JOE LYNN TURNER Is Collaborating With PETER TÄGTGREN On 'Deep, Dark And Heavy' Album

Legendary hard rock vocalist Joe Lynn Turner has confirmed that he is collaborating with Swedish producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren on a new album, to be released in early 2020.

"I actually did a show for [Peter's] brother's birthday once; his brother's a big fan," the former RAINBOW and DEEP PURPLE singer told Ginza at last month's Sweden Rock Festival (see video below). "And the next thing you know, we were hooking up. He sent me a track, and I wrote lyrics and melodies, and he came back and he loved it, and we started to do a record. So now we're about seven tracks into the record. Our schedules are pretty tough, with touring and all, but we're getting together the beginning of October [to] finish the record [and then we'll be] shopping the record."

Regarding the musical direction of the upcoming LP, Joe said: "I think people are gonna be extremely surprised, because it's a whole another side of me. [It's] very heavy. It's kind of classic rock meets industrial metal — or, as I would say, it's kind of like DEEP PURPLE meets PAIN. It's the best of both worlds, and it doesn't sound like anyone… There's no filler; it's all great songs. Deep content — none of this 'rock me, baby' stuff. It's really deep, dark and heavy stuff."

As for a possible release date for the record, Turner said: "I would say, to be fair, very early spring next year, because a label needs 90 days. They always need 90 days. I don't know why they need 90 days, but they need 90 days."

According to Joe, there are "absolutely" plans for him and the PAIN and HYPOCRISY leader to tour in support of the upcoming disc. "But you know what? We're not gonna put the cart before the horse," he said. "Right now we're getting the music down."

Turner's career spans more than 40 years and includes collaborations with the likes of RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Tägtgren is the founder and co-founder of PAIN, HYPOCRISY and LINDEMANN, as well as the owner of a successful recording studio in Sweden. Most of his time is devoted to The Abyss studio, where has worked on many classic albums, including those by DIMMU BORGIR, IMMORTAL, ENSLAVED, DARK FUNERAL and CHILDREN OF BODOM.