BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION: New Song Available For Free Download

"Confessor", a brand new song from BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION — the Anglo-American rock group comprising vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, TRAPEZE),drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN, FOREIGNER),Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL) and blues-rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa — is available for free download at this location (e-mail sign-up required). The track comes off the band's third album, "Afterglow", which will be released on October 30 (one day earlier internationally).

Just like its two predecessors, "Afterglow" was overseen by Kevin Shirley, whose catalog of hit records for LED ZEPPELIN, IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH, JOURNEY, THE BLACK CROWES and many more has made him one of the hottest producers that rock music has to offer. Shirley — who had the idea of putting Hughes and Bonamassa together in a band together after seeing them jamming onstage in Los Angeles back in November 2009 — is the group's unofficial "fifth member."

The additions of Jason Bonham, esteemed son of LED ZEPPELIN's John, who took his father's place when the legendary group made musical history by reuniting at London's O2 Arena in December 2007, and the in-demand Derek Sherinian, made them a force to be reckoned with. An air of expectancy and excitement greets the unveiling of "Afterglow".

When issued in September 2010, BCC's self-titled debut was described by Classic Rock magazine as "possibly the best hard rock album of 2010," while Mojo magazine awarded it 4 stars. Music Radar hailed the disc as "a potent and stomping collection of riff-heavy rockers that will undoubtedly stun listeners."

During its first week of release in the U.K., the album hit the #1 spot in the official Top 40 Rock Albums chart. It was voted #3 in Classic Rock magazine's "Critics Album Of The Year" poll, and listeners of Planet Rock radio crowned BCC as the "Best New Band" of 2010.

Issued a mere nine months later, in time for a well-received slot at the High Voltage festival in London, "Black Country Communion 2" was darker and deeper than its predecessor. Once again it topped the U.K.'s Rock Albums chart. The band were also the recipients of the "Best Breakthrough Act" award at Classic Rock magazine's prestigious Roll Of Honour ceremony. Acknowledging that more than a single listen was required to fully appreciate its "depth and artistry," the same magazine rightly called "BCC2" "one stone-solid classic song after another."

This time, with Bonamassa busy notching up the miles to promote his biggest solo record to date — "Driving Towards The Daylight" reached No. 2 in the U.K.'s Top 40 Albums chart — BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION (the distinctive name is a reference to the industrial area in the Midlands of Great Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised) had far more time to prepare "Afterglow"… and it shows.

"There were six months to write this album, and I'm really excited by the way it came out," comments Glenn Hughes, the man responsible for the bulk of its contents. "I wanted to make a record that stood up to the first two, but not to repeat either of those records. There would be absolutely no point beginning it with a song like 'Black Country' [the distinctively energetic track that kicked off the debut]."

The band assembled to record "Afterglow" in a studio in Westlake Village, about 70 miles outside of Hollywood, during five supremely productive days. Its 11 songs are set to delight all fans of high quality hard rock, also those that admire singers of distinction. Hughes is not known as The Voice Of Rock for nothing.

In terms of content, "Afterglow" expands upon the progression that took place between "BCC" and "BCC2". Rich in hooks, melodies and choruses, it's nonetheless another of those highly rewarding albums that bears additional fruit with repeated spins.

"I wanted this album to have more acoustic moments than the previous two," explains Hughes. "I wanted to hear more of Derek [Sherinian] and I wanted the more angelic voice of Glenn as well as the more aggressive one which is there on songs like 'Crawl' and 'Midnight Sun'. Above all, I wanted more drama."

Hughes shares lead vocals with Bonamassa on the song "Cry Freedom". "The vocal sound that Kevin got on this record is second to none — it's his best work yet with BCC," believes Hughes. "We butted heads a little on the first and second albums, simply because we're both control freaks, but this was the record on which Kevin and Glenn became friends."

Indeed, Hughes speaks of Shirley in the most glowing terms. "Kevin only needs three hours of sleep per night; he's hyper and super-intelligent," says Glenn. "He cracks the whip but he also knows exactly what he's talking about when it comes to music."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION hopes to tour "Afterglow" at the start of 2013.

"Confessor" audio stream:

Webisode #1:

Trailer:

Photo credit: Christie Goodwin