“Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, the long-awaited second album from ABSOLUTE POWER, will be released on October 30th, 2026 via Time To Kill Records.
Fifteen years after the release of their self-titled debut, the heavy metal project founded by vocalist and producer Simon Efemey and Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury returns with a powerful celebration of classic heavy metal. Drawing inspiration from the timeless legacy of Judas Priest, Saxon, Black Sabbath, Dio and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives” combines old-school riffs, unforgettable melodies and larger-than-life songwriting with the energy and attitude of a new era.
The world is in meltdown, and we’re all going to hell in a handbasket. Thankfully, ABSOLUTE POWER are here to offer maximum-volume resistance to the madness with their monumental second album, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”.
ABSOLUTE POWER is the brainchild of vocalist and producer Simon Efemey and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Shane Embury, two heavy metal lifers who, between them, have left an indelible imprint on modern music.
Embury is the longtime bassist of grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, a band that began pushing music to its furthest extremes in the 1980s and has never stopped evolving. Efemey is one of the most influential British metal producers of his generation, having shaped the modern scene through his work with artists including Paradise Lost, The Wildhearts and Napalm Death, while also developing a reputation as one of the most charismatic figures behind the scenes.
Together, they spent five years crafting “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, an exhilarating tribute to the classic heavy metal they grew up with, infused with the energy and attitude of 2026.
“I want people to have a good time in the old school way,” says Efemey of the album. “I want them to forget the mundane, boring or horrible parts of their jobs. I want them to forget themselves for a couple of hours. That’s what good music should allow us all to do.”
The album continues the vision that originally brought ABSOLUTE POWER together: a desire to recapture the sense of adventure, grandeur and excitement that defined the heavy metal of their youth.
“When we did the first album, we wanted to make songs like our heroes – Judas Priest, Saxon, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal – everything we liked as kids,” explains Efemey. “When we were on tour buses, we’d have a few drinks and start blasting old-school heavy metal like Black Sabbath or Dio. One day we said we should write our own tunes like that.”
The debut album was embraced by fans of traditional metal, and “Needs Must When The Devil Drives” expands on that foundation, delivering a collection of songs built around powerful riffs, memorable hooks and a strong sense of identity. The title itself comes from an old proverb that Efemey and Embury would jokingly repeat to each other during the recording sessions.
Alongside the title track, “Saviour” and “Kernschmelze” showcase the band’s most direct and energetic side, while “Mountain Of Hope” increases the epic dimension that has always been central to ABSOLUTE POWER. Meanwhile, “Within” temporarily strips away some of the heaviness in favor of a more atmospheric and hypnotic approach, recalling the psychedelic spirit of 1970s classics such as Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”.
The album also features a reinterpretation of Queen’s 1978 classic “Sheer Heart Attack”, preserving the original’s punk-driven energy while adding the unmistakable personality of ABSOLUTE POWER.
“The drums sounded terrible on it,” laughs Efemey.
For “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, Efemey and Embury invited several respected musicians to contribute to the album’s expansive sound. Former Judas Priest and Iced Earth vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens returns after appearing on the first record, delivering his unmistakable screams on the title track. The Mission and Tricky guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite adds subtle layers and textures to several songs, expanding the band’s traditional metal foundation.
“I’ve known him for years,” says Efemey. “I recorded a demo for his old band years ago. I sent him some tracks and he put some magic on them. He added a little goth flavour to some of those tracks. It took it further than the first album, which was just straight-down-the-line traditional metal.”
Also appearing on the record are Napalm Death guitarist John Cooke and drummer Carl Stokes, whose career includes collaborations with bands such as Cancer and The Groundhogs.
At the heart of ABSOLUTE POWER, however, remains the partnership between Efemey and Embury. Both grew up in the West Midlands and shared formative experiences attending concerts at Birmingham’s legendary Odeon before following very different paths: Embury becoming one of extreme metal’s defining musicians, and Efemey establishing himself as a highly respected producer.
“Over the years our paths crossed, and we realized we had a similar love for music and a similar sense of humour – Monty Python, The Young Ones, really dark humour,” says Efemey.
Throughout his career, Efemey has worked with artists ranging from British indie heroes The Wonder Stuff to extreme metal pioneers Napalm Death, but his influence has always extended far beyond production. His larger-than-life personality and his approach to music have made him a unique figure within the British scene.
“You hear the stories from back in the day about these legendary bands and the mad stuff they’d get up to,” he says. “For me, that’s part of rock’n’roll. I never wanted to just be the guy sitting there in the studio nodding along with what bands say. It was more about entertaining people and entertaining ourselves.”
Yet behind all the chaos, Efemey has always remained focused on the most important element: the songs.
“We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we’re serious about the music,” he says of ABSOLUTE POWER. “We reject ideas that aren’t good enough. Every song needs a good riff and a catchy melody. I wouldn’t let anything go out that was just fodder. That approach has always been prevalent in my work.”
That philosophy defines “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”. The album carries the confidence of a band that knows exactly what it wants to achieve, embracing the foundations of classic heavy metal while sounding fully alive in 2026. As the world falls apart around them, ABSOLUTE POWER stand tall, armed with riffs, melodies and songs built to last.
“I can’t think of many new British bands doing what we do,” says Efemey. “I think people like our stuff because it’s old-school with melodies you can sing along to. We use the formula from the 70s and 80s because we know it works. We make this kind of music because we love it and we want people to sing along with us.”
Tracklist:
1. Needs Must When the Devil Drives (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens)
2. Saviour
3. Kernscmelze
4. Stand Up and Be Counted
5. Within
6. Mountain of Hope
7. Insanity
8. Hammer of Justice
9. Praise the Fire
10. Sheer Heart Attack
11. Orphans of the Storm
Line-up:
Simon Efemey – vocals
Shane Embury – Bass, Additional Instruments
Guests musicians:
Tim “Ripper” Owens – vocals (ex Judas Priest, Iced Earth)
Mark Gemini Thwaite – guitars (The Mission, Tricky)
John Cooke – guitar (Napalm Death)
Carl Stokes – drums (Cancer, The Groundhogs)
Joe Taylor – drums
Dominik Gryzbon – lead guitar
Ilsa Nielson – lead guitar
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