Includes bonus track "With You I Go" on vinyl edition only
Black Country Communion L-R: Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes,
Jason Bonham, Derek Sherinian. Photo Credit: © Neil Zlozower
Black Country Communion the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze), drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, release their long awaited and highly anticipated fourth album, "BCCIV" via Mascot Records on Friday September 22nd 2017. This is the band’s first studio album since 2013’s "Afterglow".
Just like its three predecessors, "BCCIV" was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalogue of hit records for Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Journey, The Black Crowes, has made him the hottest producer that rock music has to offer. Shirley, who originally had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa in a band after seeing them jamming together onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 – is the group’s unofficial ‘fifth member’.
Black Country Communion is an earth-shattering combination of American and British rock influences—a bona fide super group that conveys to the world a simple but important message: classic rock is alive and well, and in good hands in the 21st century. Their communion together forms something that is greater than the sum of its parts, creating a legacy being cemented within the halls of music history.
The initiative for the new album came from Joe Bonamassa, who contacted the band in 2016 to see if they would be up for going back into the studio to write and record a fourth album.
Says Joe, "I just felt the time was right for Black Country Communion to go back into the studio and write and record a new album. When I contacted Glenn, Derek and Jason, they immediately agreed to give it shot. The timing was right."
Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin
During October 2016, when news first broke about the band getting back together, things on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, started blowing up and fan reaction was overwhelming. It was clear to see that BCC fans were hungry for another album. "BCCIV"is destined to become one of the biggest hard rock albums of 2017.
Black Country Communion’s inception took place when front man and bass guitarist Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa fused their styles on stage in Los Angeles in November 2009 for an explosive performance at Guitar Center’s King of the Blues event. With the help and guidance of producer Kevin Shirley, they further added to their rock lineage by recruiting drummer Jason Bonham and keyboardist Derek Sherinian.
Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin
Taking their name from the industrial area in Britain, and the birthplace of both Hughes and Bonham, Black Country Communion released their self-titled debut album in 2010, and with that, unleashed their brand of take-no-prisoners hard rock to a world thirsting for music with substance.
Following the release of another two studio albums, 2011’s well-received Black CountryCommunion 2 and 2012’s equally impressive Afterglow, plus a smoldering live CD released in 2011, Live Over Europe, the band has firmly established themselves as one of hard rock’s premier acts. The band took a hiatus in 2013 and focused on their successful solo careers.
BCC has cultivated a reputation not only as amazing songwriters, but as a powerful live act, is only exceeded by their dedication to their craft, and a willingness to challenge and motivate each other to make the best music they can.
Photo Credit: © Christie Goodwin
When BCC’s self-titled debut album was originally released in September 2010, Classic Rock described it as "Possibly the best hard rock album of 2010," while MOJO awarded it 4 stars. Music Radar hailed the disc as "a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners."
During its first week of release in the UK, BCC’s debut album hit the #1 spot in the Official Top 40 Rock Album Chart. It was voted #3 in Classic Rock’s "Critics Album of the Year" poll, and listeners of Planet Rock crowned BCC as the Best New Band of 2010.
Issued a mere nine months later, in time for a well received slot at the High Voltage Festival in London, Black Country Communion 2 was darker and deeper than its predecessor. Once again it topped the UK’s Rock Album Chart. The band were also the recipients of the Best Breakthrough Act award at Classic Rock’s prestigious Roll Of Honour Awards. Acknowledging that more than a single listen was required to fully appreciate its "depth and artistry", the same magazine rightly called ‘BCC2’ "one stone-solid classic song after another."
Photo Credit: © Simon Jay Price
Now, seven years on from its inception, Bonamassa feels the time is right to bring the original BCC line-up back for album #4.
"We had around 4 months to write this album, and I think the results speak for themselves," comments Glenn Hughes. "All four of us wanted to make a record that stood up to the first three albums, however, the new album is more of a progression, as we wanted to be careful not to repeat the previous albums. A lot has happened since we last recorded the Aferglow album in 2013, so, in many ways, the new album shows BCC with a much harder, riffier and bigger and bolder sound. If you’re looking for a folk album, this ain’t the one."
The band assembled to record "BCCIV" at Cave Studios in Los Angeles in December 2016. The album was mixed at Cave Studios in Sydney in March 2017. The songs on "BCCIV" will appeal to all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice of Rock for nothing.
In terms of content, "BCCIV" expands upon the progression that took place between the first three albums. With an abundance of heavy riffs, undeniable hooks, melodic flair and infectious choruses, "BCCIV" is a spectacular album that gets bigger and bolder with repeated spins.
"I wanted the new album to physically shake your soul. It’s a wake-up call." explains Hughes.
All songs on the new album were co-written by Glenn Hughes and Joe Bonamassa. Glenn wrote all the lyrics on the album except for the song ‘The Last Song For My Resting Place’ which was written by Joe.
Here’s a breakdown of the songs on "BCCIV" in the words of Glenn Hughes:
COLLIDE
"I had written the riff to this song in the morning of the first day of writing BCCIV. Joe came over and I played him the riff, and we finished the song before lunch. I had a feeling that Collide would set the pace for the record."
OVER MY HEAD
"This was a song I had written after a session with Joe. It was kind of like One Last Soul where I had written a song and was unsure if it would fit our style simply because it was more mainstream. One Last Soul definitely clicked with Rock fans, and got a lot of Radio airplay. Over My Head is in the same ballpark, big groove and memorable chorus. I can hear it on the radio."
THE LAST SONG FOR MY RESTING PLACE
"I was intrigued by the notion of Wallace Hartley (violinist and band leader on the Titanic). The fact that he played everyone off the ship to the detriment of himself brings you back to a more selfless time in our history. I don't believe the conditions are around in 2017 for something or someone like that to step forward and be recognised. I felt that his story and this song played well on this album. His violin is in a private collection and survives to this day." - JB
"Joe had two parts to this song: the intro and outro where the track is suited with a mandolin and fiddle. The middle part, heavy and dramatic and dark. Absolutely love Joe's vocal on this song. A tale of the Titanic going down into the deep, and a violin that would perish alongside its many fateful passengers." - GH
SWAY
"A swagger riff leads the way on this track. We changed the groove, when Jason suggested it should have a "Smooth Criminal" Michael Jackson vibe. This was how Jason's Dad, John, would have approached it in Led Zep. I'm mesmerized by the beat in the verse, and when it hits the chorus it's full on Classic Rock, once again the vocal is carrying the message."
THE COVE
"Joe captured the mood brilliantly on this song. I'm still shaking my head in astonishment."
"I wanted to write a song about my love for dolphins. Each year thousands of these beautiful souls are murdered by hunters in the coastal town of Taiji, Japan. They are drove into the Killing Cove and brutally slaughtered. I have been working with Ric O'Barry from the Dolphin Project for four years, and told him I had written a song about this senseless and horrific scenario for BCCIV, that has been happening for decades."
"My heart aches as I watch on live stream what happens in the Cove. I ask you all to listen to this song and understand how deeply affected we all are as animal and sea life protectors. The Dolphin Project has changed my life, and to my dying day I will be of service to be a protector of all inhabitants that live in the sea. There will be a video for this song. Thanks to Ric and his son Lincoln for supplying the footage."
THE CROW
"It was time to get up out of our chairs in the writing session and stand up to find a pulse for this rock song. All push and pull, coming and sounding like the Joe and Glenn song ‘Black Country’ from BCC1. I wanted to reference the Crow, who watches over our band."
WANDERLUST
"Hats off to Joe for bringing this idea into the session with an insane verse groove. Love Derek's grand piano lead into the last verse. I wanted to take the chorus to a very melodic Abbey Road vocal vibe. I've always been a wanderer, always returning, coming home with a sense of lessons learned and never leaving my spiritual path."
LOVE REMAINS
"I wrote this song for my Dad on the flight back to the UK for his Memorial Service. When I went to record it, my Mom had also just passed away. So I sang it for the both of them. I was installed with a greater sense of gratitude. I used a mid-falsetto vocal on the chorus to add sensitivity to the melody that I had written. The content is quite simple. When the last breath is taken only love remains."
AWAKE
"A song about living forever. A song for the Loyal. A song for the evergreen. I wanted to ramp up the chorus and relive the long nights of freedom."
WHEN THE MORNING COMES
"The feeling I had with this song, was I had woken up from a dream and walked down the hill through the field to be by the water at my home. Most of my work involves themes of coming home to be by the sea. The last song on this album finds me in a safe place, almost like the ending of the Wizard of Oz, surrounded by Joe, Jason, Derek and Kevin. Our brotherhood - long may we continue."
WITH YOU I GO **
"To find someone who can share your journey, is in the hands of fate. We meet many people throughout our lives, some relationships, are life lessons on how we grow and learn.
But when you have found or met your significant other, who happens to be your soulmate is absolutely life-changing. With You I Go is a song about, whatever happens, I'm with you, because it was meant to be. I've done my best, now you can rest, on my shoulder."
** Bonus track on vinyl edition only.
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