-edged, riff-driven” rock and “classic soul-pop.” Blues Rock Review awarded it 9.5/10 stars, calling it “an amazing record that promises to become a classic” and highlighting its “immaculate collection of timeless music.” Cryptic Rock called it “a decisive, intentional, forward-looking statement” and praised its “richly diverse sound.” At the same time, Rock and Blues Muse hailed it as “another keeper” and “one of Bonamassa’s finest.”
