FOZZY Frontman CHRIS JERICHO: 'We've Finally Figured Out What Our Sound Is After All These Records'

In a brand new interview with Australia's Loud, FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho spoke about the success of the band's latest single and title track of the group's forthcoming album, "Judas". Asked why he thinks the song has resonated so strongly with audiences, Jericho said: "Well, we've had successful songs in our past, but I think there's a couple of factors. I think it's the right song at the right place at the right time. I think people have been hearing about FOZZY for years, and there's a lot of people that have heard of us, but never actually listened to us. And when they finally give us a shot and check us out, they like it. So I think that has a lot to do with it, and I think a very cool video really spiked it and took it to the next level. And also the song itself — it's a song that everybody can relate to. The lyrics, that feeling of betraying yourself, knowing that you're making the wrong decision… Even though you know it's the wrong decision; drinking that last shot before you go to bed, or cheating on your girlfriend or whatever it may be. I think it's a combination of the lyrics, the hook, the situation, the band."

He continued: "We weren't ready for this a couple of years ago, and now we are. Whatever the reasons, you can really see that things have really changed for us in the past few months, in a good way."

Jericho also talked about the evolution of the FOZZY songwriting process over the course of the last several albums. "Well, it changed quite a bit on this record because we decided to use an outside producer, which we've never had before," he explained. "We always had, between Rich [Ward, guitar] and I, we produced the record and kind of had the final say. But we decided to bring in Johnny Andrews, who we had worked with on the 'Do You Wanna Start A War' record on the song 'Lights Go Out'. We said, 'Listen, we're gonna do this with Johnny at the helm. Johnny's gonna be the boss, he's gonna call the shots,' and he had a lot to do with the songwriting. He was very adamant about some songs; maybe they didn't have a guitar solo because it doesn't need it. It's about making it a better song. It doesn't have a high scream on it, [but] it doesn't need it to make it a better song. We really focused in on the actual songwriting, focused in on the hooks, the melodies and the choruses, and making this record ten or eleven singles, much like 'Appetite For Destruction', 'Hysteria' or 'Kick' by INXS, whereas it's just one song after another after another. And that's what we kind of focused in on; we wanted eleven singles, and I think we've got that. It's also very diverse, which we've never had a problem with as well. So I think what you have is a very exciting record and the best of FOZZY's career. We've finally figured out what our sound is after all these records, and we nailed it on 'Judas'."

"Judas" is scheduled for release on October 13 via Century Media.

FOZZY will embark on "Fozzy Across America" later this month. The event will consist of three live performances in three separate cities and three different timezones in just one day — a feat that has never been attempted before by any other group.