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Black Star Riders Announce Plans For Second Studio Album

2013 was a fantastic year for Black Star Riders. It saw the release of their fan and critically acclaimed debut album, All Hell Breaks Loose. The album charted well all over the world and the hot single “Bound For Glory” appeared on the tops of many year end best-of lists from outlets all over the world!

The band toured throughout Europe and Scandinavia, bringing their raw edged sound to thousands of fans. The energy has been intoxicating! Now it is time for the guys to continue with this momentum and create a follow up album. Scott Gorham sums it up, “The fan response has been better then we could have hoped. I haven’t had this much fun in years!”

When it comes to the team behind the soundboard, Black Star Riders decided to change things up this time around. Taking over the production reins will be Def Leppard front man Joe Elliott. Adding to the dream team will be long time Leppard sound guru Ronan McHugh. Ricky Warwick chimes in on the reason Joe was tapped for this album. “Joe Elliott's passion, enthusiasm for music, as a fan, artist and friend is unquestionable and Ronan McHugh is a phenomenal engineer. Personally having worked with these guys before, it was a no brainer when they said they would like to produce the new BSR album. We are confident that this will be a huge leap forward in the evolution of BSR.”

Joe Elliott adds, “Having worked with Scott on the Thin Lizzy remixes a few years ago & having produced Ricky’s 1st 2 solo albums, I’m looking forward to taking our musical journey together even further. We’re aiming to make a serious leap forward with the next album & I’m proud to be able to contribute to the next chapter in the BSR story.

Black Star Riders is set to enter the studio in Dublin, Ireland in October 2014 to start recording their follow up release. Damon Johnson adds “We are all excited about working with Joe, he is like part of the family. And recording this album in Ireland is a special treat for us.”
The new, as yet untitled, album will be released in the spring of 2015 through Nuclear Blast – the label behind acts such as Anthrax, Nightwish and Meshuggah. Black Star Riders are one of the first bands signed by Monte Conner – the former Roadrunner A&R guru who has signed acts such as Slipknot, Machine Head, Sepultura and Rush. Conner recently joined Nuclear Blast as the president of Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a new U.S. partnership he co-founded with Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger.

The band will continue to storm stages all over the world throughout the spring and summer of 2014. For the latest info on Black Star Riders, check out their website or official Facebook page.

BLACK STAR RIDERS WELCOME ROBBIE CRANE

Black Star Riders announce the departure of bass player Marco Mendoza after the band’s current US tour, ending June 22nd and the arrival of new bassist, Robbie Crane.

Marco, a founding member of Black Star Riders, has decided to pursue other projects after potential conflicts in schedules.

His replacement will be Robbie Crane (formerly of Ratt, Vince Neil and Lynch Mob).

Scott Gorham ‘I am very sad to see Marco go. We have been together in a band now for almost 20 years and Marco is my brother and we wish him well for the future. It’s an amicable parting of ways and we all respect that Marco wants to do other projects outside of Black Star Riders and there just isn’t time to do both’

Ricky Warwick ‘Marco will always be part of the BSR family and a true friend of ours. We are very happy to introduce Robbie Crane to everyone as the new BSR bass player. The guy killed the audition and we can’t wait to get on stage with him on our Euro run starting mid July and then of course in the studio in the Autumn for the recording of the second Black Star Riders Record’

Marco Mendoza ‘I loved my time in Black Star Riders and want to thank all the fans for making the last year on road so successful. I am sorry to be leaving the band but I feel it’s time for me to pursue other avenues, some of which I have already been working with, all of which I am very excited about. I wish the guys all success in the future and I am very happy that my friend Robbie Crane will continue to blaze with BSR’

But exciting things are ahead with the addition of veteran bassist Robbie Crane. “I am very excited to be a part of the Black Star Riders family. As a long time fan of their music, I am thrilled to be a part of the band”.

Black Star Riders Announce New Album “The Killer Instinct”
23rd February 2015

UK & Eire Tour – March 2015

Fresh from the critically acclaimed debut album “All Hell Breaks Loose” in 2013, Black Star Riders are set to release a new studio album, “The Killer Instinct”, in February 2015. The album will be followed by a full UK and Eire co-headline tour

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, The 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.” Full tracklisting is as follows

1. The Killer Instinct 6. Blindsided
2. Bullet Blues 7. Through The Motions
3. Finest Hour 8. Sex, Guns & Gasoline
4. Soldierstown 9. Turn In Your Arms
5. Charlie I Gotta Go 10. You Little Liar

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.“