Paul Gilbert – WROC
Release Date: 27th February 2026
Label: Music Theories Recordings
Bandcamp
Genre: Hard Rock
FFO: Mr. Big, Racer X, Van Halen, Cheap Trick.
Review By: Eric Wilt
Paul Gilbert is a mad genius, and with WROC, he is combining both aspects of that description in a way that few artists before him have been able to do. A peerless guitarist, the genius part is simple for Gilbert, or at least he has made it seem so over the years on his releases with Mr. Big and Racer X and on his solo work. As for the mad part, WROC sees Gilbert take inspiration for the lyrics from a guide to etiquette that George Washington had a hand in proliferating. The acronym stands for Washington’s Rules of Civility, and it is every bit as wacky as it sounds. While the lyrics on WROC come across as a silly joke, the music on the album is anything but. Enlisting the help of Nick D’Virgilio on drums, Doug Rappoport on guitar, and Timmer Blakely on bass, Gilbert has recorded a masterclass in guitar-driven rock.
If you’ve watched any of the videos released in advance of the album, you’ve seen Gilbert in period-accurate clothes wielding one of a handful of Ibanez’s and the band in action just as they were for the recording of the album. WROC was recorded live over the course of four days, and the songs definitely have that spontaneous feel that you would expect of songs recorded live. Musically, WROC is filled with everything you’d want from a Paul Gilbert album and more. From hard rock to classic rock to punk to blues to pop, Gilbert feasts on a buffet of genres throughout the 13 tracks on WROC. The only issue I have with the album, and it’s a small one, is that hearing Gilbert sing these songs, when I’m used to hearing Eric Martin’s angelic voice accompany his guitar licks, is just a bit of a letdown. Not that Gilbert is a bad singer, but he’s no Eric Martin. As a side note about vocals, Nick D. has a wonderful voice, and it sounds like he backs up Gilbert on the harmonies.
Overall, WROC is as fun and enjoyable as you’d expect a Paul Gilbert album to be. The music is top-notch, and singing along with these ridiculous lyrics is a hoot. His first solo album featuring vocals since 2016, WROC is a great addition to Gilbert’s discography, and fans will love hearing him have such a good time.
(4 / 5)
