It is impossible not to like Zakk Wylde, Ozzy’s faithful lieutenant for many years, the obvious stand-in for Dimebag on the Pantera tours, and purveyor of the shred for over 30 years with his own unit, Black Label Society. Eleven albums in, and here we go with the latest BLS release, Engines Of Demolition.
Black Label Society – Engines Of Demolition
Release Date: 27 March 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
Engines Of Demolition sees Wylde deliver an album that started life in 2022, following on from Doom Inc. Those four years have been one wild ride. Pantera, Back To The Beginning, and his great friend Ozzy’s death.
So it’s no wonder that this release sees Black Label Society provide everything from the explosive radio-friendly single Name In Blood through to the heartfelt passion of ballad Ozzy’s Song.
There are, of course, plenty of riffs, plenty of solos, and Wylde’s distinctive vocals that have always echoed his fallen boss. “Engines of Demolition is a sincere ride through the peaks and valleys of the last four years from start to finish, some of the highest highs and lowest lows and everything in between.”
Thirteen songs on any release can often be a little long for me, and over the years, BLS songs have, on occasion, blended into each other. For me, that has always been the challenge. Ample bangers but a little bit of filler that pads out the album.
That does not take away anything about the quality of the playing, and once again we see Zakk’s three trusty companions, John DeServio, Jeff Fabb and Dario Lorina putting in a solid shift.
You will be familiar with Name In Blood, a scorcher of an opener, ample melody underpinned by plenty of catchy riffs that have earned it a place on the Planet Rock playlist no less.
It is followed by the similarly infectious Gatherer Of Souls, with its definitive Sabbath vibe, alongside The Gallows, which is anchored in the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath era.
Then there is some beautiful bluesy swagger on tracks such as The Hand Of Tomorrows Grave and the powerful Above & Below, with its gentle juxtaposition between hard rock and gentle choral harmonies.
The thunder continues with the thick riffs of Broken & Blind, which sit with some of the band’s earlier style, a Southern swagger mixed with a grungy feel and of course, some blistering shredding.
It is preceded by the first deep voyage into the soul on Better Days & Wiser Times, an honest ballad which Zakk does so well. Back To Me continues in the same vein, evidence that there are few better at combining the skull crusher riff with the most tender dives into the heart and soul.
As Zakk will tell you, everything about BLS starts and ends with the riff. He is a demon on the fretboard, and some of his best work in aeons features here. Back To Me sees a gorgeous burst of finger work that contrasts with the beautiful riff that runs through the song.
For me, it is when he hits the heavy riff that Black Label Society really get into their stride, and there is one fat beast on Lord Humungus that really gets you moving. You are already two-thirds into the album, and to be fair, there is little to dislike so far.
More big riffs dominate Pedal To The Floor before a measured, emotional Broken Pieces leads to the final couple of tracks. Although I have been critical of the number of songs on previous BLS albums, this one really flows without distraction. Playing it in the car on a sunny Sunday felt right, all songs working as the miles passed.
The finale is Ozzy’s Song, and you will find Zakk at his most emotional since he penned In This River. (It is a misconception that he wrote that for Dimebag, though he did dedicate it to the Pantera axeman).
I am not a huge ballad fan, but you would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by this tribute to the Prince Of Darkness. Few will have felt Ozzy’s death as keenly as Zakk after all.
51 minutes of guitar-heavy music with plenty of groove. Mix in emotional lyrical content, phenomenal playing and songs that work and for me, Engines Of Demolition is one of Black Label Society’s most solid albums of their entire career.
Black Label Society have announced a run of UK headline shows with support from Venom inc.
Black Label Society release Engines Of Demolition on 27 March 2026 via Spinefarm. Album pre-orders and tour tickets are available from linktr.ee/zakkwyldebls.
