In a recent interview with Metal Hammer, guitar icon Zakk Wylde opened up about the albums that have profoundly shaped his life. When tasked with naming a record that fans would be shocked to find in his personal collection, the Black Label Society frontman selected The Fame, the 2008 debut album from pop superstar Lady Gaga.
Expressing his genuine admiration for her musical talents, Zakk Wylde stated:
“I think Lady Gaga is f**king awesome. Have you ever seen her play piano? She’ll sit down and really throw down something. Aside from all the crazy outfits, she’s a really f**king good musician and she writes all that s**t too. Check out YouTube, ‘Lady Gaga Led Zeppelin’. It’s her with dark hair playing in a little club in a cover band, before she became Lady Gaga.”
While celebrating unexpected influences, Zakk Wylde is also gearing up for the release of Black Label Society‘s highly anticipated new studio album, Engines Of Demolition. Scheduled to arrive on March 27 via MNRK Heavy, the 15-track record serves as the official follow-up to their 2021 release, Doom Crew Inc..
Fans have already gotten a taste of the heavy new material through four previously released singles: “Name In Blood“, “Broken And Blind“, “The Gallows“, and “Lord Humungus“. The upcoming LP will also feature a special track titled “Ozzy’s Song“, serving as a dedicated tribute to Zakk Wylde‘s long-time mentor and Black Sabbath legend, Ozzy Osbourne.
Zakk Wylde founded Black Label Society in 1998, perfectly balancing his role as a frontman with his duties as Ozzy Osbourne‘s trusted lead guitarist—a position he originally secured nearly 40 years ago by sending in a demo cassette as a teenager. Throughout his storied career, he has appeared on the cover of Guitar World over a dozen times and provided his signature riffs for classic Ozzy Osbourne albums including No More Tears (1991), Ozzmosis (1995), and Black Rain (2007). Notably, 2020’s Ordinary Man remains the only Osbourne solo effort he has not played on since joining the camp.
Official tracklist for Engines Of Demolition:
- “Name In Blood“
- “Gatherer Of Souls“
- “The Hand Of Tomorrows Grave“
- “Better Days & Wiser Times“
- “Broken And Blind“
- “The Gallows“
- “Above & Below“
- “Back To Me“
- “Lord Humungus“
- “Pedal To The Floor“
- “Broken Pieces“
- “The Stranger“
- “Ozzy’s Song“
- “Name In Blood (Unblackened)“
- “Lord Humungus (Unblackened)“
