Black Stone Cherry will release their sixth studio album, 'Family Tree', via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group on 20th April 2018.
'Burnin'', the first taste of the new offering is available today and here's the lyric video. 'Famiy Tree' is available to pre-order, in several different formats right here.
'Family Tree' is the much-anticipated follow up to 2016s 'Kentucky', which debuted at number five in the Official UK Album Chart. Like 'Kentucky', Black Stone Cherry' opted to self-produce and track the new album at David Barrick's Barrick Recording in Glasgow, KY, the same studio where the four-piece recorded their eponymous debut.
The band also opted to not over-rehearse upfront of the album sessions, instead preferring the immediacy and spontaneity of in-the-moment takes. The band also entrusted frontman Chris Robertson to mix the songs, which perfectly fit the loose, creative process that birthed 'Family Tree'.
'Family Tree' boasts BSC's tried-and-true lucky number with its thirteen songs, and like all BSC releases, features songwriting contributions from each member. Drummer John Fred tells us:
"'Family Tree' showcases all of our collective musical influences and how we have taken those to create something that is truly our own unique Southern American rock'n'roll sound."
Two special guests appear, one bringing the concept of family full circle. Chris' five-year-old son contributes backing vocals on the swaggering 'You Got The Blues', while the other, revered jam-band musician Warren Haynes (Allman Bros/Gov't Mule) offers a guitar cameo and vocals on the delta stomp of 'Dancing In The Rain'. The band first met Warren seventeen years ago as freshly-signed youngsters on their first visit to New York City.
The concept of family looms large in the world of the four band members. Sticksman John Fred Young's father, Richard, and his uncle Fred, are founding members of the Grammy Award-winning country rock'n'roots band, The Kentucky HeadHunters. BSC's four high school-aged friends - Young, plus frontman/guitarist Chris Robertson, guitarist Ben Wells and bassist Jon Lawhon - grew up honing their craft in the Headhunters' Practice House, an abandoned property on the Young family's farmland. John Fred says:
"We grew up in the Kentucky Headhunters' rehearsal space, looking up at posters of Cream, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, the Stones, Montrose and the Faces. We were like kids someone took in a time capsule and put in the woods."
'Family Tree' tracklisting: Bad Habit Burnin'
New Kinda Feelin Carry Me On Down The Road My Last Breath Southern Fried Friday Night Dancin' In The Rain (featuring Warren Haynes) Ain't Nobody James Brown You Got The Blues I Need A Woman Get Me Over You Family Tree
Black Stone Cherry's first visit to UK shores in 2018 will be as direct special guests to Guns N' Roses on the main stage at Download Festival on Saturday 9th June. Tickets for Download 2018 are on sale now right here.