A week ago, BLACK STAR RIDERS announced their third studio Album, “Heavy Fire”, set for release via Nuclear Blast Entertainment in February 2017. Today, the band has revealed the first video trailer in which frontman Ricky Warwick explains the writing process behind the about forthcoming album and looks forward to the band’s March 2017 UK tour:
When discussing the writing of “Heavy Fire”, Ricky comments: “Myself and Damon Johnson work really well together. We went to our manager’s house in Southern California – he was away for a week so Damon flew in from Nashville and I drove down from my place in LA and we hung out there for a week. I brought in a bunch of ideas and lyrics and Damon brought in some stuff too. By the end of the four or five days we had ten or twelve solid songs together, which was great. We work very quickly together because we’re always very well prepared and we’re always writing individually.”
Watch the lyric video for ‘When The Night Comes In’ here:
The band’s previous album, »The Killer Instinct«, was released in 2015 to widespread critical acclaim and went on to score multiple radio playlists. A solid year of worldwide touring culminated in December 2015 in an UK arena tour alongside DEF LEPPARD and WHITESNAKE, followed by more European shows with DEF LEPPARD.
2016 saw the band return to the studio with »The Killer Instinct«‘s producer Nick Raskulinecz(RUSH, THE FOO FIGHTERS, MASTODON), at his studio just outside Nashville. The resultant album is BLACK STAR RIDERS’ most accomplished work to date. From the immediate riffs of album opener ‘Heavy Fire’ to the instant hooks of first single ‘When The Night Comes In’, from the dirty bass groove of ‘Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed’ to the familiar and trademark dual guitars of Gorham and Johnson on ‘Testify Or Say Goodbye’, this is an album that will further cement BLACK STAR RIDERS’ reputation as one of the world premiere rock acts.
“Angst, passion, power, glory, love, truth, lies, loyalty, questions that begged to be answered. There’s a guitar army coming…and it’s bringing the ‘Heavy Fire’!” – Ricky Warwick (vocals)
“Not many new bands get to record three albums these days. Without doubt this is BSR’s best album so far. We had a great time recording it and can’t wait to play the new songs live on tour in March.” – Scott Gorham (guitars)
Following on from their critically acclaimed albums »All Hell Breaks Loose« and »The Killer Instinct« which have paved the way for BLACK STAR RIDERS to be recognized as a power force in the modern day of Rock n’ Roll, »Heavy Fire« will be once again released by Nuclear Blast Entertainment. The band have also brought in Pledgemusic, one of the most innovative and successful platforms of the modern music world, to give fans extra special product and experiences to go along with the album’s release.
Formats: Limited Edition Digibook CD (incl. bonus track), CD, Vinyl, Vinyl Pic Disc, Digital Album
Nuclear Blast mail order: Limited Orange & Clear Vinyl
Tracklistings below:
CD
1. Heavy Fire
2. When The Night Comes In
3. Dancing With The Wrong Girl
4. Who Rides The Tiger
5. Cold War Love
6. Testify Or Say Goodbye
7. Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed
8. True Blue Kid
9. Ticket To Rise
10. Letting Go Of Me
The Limited Edition Digibook CD will have above tracklisting plus
bonus track
11. Fade
Limited Edition Gatefold Vinyl
Limited Edition Picture Disc
Side One
1. Heavy Fire
2. When The Night Comes In
3. Dancing With The Wrong Girl
4. Who Rides The Tiger
5. Cold War Love
Side Two
1. Testify Or Say Goodbye
2. Thinking About You Could Get Me Killed
3. True Blue Kid
4. Ticket To Rise
5. Letting Go Of Me
Pre Order link here: http://nblast.de/BSRHeavyFireNB
Digital version: http://www.nuclearblast.de/de/label/music/band/downloads/2825266.black-star-riders.html
After a full year off the road, BLACK STAR RIDERS (Ricky Warwick, Scott Gorham, Damon Johnson, Robert Crane and Jimmy DeGrasso) are back with a 16 date UK & Ireland run, joined on the first five dates by Scottish rockers GUN and THE AMORETTES and then Sweden’s ownBACKYARD BABIES with GUN on the remaining 11 shows.
Dates for BLACK STAR RIDERS 2017 UK & Ireland Tour are:
w/ GUN, THE AMORETTES
02/03/ UK Cardiff – Tramshed
03/03/ UK Wrexham – William Aston Hall
04/03/ IRL Dublin – Academy
05/03/ UK Belfast – Limelight
07/03/ UK Inverness – Ironworks
w/ BACKYARD BABIES, GUN
08/03/ UK Glasgow – o2 ABC
09/03/ UK Glasgow – o2 ABC
10/03/ UK Newcastle – o2 Academy
11/03/ UK Leeds – o2 Academy
12/03/ UK Manchester – o2 Ritz
14/03/ UK Nottingham – Rock City
15/03/ UK Norwich – UEA
16/03/ UK Bristol – o2 Academy
17/03/ UK London – o2 Kentish Town Forum
18/03/ UK Birmingham – o2 Institute
19/03/ UK Bournemouth – o2 Academy
Tickets are onsale now. For ticket info please visit www.blackstarriders.com
»Heavy Fire« is released through Nuclear Blast on the 3rd February 2017.