BLACK STAR RIDERS Vocalist Ricky Warwick, Guitarist Damon Johnson Talk New Album With Metal Shock Finland; Audio Interview Available
December 28, 2014, 9 years ago
Tarja Virmakari at Metal Shock Finland recently caught up with vocalist Ricky Warwick and guitarist Damon Johnson to discuss the band's new album, The Killer Instinct.
Warwick explains what inspired the album title: "Life’s not fair, never has been, never will. Sometimes you have to live with a killer instinct just to survive in the ongoing pursuit of happiness. Because nobody can do for you what you should be doing for yourself."
Check out the audio interview at this location.
Black Star Riders have offered up the first taste of their sophomore effort, The Killer Instinct, due out on February 20th (Europe), 23rd (UK), 24th (North America) via Nuclear Blast. Check out "The Killer Instinct" single and lyric video below. Frontman Ricky Warwick comments: "The video is about strength, endurance and overcoming adversity. It's about belief, love and compassion in a world of doubt."
The band toured 2013’s All Hell Breaks Loose for a year – playing across the globe. October 2014 saw them gather in Nashville, TN and enter the studio with heralded producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Mastodon) to start recording the follow up. The result is The Killer Instinct.
Ricky Warwick explains: “Life's not fair, never has been, never will. Sometimes you have to live with a killer instinct just to survive in the ongoing pursuit of happiness. Because nobody can do for you what you should be doing for yourself.”
The Killer Instinct will be released in different formats: CD, Limited 2-CD Digibook, Limited Gatefold Black Vinyl and Limited Gatefold Clear Vinyl (available for mail orders only).
Frontman Ricky Warwick talks about the new artwork “It’s a bit of a continuation from »All Hell Breaks Loose«, people will see the link, it’s very rock n’ roll. It’s going to look cool.”
Formats are as follows:
Limited 2CD Digibook
“The Killer Instinct““Bullet Blues”
“Finest Hour”
“Soldierstown”
“Charlie I Gotta Go”
“Blindsided”
“Through The Motions”
“Sex, Guns & Gasoline”
“Turn In Your Arms”
“You Little Liar”
Bonus CD:
“The Reckoning Day”
“The Killer Instinct” (Acoustic)
“Blindsided” (Acoustic)
“Charlie I Gotta Go” (Acoustic)
“Finest Hour” (Acoustic)
CD
“The Killer Instinct“
“Bullet Blues”
“Finest Hour”
“Soldierstown”
“Charlie I Gotta Go”
“Blindsided”
“Through The Motions”
“Sex, Guns & Gasoline”
“Turn In Your Arms”
“You Little Liar”
Limited Gatefold Black vinyl
Side A
“Bullet Blues”
“Finest Hour”
“Soldierstown”
“Charlie I Gotta Go”
Side B
“Through The Motions”
“Sex, Guns & Gasoline”
“Turn In Your Arms”
“You Little Liar”
Limited Gatefold Clear Vinyl (Mail Order Only)
Side A
“Bullet Blues”
“Finest Hour”
“Soldierstown”
“Charlie I Gotta Go”
Side B
“Through The Motions”
“Sex, Guns & Gasoline”
“Turn In Your Arms”
“You Little Liar”
According to a press release, the energy in the studio from a year of touring, and Black Star Riders gelling as a creative force has resulted in a truly powerful sophomore effort. From the Irish-tinged rock of “Soldierstown” to the balls-out twin guitar riffing of “Sex, Guns & Gasoline”. From the dirty groove of “You Little Liar” to the acoustic “Blindsided”, this is a band coming of age. The Killer Instinct« will see Black Star Riders cement their place as one of the most exciting contemporary rock acts.
Damon Johnson says, “Nick Raskulinecz came riding out of the sunset like a Viking warrior, with his record collection and arsenal of killer guitars and amplifiers and proved to be the world class producer we had heard so much about. Indeed, the rumors are all true. There's no doubt that Ricky and I had written a sizable number of songs, but Nick patiently walked through the full song list with the entire band and made sure we focused on the material to best represent Black Star Riders in 2015”
Black Star Riders head out on a co-headline UK and Eire tour with EUROPE throughout March 2015. All dates can be found Blackstarriders.com.
