STONE SOUR Drummer Says Guitarist CHRISTIAN MARTUCCI Was 'Biggest Spark Of All' During Making Of 'Hydrograd'

In a brand new interview with Distorted Sound, STONE SOUR drummer Roy Mayorga spoke about the role the band's latest addition, guitarist Christian Martucci, played during the making of STONE SOUR's new album, "Hydrograd". "Christian was definitely the biggest spark of all," he said. "He came in with a bunch of sketches and a bunch of ready-made tunes, and, of course, we refined them. He ended up being the cook after a while. I would show him riffs or send him riffs through e-mail or whatever, or we'd get together and show him riffs, and he'd come back to me with full songs from one riff. Johny [Chow, bass], same thing — he'd have a couple of riffs and I'd have a couple of riffs, and he would stick them together and come up with some really great stuff. You know, Corey [Taylor, vocals] brought in some stuff, Josh [Rand, guitar] brought in some stuff, but most of it was Christian. He brought in a lot, like a lot. It was the kick in the ass this band really needed, I mean, it really pushed us to a whole other level, I think. I think it brought the best out of everyone. Everyone brought the best out of each other on this record, for sure. I think that's the best way to sum it up. Especially when we got into the recording studio, us being in a room together and feeding off each other's vibes really brought out a lot in everybody, it was great. It really was. A really great experience. Probably the best experience I've had in a studio in a very, very long time, I have to say."

STONE SOUR in 2015 named Martucci as the permanent replacement for Jim Root, who was dismissed from the band in late 2013 after he decided to sit out the group's last tour in order to begin working on the new SLIPKNOT album. Martucci was recruited to play on that tour and was confirmed as a permanent member in March 2015 in a Facebook post.

Root did not speak kindly of STONE SOUR in interviews after he was fired, saying, "Some of the guys in STONE SOUR, I think they just want to be a radio band and write strictly for radio and try to be more of a poppy rock band. And that's not really what I'm into. There's at least one guy in the band that's only concerned about money. I really have no desire to associate with people like that anymore."

Root played on all five STONE SOUR studio records to date, including 2010's "Audio Secrecy" and the band's last collection of original music, "House Of Gold And Bones", a double concept album which was released in two parts in 2012 and 2013.

"Hydrograd" will be released on June 30 via Roadrunner Records. The disc was recorded at Sphere Studios in North Hollywood, California with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX and STEEL PANTHER.

The band tracked the album live in the studio, cutting a total of 18 songs from which 15 will make the CD.