Chicago heavy rockers SOIL have tapped Phoenix-based musician Mitch Gable (ECHOES THE FALL) as their new touring drummer.

Commented SOIL singer Ryan McCombs: "Our hope since Tim [King, bass], Adam [Zadel, guitar] and myself got back together was to keep the drummer position a revolving door. Mitch Gable is currently scheduled to do the U.K./Europe run, as well as he is also the drummer that did the last run with (HED)P.E. with us. [He's a] really good drummer and good guy to have on the road."

In a recent interview with Jake Serd and Ken Kirby of 94.9 K-Rock, McCombsspoke about SOIL's future plans, including the release of a new studio album, which is tentatively scheduled for next year. Several songs have already been written for te effort, which the singer says will "pick up where [2004's] 'Redefine' left off. I love the material that we're writing, and that's the feeling that I get from it," he said. "At the same time, ['Redefine' came out] seven years ago, so I'm sure there's gonna be some change."

He continued, "A lot of fans I ran into on the road just in the past few weeks made comments that they felt like, you had [2001's] 'Scars' and you had 'Redefine' and then really… I'm not dissing anything. The [other SOIL] guys, I think, put out two really good albums [with another singer] after I left. But it's just the way… Usually, when people listen to music, it's kind of the voice that catches people's ears. I'm not putting myself up on [a pedestal] by saying that, but at the same time, it's just kind of the reality of the business. So people were saying how it was kind of like those next two DROWNING POOL albums [with me on vocals] were… that was the follow-up to the first two SOIL records as far as that vocal sound. And I think this [new SOIL CD] is just gonna be the next one in line.

"I love the material we're doing and it's feeling good. I hope the people that loved 'Scars' and 'Redefine' see that natural progression."

SOIL will hit the road with FOZZY on a nine-date U.K. tour launching November 27 in Stoke, England and wrapping up December 6 in Brighton, England. The trek marks both bands' first return to the United Kingdom since highly successful appearances at this year's Download festival. The tour will also feature the U.K.'s own BREED 77.

SOIL released its first-ever DVD, entitled "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars", on May 8 via Bieler Bros. Records. The two-disc set, which was recorded live on October 14, 2011 at Electric Ballroom in London, England, contains an audio CD version of the same concert. Also included is over one hour of backstage and behind-the-scenes bonus footage and photos.

SOIL's recording lineup for "Re-LIVE-Ing The Scars" consisted of founding members Ryan McCombs (vocals; ex-DROWNING POOL), Tim King (bass) and Adam Zadel (guitar) alongside former STAIND drummer Jon Wysocki.

Photo below courtesy of Mitch Gable's Facebook page