Across the Ages

Hey there Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew has been cranking up the vinyl and digital spins on this one lately, and "Across the Ages" by Vinnie Moore off the Soul Shifter album is hitting that sweet spot where the frets just sing with that freeform rock energy we dig around here at THE ZOO. This closer from his 2019 instrumental outing wraps the whole record in a straight-ahead hard-rock groove that feels like a long highway ride at dusk, with Moore's leads cutting through like headlights on a desert stretch. Reviews over the years have called it out as the epic rock landscape that seals the deal, packing the kind of heaviness he often brings with UFO alongside those delicate, almost dewy moments of clarity that make the notes hang in the air. One write-up even pegged the whole disc as possibly the best instrumental set of its release year, and this track earns its place by blending melodic guitar work with a tight rhythm section that keeps the engine humming without ever feeling forced.

Moore has talked in interviews about how Soul Shifter came together differently from his earlier stuff, started a couple of years before it dropped on his own Mind's Eye Music label, worked on religiously between those extensive UFO tours that took him all over the planet. He described the album as likely the most emotional and soulful thing he has ever done, very moody with lots of feel, mixing upbeat energetic songs against more ballad-like soulful ones, plus some jam elements thrown in. The man never sits down with a plan when he writes; he just picks up the guitar and lets it flow out, recording ideas as they come and building from there. That approach shows in "Across the Ages," where John Pessoni handles the drums and Randy McStine locks in the bass—both of them getting their second credits on the record—while Moore layers guitars and some synths to create that journey-across-time vibe the title suggests. Fans and critics have noted how the track proves he can stand alongside the shred legends without losing that accessible emotional connection, more about crisp snapshots and heartfelt melody than grand cinematic constructions.

In conversations around the album's release, Moore emphasized the total freedom of solo work, the open canvas where he can paint with all his influences from rock to blues to be-bop to funk and beyond. He has always felt music deeply even before he played, and the guitar became his vehicle to express and release what is inside, channeling his soul into melodies and songs. That spirit comes through on the closer, which reviewers praised for its anthemic quality and the way it balances technical precision with genuine feel, something that rewards repeat listens as the whole record does. He has mentioned using a bunch of his Dean signature guitars on the sessions, with other instruments like a Les Paul or Strats for different melodic spots across the tracks, all recorded after tracking drums at Sound Spa Studios and finishing guitars and some bass at his own place. The contrast he aimed for—energetic versus soulful—makes "Across the Ages" feel like the perfect landing point, a hard-rock instrumental that carries the weight of his years on the road while staying true to that personal expression.

Turning to how Vinnie got started, the story goes back to New Castle, Delaware, where he was born in 1964. At age twelve he spotted a guitar in a JCPenney catalog, thought it looked pretty cool, and got it for Christmas—a Kay or Teisco model depending on the telling—and that was the spark. He has described becoming a guitar freak almost right away, though the first instrument almost made him quit because it was harder than expected. Influences hit hard early: Jeff Beck, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Queen, along with Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, and Brian May. He started lessons with Mary Biddle at a local music shop for the basics, then advanced to Nick Bucci, a local player who was studying jazz with Pat Martino and brought in theory, exercises, and a mix of rock and jazz that shaped the foundation. By fourteen he was in his first band, jamming covers with drums, bass, dual guitars, and vocals, before deciding to move from covering songs to creating his own.

That shift led him to a four-track recorder where he experimented by recording ideas and building them into full tunes, the real start of his journey as a songwriter. He sent demos off to Guitar Player magazine's Spotlight column run by Shrapnel Records guy Mike Varney, which brought national attention and his first professional gig writing and playing the music for a national Pepsi TV commercial—only his hands on screen while the guitar did the talking. From there the 1986 Mind's Eye album on Shrapnel became the breakout, hailed as best new talent in the guitar mags and selling over a hundred thousand copies, establishing him among the originators of that shred style. Later came time with Alice Cooper's band on the Hey Stoopid album and tour, opening for Rush with his own group, and eventually the long run with UFO that cemented his place in rock royalty. Through it all the obsession with the instrument stayed constant, practicing hard and letting the music own his soul the way he has put it.

You can dig deeper into Vinnie's world at his official site vinniemoore.com, where the news section has touched on tracks from Soul Shifter like the Kung Fu Grip video, and the about page lays out that early path from the first Kay guitar onward. Catch him on Facebook at Vinnie Moore Official, on Instagram over at @vinnie_moore_guitarist, and on X via @Vinnie_Moore, where the posts keep the solo and tour updates flowing. For the fans there is the active The Vinnie Moore Fan Group on Facebook at The Vinnie Moore Fan Group, a public spot where people swap stories, favorite albums, and gear talk around his work including the Soul Shifter era, plus the Official Fan Page at Vinnie Moore Official Fan Page that shares updates and reviews. The Zoo Crew keeps spinning these deep cuts and artist stories for all you Zoo Freaks, the way freeform rock radio ought to, connecting the notes across the ages with that biker-hippie spirit that never goes out of style.