Widely respected as the most influential lead guitarist in thrash metal history, MARTY FRIEDMAN has released an official music video for 'Inferno', the title track of his first solo album of original material in four years, and his first recording in more than a decade, which will be released worldwide simultaneously.

Says Marty, "The music video for 'Inferno' is an homage/parody of one of my fave Japanese TV shows, Zenryokusaka ('Full Power Hill'). It's a weekly five-minute show where the entire premise is absolutely nothing but a girl running up a hill. Each week a different girl, and a different hill. I am hooked on this show, and think it is genius in its simplicity and ever-so-slight sexual nature. It took me a while to explain the charm of the show to the video director, but I think towards the end of making our video together, he got it. It's like many things that happen outside the culture you were born in; you either get it and it's fresh or you don't and it's just weird."

Due out on May 23rd in Germany/Austria/Switzerland, May 26th in the UK/Europe, May 27th in North America via Prosthetic Records (except in Japan, where the album will be released by Universal Music on May 21st), Inferno - recorded primarily in Los Angeles with engineer Chris Rakestraw (DANZIG, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH) - features what Friedman recently told Guitar World is "the most intense writing and playing I can do". The album also includes notable guest appearances by several artists influenced by Friedman, including flamenco/metal acoustic guitar duo RODRIGO y GARBRIELA, Children of Bodom front man Alexi Laiho, SKYHARBOR mastermind Keshav Dhar and REVOCATION guitar whiz David Davidson, as well as Friedman's first songwriting collaboration with JASON BECKER since the pair played together in CACOPHONY, the pioneering duo of guitar mayhem.

In addition, Inferno breaks all genre rules and creates new ones with an exhilarating and musically daring mash-up with Jørgen Munkeby of the acclaimed "blackjazz" act SHINING, as well as two tracks featuring vocals by rock guru DANKO JONES. Overall, Inferno is by far Friedman's most thrilling and adventurous effort to date.

Tracklisting:

'Inferno'

'Resin'

'Wicked Panacea' (feat. Rodrigo y Gabriela)

'Steroidhead' (feat. Keshav Dhar)

'I Can't Relax' (feat. Danko Jones)

'Meat Hook' (feat. Jørgen Munkeby)

'Hyper Doom'

'Sociopaths' (feat. David Davidson)

'Lycanthrope' (feat. Alexi Laiho & Danko Jones)

'Undertow'

'Horrors' (co-written by Jason Becker)

'Inferno' -reprise-

'Steroidhead' was unveiled prior to the annual NAMM convention, where Friedman introduced a new Paul Reed Smith signature series guitar and performed live before capacity crowds at the PRS and Roland/Boss demonstration booths. Check it out below:

"I'm extremely proud of the work I've done with Cacophony and MEGADETH, but I was never interested in looking back or stopping there," Friedman says. "Inferno is the album that fans of my work with those two bands have always wanted me to make. I've finally made it, and completely on my own maniacal terms."

Friedman will kick off a world tour for Inferno in May, when he teams with GUS G. for a European tour. Dates are listed below. Soon after, Friedman will return to America for his first tour of his home country in more than a decade. Stay tuned for further information.

Tour dates:

May

1 - Tampere, Finland - Klubi
2 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi
3 - Stockholm, Sweden - Stockholm Rocks Festival
5 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Tradgarn
7 - Malmo, Sweden - KB
9 - Krakow, Poland - Lizard King
10 - Warsaw, Poland - Progreja
12 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
13 - Colmar, France - Grillen
15 - Essen, Germany - Turock
16 - Zoetermeer, Netherlands - De Boerderij
17 - Hasselt, Belgium - Muziekodroom
18 - Uden, Netherlands - De Pul
20 - Savigny Le Temple, France - L’impriente
21 - London, UK - O2 Academy Islington
22 - Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall