A few of steel’s high gamers have united to kind a brand new band that can make their presence felt in 2023. The band’s identify is Elegant Weapons and it options members of Judas Priest, Pantera and Rainbow.
There’s some critical pedigree right here with Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner and drummer Scott Travis becoming a member of Pantera bassist Rex Brown and Rainbow and MSG singer Ronnie Romero within the new band. And there is one other Priest tie, as Andy Sneap has been working with band producing their spring 2023 full-length debut titled Horns for a Halo.
The group has signed to Nuclear Blast Data for his or her forthcoming album, and issues are beginning to fall into place for his or her arrival.
“It’s thrilling to be a part of a label like Nuclear Blast that has such a wealthy historical past and stage of respect amongst followers and the music business,” says Faulkner. “Monte Conner [Nuclear Blast VP A&R] is aware of Andy Sneap properly, and Andy has all the time held Monte and label in very excessive regard. Monte has cherished the file from the very early demo levels. It’s very priceless and essential to me that the label I signal with perceive and join with the music. This file represents for me extra of my DNA as a guitar participant and a songwriter. Heavy, however transferring barely exterior the realms of ‘heavy steel.’ These roots are apparent, however I needed to succeed in in a bit and see what else got here out that wasn’t essentially ‘anticipated.’”
Conner provides of his new signees, “I’m such an enormous fan of all of the gamers concerned, particularly Richie. As a diehard Priest fan, I’ve loved watching assist breathe new life into the band and add to their unbelievable story and legacy. What a tremendous participant he’s. Individuals all the time give attention to leads, and naturally Richie is a grasp in that division, however I can take heed to him play rhythm guitar all day lengthy! His rhythm taking part in is simply so tasteful and magical. I can’t await followers to listen to this album and uncover how multi-faceted he’s.”
Talking about how the band got here collectively, Faulkner acknowledged, “I’ve all the time needed to make a file with Scott exterior of Priest. Add to that Rex Brown’s unmistakable tone and perspective is one thing particular. Having these guys because the rhythm part is a guitar gamers dream. The icing on the cake was Ronnie Romero. One of many new breed of immediately basic vocalists, Ronnie introduced a personality and a swagger to the songs that’s immediately iconic, making these songs his personal.”
Faulkner describes the band calling it “a mixture of Jimi Hendrix, Priest, Sabbath, solo Ozzy and Black Label Society – heavy, catchy, and with melody.” He goes on so as to add, “[It’s] kind of old-fashioned and trendy without delay if that makes any sense, and truly down-tuned a complete step. The Marshall Plexi mainly does one factor, however you’ve bought to crank it to 11 for it to have that distorted sound. It hasn’t bought lots of bells and whistles on it or completely different channels and results. It mainly does one factor and does it very properly. However once more down-tuning creates extra of a contemporary sound, and by utilizing the basic sound of the Marshall Plexi, you get that juxtaposition, that distinction. All advised, there are lots of guitar solos and the songs are on the heavier facet. And though there’s lots of melody, it’s nonetheless going to shake your bones.”
Faulkner provides that there is just one mellow music on their file, a “kind of smoky, haunted, New Orleans form of tune known as ‘Ghost of You,'” Different songs he is hyping forward of the album launch embody “White Horse” and the Horns for a Halo title monitor that he calls “Tony Iommi crossed with Alice in Chains” that is about justifying unhealthy issues which have been carried out.
Bear in mind the identify – Elegant Weapons will likely be arriving within the spring of 2023.
