Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, ex-Ozzy Osbourne), will release Book Of Shadows II on April 8th, via Entertainment One Music (eOne Music), his first solo release in 20 years. This release is the highly anticipated follow up to 1996’s Book Of Shadows LP, a classic album Wylde released between his work with Ozzy Osbourne that has since become a fan favourite. He recently spoke with Billboard.com about the release. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

Because his name and rough-strewn guitar riffs go together like Jack Daniel's and Coke, Wylde’s appreciation for another instrument -- the piano -- tends to be overlooked. A glance at him could make one assume that he handles the ivories with a fervor like Jerry Lee Lewis, but Wylde was inspired to learn how to play by a musical icon who’s also known for his visual flamboyance: Elton John.

Wylde recalls seeing John perform The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” on The Cher Show in 1975. 

“It was the first time I vividly remember getting chills as a kid hearing somebody sing a song,” says Wylde, adding, “Elton was obviously the reason why I wanted to play music. I remember taking piano lessons when I was a kid. My parents were like, ‘You have to learn your theory,’ and stuff like that. But immediately, I was just like, ‘I want to learn how to play 'Tiny Dancer', and I want to play 'Someone Saved My Life Tonight'. The teacher said, ‘Well, we’ll get around to that, but first you have to learn 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', you have to learn scales.’ I was like, ‘I don’t want to learn 'Mary Had a F—ing Little Lamb'. Just teach me how to play f—ing ‘Tiny Dancer’ or teach me how to play 'Rocket Man'. ”

Go to this location for the complete interview. Check out the new music video of the Book Of Shadows II album track, “Sleeping Dogs”, streaming below.

The fearlessly introspective melancholy and melody of Book Of Shadows helped to make its follow-up one of Rolling Stone’s Most Anticipated Albums of 2016. As fierce and diverse as his work in Black Label Society and as large as his accomplishments as lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne have been, Book Of Shadows II offers an even richer look into the spirit and psyche of one of the most beloved pillars of the hard rock community. Brand new tracks like “Sleeping Dogs”, “Tears Of December”, “Darkest Hour”, “Harbors Of Pity”, and “The King” are bold proclamations of intense feeling and powerful catharsis.

Zakk Wylde’s powerful pipes, mayhem-inducing charisma, mischievous humor, and instantly recognizable pinch-harmonic driven blues based histrionic guitar shredding have made him the world’s most beloved American Guitar Hero.

Tracklisting:

"Autumn Changes"
"Tears Of December"
"Lay Me Down"
"Lost Prayer"
"Darkest Hour"
"The Levee"
"Eyes Of Burden"
"Forgotten Memory"
"Yesterday's Tears"
"Harbors Of Pity"
"Sorrowed Regret"
"Useless Apologies"
"Sleeping Dogs"
"The King"

A pre-order bundle is available offering a Book Of Shadows II CD signed by Zakk plus a 17"x11" poster. Limited to 1,000 bundles.

Catch Zakk Wylde on tour in Europe this spring. Dates are listed below:

May
25 - London, United Kingdom - Shepherds Bush Empire
26 - Paris, France - Cabaret Sauvage
27 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Pilharmonium
28 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Den Atelier
29 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex
31 - Stuttgart, Germany - Theatrehaus

June
1 - Linz, Austria - Posthof
3 - Lodz, Poland - Wytwornia
4 - Plzen, Czech Republic - Metalfest
6 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Kino Siska
7 - Zagreb, Croatia - Tvornica Club
9 - Milan, Italy - Teatro Degli Arcimboldi
10 - Grenoble, France - La Belle Electrique
11 - Bordeux, France - Le Bocher de Palmer
13 - Madrid, Spain - La Riviera
14 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Barts
15 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27
17 - Dessel, Belgium - Graspop Metal Meeting
18 - Munich, Germany - Circus Krone
19 - Nuremberg, Germany - Serenadenhof