British band PRAYING MANTIS have a new album coming and a great new song out now. I got into this band around the time of 2000’s ‘Nowhere To Hide‘ album, and each studio release since then has been enjoyable. These guys may have been part of the NWOBHM, but they’re really more of a classic melodic-rock band/AOR with great songs, backing vocals and productions over the years. Praying Mantis has also had a cool history featuring bandmembers that went on to other well-known bands and those that have come from other classic bands, with alumni with ties to Iron Maiden, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, and more. The band has been lead since the beginning by brothers Tino & Chris Troy, and Defiance is the 4th PM studio record to feature the strong vocals of Jaycee Cuijpers, who also featured on Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution awesome ‘Golden Age Of Music‘ from last year. Aso in PM is longtime guitarist Andy Burgess (Paddy Goes To Holyhead), and drummer Hans in’t Zandt (Vengeance, Chinawhite). As always Praying Mantis’ album art awesome, looking forward to seeing the entire package. *For more info check out the press release below, as well as track-listing, tour dates, links – And the video for “Defiance”!
Praying Mantis, the iconic trailblazers of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), are delighted to announce the release of their first single, “Defiance” in conjunction with the unveiling of their highly anticipated 13th studio album.
The Album “Defiance” is set to drop on April 19, 2024 via Frontiers Music, marking a monumental milestone as the band commemorates its 50th Anniversary. Building on the success of their previous release, “Katharsis,” Praying Mantis continues to evolve their sound while staying true to their roots. Led by founding members and brothers Chris and Tino Troy, alongside vocalist Jaycee Cuijpers, drummer Hans in’t Zandt, and guitarist Andy Burgess, the band promises a collection of tracks that capture the essence of their legendary career.
“We’re thrilled to share the first single, ‘Defiance,’ with our fans,” says Chris Troy. “It sets the tone for what’s to come on the album—a perfect blend of classic Praying Mantis with a contemporary twist”.
The release of “Defiance” not only marks a new chapter for Praying Mantis but also serves as a testament to their enduring influence on the rock music scene. From powerful vocals to mesmerizing guitar riffs, the single encapsulates the band’s signature sound and unwavering spirit.
Originally named ‘Junction’, the band was formed in 1973 by brothers Tino (vocals/guitar) and Chris Troy (bass/vocals), later adding Steve Carroll (guitar/vocals) and Dave Potts (drums). Renamed ‘Praying Mantis’ in 1974, the band is a pioneering force in the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. With a career spanning five decades, the band has remained at the forefront of the rock music scene, influencing generations of musicians with their unique sound and unwavering dedication to their craft.
As Praying Mantis continues to push boundaries and defy expectations, “Defiance” stands as a testament to their enduring legacy in the world of rock music.
“Defiance” Tracklist:
1 From The Start
2 Defiance
3 Feelin’ Lucky
4 I Surrender
5 Forever In My Heart
6 Never Can Say Goodbye
7 One Heart
8 Give It Up
9 Nightswim
10 Standing Tall
11 Let’s See
Praying Mantis:
Chris Troy
Tino Troy
Jaycee Cuijpers
Hans in’t Zandt
Andy Burgess
Tour Dates:
19th-21st April – Silja Rock Cruise, Stockholm, Sweden
Legendary Rockers BLUE ÖYSTER CULT Share New Single “Don’t Come Running To Me”+ Music Video New Studio Album ‘Ghost Stories‘ due Out April 12th via Frontiers Music Srl. Pre-Order HERE
Legendary rockers BLUE ÖYSTER CULT share the second single from their upcoming release, ‘Ghost Stories,’ out April 12th on Frontiers Music Srl. The track, entitled “Don’t Come Running To Me,” is accompanied by a new music video.
After the resounding success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, ‘Ghost Stories‘ sees the band eagerly gearing up for an exciting new chapter in their storied career. This highly anticipated album marks a fitting finale to the recording legacy of one of rock’s most iconic fixtures from the past 50 years.
In partnership with Frontiers Music Srl, ‘Ghost Stories‘ will captivate fans with a collection of reimagined and completed songs that span from 1978-2016. These musical treasures, long considered the ‘lost gems’ by BLUE ÖYSTER CULT enthusiasts, were originally recorded between 1978 and 1983, except for one track from 2016, “If I Fell.” Also included is the only known recorded performance of their concert classic “Kick Out the Jams” (MC5 cover). Some of the material is from workshopping albums, some from performance rehearsals, and all were recorded once in the hopes that someday they’d see the light of day.
As BLUE ÖYSTER CULT embraces its ‘classic rock’ phenomenon status, the anticipation for this album is reaching a crescendo. Fans are eager to experience the culmination of the band’s artistic vision and witness the completion of songs that have become part of their folklore. The band will also add some of the songs in their up-and-coming 2024 shows.
With a legacy spanning over five decades, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT continues to be a formidable force in the classic rock scene. The exciting partnership with Frontiers Music Srl and the visionary leadership of Serafino Perugino add an extra layer of anticipation to the release of ‘Ghost Stories.’ As the band bids farewell to their recording career, they do so with a flourish, offering fans a musical odyssey that is sure to leave a lasting imprint on rock history. Truly, a remarkable journey.
Work in the studio for the album was completed by Richie Castellano along with remaining original members Eric Bloom and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and both Albert Bouchard and Rick Downey appear on drums with additional overdubs recorded by Joe Bouchard. All these original lineup members appearing on ‘Ghost Stories,’ create a musical journey that traverses decades and promises easter eggs for days.
George Geranios, the band’s original audio engineer and an integral part of the band’s golden years produced the tracks along with BÖC and all were originally recorded on reel-to-reel analog tape. He transferred them to digital audio which is when modern AI and magical musical talents meet and the collection of vintage multi-track recordings was de-mixed, re-mixed, and produced by Steve Schenck and Richie Castellano to become ‘Ghost Stories.’ The two explain the album’s amazing process HERE
Band Members & Credits:
Eric Bloom – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Albert Bouchard – Drums, Vocals
Joe Bouchard – Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals
Old Habits Die Hard is the fourteenth studio album from the legendary British AOR rock band, FM. The album is released by Frontiers Records on Friday May 3, 2024, and available to pre-order from https://orcd.co/oldhabitsdiehard.
The first single “Out of The Blue” is now available and is available on all streaming platforms from https://orcd.co/fmoutoftheblue.
Released to coincide with the band’s 40th Anniversary (1984 – 2024), vocalist, guitarist and founding member Steve Overland says, “the new album encompasses the best melodic elements of the band’s illustrious 40-year spanning career.
‘We really looked at what made the most popular FM albums great and tried to focus on that,” says Steve about the new album Old Habits Die Hard.
FM are known by many for their big choruses, twin lead guitars and Steve Overland’s intimate, yet powerful vocals, and clean guitar sound. Following 2022’s Thirteen album, Old Habits Die Hard was delayed slightly by keyboard player Jem Davis’ cancer diagnosis (thankfully he’s now received the all-clear) and then by the sudden passing of FM’s founding guitarist Chris Overland (Steve’s brother), which hit the band hard.
“Chris’s passing came out of the blue and it was devastating,” says Steve. To add insult to injury, close friend of the band and long-time collaborator of Jim Kirkpatrick, guitarist Bernie Marsden passed away just two days after Chris.
The tragedies that plagued the band through the recording process only reinforced FM’s resolve and desire to make the best album that they could to represent their 40 years in the business. The new album is also a fitting tribute to Chris Overland.
Over the past 12 months, during their extensive touring schedule, FM produced the album themselves and recorded the bulk of it at their own Dale View and Electric Pepperland recording studios.
Opening track and first single “Out of The Blue” was a song that originated from keyboard player Jem Davis. Says Jem, “the band love the music of Toto and Foreigner and so I tried to put those influences into one track. ‘Once Steve got involved and started singing it, I knew that we were onto something special.”
“Out Of the Blue is a song that old school FM fans will really latch on to,” says Steve. “So far, the reaction to the track has been amazing.”
The album continues with the rocker “Don’t Need Another Heartache” an AC/DC meets Foreigner anthem with an infectious chorus. ‘This song will probably be in the live set for the 40th anniversary tour as it’s one of our favorites from the album,” explains drummer and founder FM member, Pete Jupp.
“Whatever It Takes” and “No Easy Way Out” are typical FM melodic tracks and could fit seamlessly on to one of the bands earlier classic albums. Bass player and founder member Merv Goldsworthy explains, “No Easy way Out has the big typical FM chorus. It’s a massive hook. The kind of thing that we’ve become known for. It’s one of my favorites on the album.”
The heavier side of the album is represented by “Lost,” “Another Day in My World,” and “Leap of Faith.” Whilst more hard hitting, these songs embody the catchy melodic choruses that FM are known for.
“Cut Me Loose,” “California,” and “Blue Sky Mind” are poppier, more feelgood tracks. “Blue Sky Mind” was conceived again by keyboard player Jem Davis who originally wrote the song about his experience with his cancer diagnosis. ‘That song really was therapy for me. It was important that I got it out of my system and into music,” says Jem.
“Black Water” is a brooding, bluesy track that grows and grows. ‘This is a real favorite of mine,” says FM guitarist,Jim Kirkpatrick. “I could hear Brian May playing the guitar solo, so I pulled out my Brian May signature guitar and tried to do my best impersonation of him. Hopefully I got somewhere close.”
Track Listing 1. Out of the Blue 2. Don’t Need Another Heartache 3. No Easy Way Out 4. Lost 5. Whatever It Takes 6. Black Water 7. Cut Me Loose 8. Leap of Faith 9. California 10. Another Day in My World 11. Blue Sky Mind Production Credits Old Habits Die Hard Produced by FM, Mixed by Jeff Knowler, Mastered by Jim Griffiths at Principal Audio Photography by Paul Stuart Hollingsworth
Recorded at West3 Productions, Tremelo, Electric Pepperland, Morsecode Studios, JK Studios *All songs written by – Overland/Goldsworthy/Jupp/Davis/Kirkpatrick
SAXON have put out a new video for the track “Madame Guillotine”, taken from Hell, Fire And Damnation. The song is the 3rd single from the new album, and was co-written by Biff Byford and new guitarist Brian Tatler (Diamond Head) and it’s penned about the infamous torturing device, best known for its use in the French Revolution between 1789 and 1799.
“Both this and the title track songs are written by me and Brian actually, and this is very ‘Saxon’, so much as I don’t think anybody else could pull that off,” comments Byford. “I sung it as if the guillotine is a person, that the actual guillotine has a bit of a conscience. I love the groove, it’s got a great groove!”
Saxon are currently touring in support of the new album, with a co-headlining tour of the US (with Uriah Heep), starting next month.
AXEL RUDI PELL’s New Album ‘Risen Symbol’ to be released June 14, 2024, via Steamhammer/SPV
No doubt about it: The world would be a much poorer place without AXEL RUDI PELL! On his 22nd (!) studio album ‘Risen Symbol’, the Bochum-based guitarist and songwriter continues to fly the melodic hard rock flag without watering down his style with pseudo-modern stylistic variations or expendable studio gimmicks. At the same time, he is constantly looking for new influences, exciting inspirations, and catchy hooks. One of the best things about ARP’s anthems is that they are perfectly tailored to the charismatic voice of frontman Johnny Gioeli. The American vocalist is one of the most eminent rock singers worldwide and, together with PELL, former Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli, and the two longstanding ARP members Ferdy Doernberg (keyboards) and Volker Krawczak (bass), has been an integral part of a perfectly oiled machine for more than ten years, wowing fans and media alike.
‘Risen Symbol’ will be available on Steamhammer/SPV from June 14, 2024. For all those who can’t wait, 3 April 2024 will see the arrival of the lead single “Guardian Angel” followed on May 22, 2024, by “Darkest Hour”.
Track List:
1. The Resurrection (Intro)
2. Forever Strong
3. Guardian Angel
4. Immigrant Song
5. Darkest Hour
6. Ankhaia
7. Hell’s On Fire
8. Crying In Pain
9. Right On Track
10. Taken By Storm
‘Risen Symbol‘ will be released on June 14th, 2024
via Steamhammer/SPV in the following configurations:
Band: Johnny Gioeli – Lead and Backing Vocals, Axel Rudi Pell – Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Ferdy Doernberg – Keyboards, Volker Krawczak – Bass, Bobby Rondinelli – Drums
GRAND SLAM co-founding member Laurence Archer, and frontman Mike Dyer, make it extraordinarily clear that theirs has been a true journey of destiny, one where early unions ended up leaving unfinished business on the table, and one which finally sees GRAND SLAM attending to said business with the brand-new album ‘Wheel Of Fortune.’ Their story is one of persistence and craft, ensuring that the best elements of GRAND SLAM’s history were absorbed and fused with the experiences and drive of relationships stretching decades. However, do not make the mistake of thinking this is a band returning from a past: it’s a band fulfilling their present and future with willfulness and desire that permeate every song on ‘Wheel Of Fortune’, from Archer’s faultless, fearless fret-driven song architecture on “Spitfire” to Dyer’s swagger and style on “There Goes My Heart.” There are moments such as “Come Together (In Harlem)” where the moody strut of original co-founder Phil Lynott is unmistakable, yet the multi-layered steamy swing of “Pirate Song” makes it very clear where GRAND SLAM is coming from. “I want everybody to see this as a new band… and anybody that hasn’t heard GRAND SLAM since 1984, I want them to see this as a fresh invigoration of the project moving into the modern times.” – Laurence Archer Joined by Benjy Reid on drums and Rocky Newton on bass, some best-laid plans for the band’s rebirth were set for take-off until Covid-19 brought the world to a standstill (it is one of the main reasons ‘Hit The Ground’ will also be enjoying a 2024 release alongside ‘Wheel Of Fortune’). However, the creative fire and will to propel GRAND SLAM got stronger still. “We have a direction that is in my heart. It’s a tribal place. This band is something very special; I’m slightly biased I know, but God, I’m really proud of that.” – Mike Dyer Out now, “There Goes My Heart” is the first single to be released from GRAND SLAM’s brand new studio album, ‘Wheel Of Fortune.’ “Laurence sent me ‘There Goes My Heart’, and with total respect to Laurence, I’m not a man of ‘hearts’ in that sense,” chuckles Dyer. “So instead of singing about the ex, I twisted on it. It sounds like your heart, but what you’re singing about is your E-Type Jag. We shot the video for that in Spain, and that very much has a twist in it too.”
Video Directed, Produced and Edited by Paul M Green
‘Wheel Of Fortune‘ is a testimony to both Archer’s songwriting architecture and Dyer’s powerful love of language: he wastes no time sinking his teeth into the storytelling aspect of the songs, from WWII fighter pilots to ethereal reflections on lost loved ones and near-death experiences, Dyer is a supreme storyteller. “The way I look at it is that from writing those songs with Phil in 1984 to now, my writing style and the way I write, haven’t really changed that much,” offers Archer. “I’m not a shredder, I prefer to write songs and build that way. So, there’s that timeless continuity in how I write, fusing with all the experiences we’ve had as people over the years. “I put the basis of the song together, I have a rough melody line, I might write the chorus line, and I give that to Mike who goes away and comes back with his thing: it’s not my thing, it’s his thing and it just works! His vocal tone – his ability – fits everything that I write.” ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ will be released in digital and physical formats on June 7th. The album will be available in a variety of formats and pre-orders can be placed HERE
GRAND SLAM will also re-release their debut album ‘Hit The Ground.’ Originally released in 2019, the record has been given a makeover. “I stopped playing for a while and started a film career,” recounts Archer of ‘Hit The Ground.’ “ In 2018 I was working on location in Guadalupe, and I arrived at the decision to record the GRAND SLAM songs properly, because essentially, what has been out there has not really been representative of what we did back then. Phil and I had done some work-in-progress demos in his backyard studio, and unfortunately, someone stole them and released them. So, it’s always been a goal of mine to re-visit those songs and do them properly, and I had been thinking about showcasing them fittingly for over 30 years, instead of hearing these horrible demos that people put out.” Re-mixed, re-mastered, and featuring new artwork, ‘Hit The Ground – Revised,’ will be released on May 10th in digital formats and June 7th in physical formats. Pre-orders can be placed HERE With GRAND SLAM having just completed videos for the new album in Spain, a series of dates being planned as you read, and an overall joy at everything going on in their world, GRAND SLAM will be here whether you are or not, because this is not a band rumbling in from their past, it’s a band firing forward into their future. “We have a strong bond in our writing and our perception of what we want to do,” concludes Archer, “so make no mistake, GRAND SLAM has only just started.”
‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Track List: 1. There Goes My Heart 2. Starcrossed Lovers 3. Come Together (In Harlem) 4. Trail Of Tears 5. Feeling Is Strong (Jo’s Song) 6. Spitfire 7. I Wanna Know! 8. Pirate Song 9. Afterlife 10. Wheel Of Fortune
‘Hit The Ground – Revised’ Track List: 1. Gone Are The Days 2. Nineteen 3. Hit The Ground 4. Military Man 5. Crazy 6. Dedication 7. Long Road 8. Sisters Of Mercy 9. Crime Rate 10. Grand Slam**not available on vinyl
GRAND SLAM:Mike Dyer – vocals, Laurence Archer – guitars, Benjy Reid – drums, Rocky Newton – bass. ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ is Produced by Laurence Archer, Engineered by Pieter Rietkerk. Mixed by Laurence Archer. Mastered by Matt Wortham & Andy Pearce. Recorded atChapel Studios; additional recording at Manamana Studios
Troy Redfern releases “The Calling” single ahead of Headline UK Tour
Troy Redfern’s rockin’ new single was released March 1. It is taken from the upcoming album Invocation, to be released May 17. Check it out! STREAM SINGLE (or watch the video).
“Redfern has written excellent new songs that define his unique style as one of the most exciting blues artists in Britain.” – Raw Ramp
“Troy Redfern is dynamic, powerful and one of the best slide guitarists around today.” – Music News Invocation is the title of the highly anticipated new 11-track album from slide guitar virtuoso Troy Redfern. The album, released by RED7 Records on Friday 17th May 2024, is now available in limited edition colored vinyl, black vinyl, plus two different CD cover artwork designs. All formats are available to pre-order from www.troyredfern.com.
The fourth single “The Calling” is available on Spotify HERE. The IRSC code for the single is UKHDU1600077.
Says Troy, “‘I’ve always wanted to write a slow motion, epic kind of a tune. The Calling was a song that was born out of that desire. This song is about escaping the technological net we all live in, and to get out into the wilderness to reset and get perspective on what’s important in life.”
Troy has proved time and time again that his cup of inspiration is not only full, but runneth over, writing and release albums at an unprecedented pace and judging by the strength of “The Calling” and the three previous singles “The Strange,” “Getaway” and “The Fever,” the forthcoming album Invocation, promises to be his best yet. Over the course of last two albums The Fire Cosmic (2021) and Wings of Salvation (2022) Troy found his true voice stylistically in terms of writing and playing, but with Invocation he created a collection of outstanding new songs that carves out his own identity as to who he really is an artist.
Troy head to the west Wales coast with his trusty 1929 National Triolian resonator guitar for a week of solitude in a remote Sheppard’s hut to sketch the initial song ideas for the new album.
“It was important for me to clear my mind of all distractions so I could really focus on what I wanted to write on this album and the direction I wanted to take it in,” says Troy.
“I tried some unorthodox approaches to song writing that included meditation where I would imagine hearing a song in my mind, as complete as possible including visualizing the performance live. Next, I would pick up the guitar and capture the idea on my phone. That way I wasn’t led by what I would usually do when I pick up the guitar. It was a very freeing, powerful experience, and a discipline that I’ll use again to write more songs in the future.“
With Invocation Troy explores fresh musical territory, from the heavy, bone crushing slide riffs and big sing along choruses on “Van Helsing” and “Getaway” to the evocative, wind-swept western landscapes of “The Native” and “Blind Me.” After three albums in three years Troy continues to expand his musical horizons and keep his creative fire burning.
SAXON released Hell, Fire, And Damnation in January, the band’s 24th studio album (excluding their 2 recent collections of covers). if you haven’t heard the new album, it is one of the band’s best in the past few decades (well, their best since 1999’s Metalhead, for me). See my review elsewhere on this site. In this conversation, Biff discusses the band’s change in guitar players, the songs and artwork for Hell, Fire and Damnation, and the band’s upcoming US tour (co-headlining w/ Uriah Heep).
*Check out the links and tour dates below.
First of all, the new album if you can tell me a bit about the title where the what inspired the title and the title song obviously in that context. I posted a review the other day.
Yeah, the first song’s about the battle between good and evil, really, that’s been going on for 1000s of years. I suppose it’s based on the prophecy, you know like the Omen films, that type of thing. I suppose it was good to write a song about good and evil and just a lot of bands just write about devils and demons and things, or occult. And it’s a saying my dad used to use when he was upset – ‘hell, fire and damnation’. That’s where the title came from, the idea for the words, anyway.
You got Brian in the band now. Prior to, when Paul announced he was leaving did you have Brian in mind already, when that came up?
Paul’s been thinking about leaving for some time. I think when we were touring during that particular period, he was quite tired and not really into metal music anymore. So he just wanted to play blues music and relax a bit. So that’s what he wanted to do. So we asked Brian – Brian was the first guy we asked actually. And the thing about Brian, is apart from Metallica connection, you know, the songs that they recorded of his; He’s a bit sort of frustrated, writing great riffs and things and playing great guitar and not being able to play in front of a lot of people, so he jumped at the chance to join Saxon. He’s still in Diamond Head, but he’s really enjoying himself, you know, getting the sort of interest that he deserves.
Yeah, did that change kind of give you guys a bit of a spark with the new album, so I think it’s great album. It’s very consistent, the songs are really good.
Well he wrote the title track with me, we wrote that time together – “Hell, Fire and Damnation”, so he’s come in to the band and done some writing. So dynamically, we’ve changed a little bit, which I think is for the better really. The album sounds fantastic.
A lot of the songs you write are kind of history lessons or history topics. So I always find myself when I get a Saxon album I gotta go look up something that – ‘what is this moment he’s talking about or this event’?
Haha… A lot of people do Google, you know – if they don’t know what happened in 1066. Or the Salem witches, you can go on Google and Wikipedia it gives you a short story of what it’s all about. I think in that way it’s interesting you know. And some of the Maiden tracks are quite history based. I’m sure some people google and find out what the tale of the “Ancient Mariner” is, you know!?
What kind of inspires each topic that you come up with – is it reading or a book or movie..?
A lot of it’s documentaries and things you see on Netflix or something. I read articles and watch films and things, so I’m always looking for something to write about. I was doodling with a song called “Remember the Alamo” for this album, but it didn’t quite make it. So that might end up on the next album (haha); you never know!
You also had a change with the artwork on this album?
Again, it’s dark and light – good and evil. So I wanted to an album cover that basically mirrored what I was saying in the song really – the fight between good and evil. And I got my friend, the actor. Brian Blessed to do the intro for all sounds pretty precious metal to me. I mean, I do like it.
Now you got Peter Selye doing the artwork this time? That’s first person you’ve had somebody new for, I guess for quite a few years, I guess. We do usually use our other friend Paul Gregory who’s done a lot of albums since Crusader. But he wasn’t able to do this album. So I had an idea, you know, an idea of a cover, and we sent my ideas to different artists. And he (Peter) came back straight away with that concept of you know, the super angel and the shield in the middle of the battle. And it looked really great to me, you know,
How involved are you with each cover from album to album? Is it your ideas?
Yeah, a lot of them are based on my ideas, yeah, and where I think they should from. The album can do what he wants, but it all comes back from an idea I have. They’re not always great, and don’t always work, so we might have to move on to a different cover. but this one is pretty much how I wanted it to be really.
Well it’s a great cover
Looks great on a t-shirt!
And the title is very memorable…
And you can buy a box set with a patch in it, and put it on a jacket, and that’s pretty cool. I’m going to be wearing one of them on stage, I think.
If we can touch on some of the songs, because there’s a lot that stand out on this here for me – “Madame Guillotine”, “Fire And Steel”, “Pirates Of The Airwaves”… Can you tell me a bit about a few of the songs and if you’ve kind of decided or have an idea what you might put into the live show?
“Pirates Of The Airwaves” was based on the ’60s really. When I was a boy listening to music on a little transistor radio because the BBC the British government, wouldn’t allow people to listen to rock music, like The Rolling Stones in the 60s, so we used to listen in our in our bedrooms late at night, midnight, listening to these tracks coming through from these pirate stations. That’s what that song is about. You know, it’s just reminiscing from my youth, really.
“Fire And Steel” is basically it’s about a city in Yorkshire England called Sheffield, and that was a very behemoth city. It’s the place I used to go when I was a teenager to see all the bands. You know I saw David Bowie there, and I saw Uriah Heep, and Deep Purple – all the big bands used to come through this city called Sheffield, and I used to go so that’s what the song’s about really.
And obviously “There’s Something In Roswell”, I think a lot of people know what that’s about already.
Well, I’m a believer. I don’t know about you, but I think there’s something in Roswell. I think something happened there. Roswell was ground zero for UFO enthusiasts. Really.
Do you follow a lot of that stuff?
It’s interesting. I like conspiracy theories. Like something happens and then the government tells you something else. It’s interesting, isn’t it? I mean from Roswell millions of UFO sites and people talk about UFOs, Investigate UFOs, and it all started from Roswell, really.
“Kubla Khan And The Merchant of Venice”?
Again, that’s a bit of a history lesson really. You know Genghis Khan was a big warlord in Europe who conquered most of Europe and some of the Roman Empire. And one of his great grandsons was the Emperor of China, his name was Kubla Khan. And the first guy to go there and write about it was a guy called Marco Polo, who was from Venice. He discovered the Chinese used gunpowder, this fantastic pottery that they used to make – a great story really. I think that’s the most historic song on the album, but you can google it again if you want to find out what it’s about.
You guys are consistently putting out albums, like yearly – even when we were off during the pandemic you still managed to put out the two covers’ albums. What kind of drives you and how important is it to keep putting out new material when there’s a lot of bands at this stage who are just content to do one every five or six years or whatever?
We still have lots of things to prove. And we’re still always trying to write that perfect song on that perfect album. And we’re songwriters basically, well you know, I mean I look at myself as a songwriter not just a singer, so I’m very dedicated to make and produce new material. And then tour with it. We could obviously tour and just do the big hits from the ’80s, but we don’t really want to do that you know; we want to want to make music that’s relevant – you know people like it, like this album’s getting good reviews from around the world. It’s a good feeling you know; it’s good feeling that we can still write great songs – in my opinion that are just as good as the early songs.
Yeah, I like following bands who have something new because it’s easy to fall off if there’s nothing new for a long time right, so yourselves and well Magnum, Uriah Heep… bands have that still put out albums consistently every year Or few years that are well worth having.
I think especially in the metal genre like Saxon, Judas Priest, and Maiden – we put out albums because you know we like to tour on those albums and that’s what really gives us the juice you know that keeps us alive, keeps us feeling young, playing music that’s new. It’s a really great feeling.
You’ve got a tour coming up in the US with Uriah Heep. So a couple things – when you go out on the road for these long journeys, like you’d be out here for a couple of months. What do you guys do? You know, what’s your kind of your routine as far as do you go visit a lot of historic sites yourself and or is it kind of all business?
Well we drink a lot definitely! (haha) And we keep ourselves busy really. And then we don’t have many days off, so, if we have a day off in a cool place then we’ll go off and visit the area or go shopping or something, just to break the monotony of traveling every day. We’re pretty much a family, it’s like a gang on the road. There’s a lot of fun, a lot of joking about, you know, it’s like being out with your friends really, like being out with your mates.
You’re touring with Heep, and you’ve mentioned them before, I know I read you’d picked Demons And Wizards as one of your favorite albums. And you covered “Gypsy” on the last covers album. How far back do you go with them as far as seeing them the first time?
The first time I saw them, I mean, they’ve been going on quite a long time. I didn’t see them in the late ’60s, I must’ve seen them on their second album tour, I think…and I think they were out with Purple. I’d seen them in Sheffield actually. So it must’ve been very early ’70s. But I didn’t need them until much, much later on. Because they weren’t really on our touring circuit, if you know what I mean, in the ’80s. I think they stopped touring the UK in the ’80s and had a bit of a hit in America in the ’80s with one of their albums. (Ed: Abominog, w/Peter Goalby). I didn’t see that band, but I saw Uriah Heep with a guy called John Sloman. Yeah, so I do like Uriah Heep, and I do know them, but we’d see them in restaurants and airports and it’s only in the last 3 or 4 years that we started playing shows together.
Metalhead was kind of my rei-ntroduction to you guys because I know you’d been over here in the ’80s, but when Metalhead came out, that really got me back into you guys and I’ve kind of picked up from there and been following ever since.
A lot of people got in to us on Metalhead. It’s kind of a dark album. It’s a great album, actually, I think it’s a really underrated album. It now ended up in a lot of people’s like, you know, top 10 albums they play Saxon, so it’s getting the recognition, I think.
You did the King Crimson cover on the next album? Do you remember touring or sharing bill with a Canadian band named April Wine in 1980?
Yeah, we did some shows together. We did the Monsters Of Rock together, the very first big one in the UK. I remember watching them, they were a good band.
Yeah, because they had a bit of a radio hit with their cover of “21st Century Schizoid Man”? So, when you guys did “In The Court Of The Crimson King”, I thought that was a great connection there.
A lot of people do “21st Century Schizoid Man”, it’s such a hidden track, but I wanted to do something a bit more proggy, a bit more prog-rocky. which is why we used the other one.
What else do you have on the go as far as other projects you’d like to do or anything else you’re working on?
At the moment, we’re not really working on much. We only finished this album in October last year, so we’ve been working pretty hard on this album. No real plans yet, just to promote this album, tour this year and promote the album. We might do more videos, maybe I don’t know. Just to concentrate on the album. That’s the next thing.
I’m looking at the dates. And I don’t see any Canadian dates yet. So I’m hoping if there’s going to be dates added on, because there’s not really a lot of room in between all those shows that are listed.
We have some space after the summer to maybe come back and do some Canadian shows, and some West Coast; we’re not doing West Coast shows either. It would be a good plan to do Canada, then shoot over to Vancouver and then on the West Coast and maybe go into New Mexico. So there’s a few areas that we aren’t playing on this part of the tour, but it’s just part one, basically. So we’ll see what happens.
Supergroup Black Country Communion Announce New Album ‘V’ and Lead Single “Stay Free”
Black Country Communion, the iconic rock supergroup featuring the talents of Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian, is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of their highly anticipated fifth studio album, V, available worldwide on June 14. To celebrate, fans are treated to the immediate release of the album’s heavy funk lead single, “Stay Free,” out today on all major streaming platforms.
Produced by longtime collaborator Kevin Shirley, ‘V’ marks a monumental chapter in the band’s storied career, embodying a renewed spirit and an evolution of their unmistakable sound. Shirley captures the essence of the band’s journey, stating, “For a band that started out as a collection of the best practitioners of their instruments, they very quickly found a unique sound. This time around, it has more purpose, the riffs are tougher, and there are hooks! Yes, hooks! It’s the most cohesive record, full of soul and grit, and I think this is the one that’s going to be the benchmark for Black Country Communion.”
Glenn agrees, “In my opinion, we had the best time recording this record at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, tons of fun & a magical recording. Meet you inside the Music.”
“Stay Free,” the lead single, is a powerhouse track that blends hard rock’s raw energy with a heavy dose of blues, channelling the spirit of legends like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. It sets the tone for what fans can expect from ‘V’ – a testament to the band’s dynamic synergy and creative evolution.
Since their debut in 2010, Black Country Communion has delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums, each showcasing the group’s ability to fuse British blues-rock with American soul in a way that captivates audiences worldwide. Their return with ‘V’ and the single “Stay Free” reaffirms their status as rock royalty and showcases their growth as musicians and storytellers.Kevin Shirley’s insight into the recording process highlights the unique chemistry and camaraderie within the band. “When we convened in 2023 to start recording the album V, it really was like picking up the day after the most recent gig,” Shirley reflects. “The camaraderie is immediately evident. Once they start playing, everyone is deadly serious, and the music sounds like this band, and nothing else sounds like it.”‘V’ is a milestone that celebrates the journey, talent, and vision of Black Country Communion. As the band embarks on this new chapter, they invite fans old and new to join them in experiencing the depth and power of ‘V’ and the electrifying energy of “Stay Free.”
The news follows the announcement of the band’s upcoming performance at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL on Sunday, March 17th. This rare appearance will be the first live performance in America from the band in over 11 years. Presented by Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, all profits from the concert will be donated to support music education and musicians in need. The band is also set to appear on the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea cruise, sailing from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico from March 18-22. The album ‘V’ is available for pre-order now.
For more details, exclusive content, and updates, please visit https://joeb.me/OrderBCCV.About Black Country Communion
Canada’s CRASH KELLY has a new album coming in April titled Mix Tape Vol 1. It will be CRASH KELLY’S first release since 2008. Featuring guitarist/vocalist Sean Kelly (Lee Aaron, Coney Hatch) , Mix Tape Vol 1 features covers of classics by Alice Cooper, Ratt, Motley Crue, New York Dolls, Cheap Trick, and more, as well as 1 Crash Kelly original. The album is inspired by Sean’s best- selling book Don’t Call It Hair Metal : Art in the Excess of ‘80s Rock, (see links below)
Outsider Rock 