With Pantera on hiatus, singer Philip Anselmo is using the time to explore his musical interests and rock influences for varied projects. Aside from recording with the New Orleans speed-flavored hard rock act Down, the vocalist is also fronting the exceedingly aggressive Superjoint Ritual, whose debut release, “Use Once and Destroy,” is due May 21 from Sanctuary.
With a lineup featuring Anselmo (guitars/vocals), Eyehategod/Corrosion Of Conformity/Down’s Jimmy Bower (guitar), Hank Williams III (bass), and Demonseeds’ Kevin Bond (guitar), and Joe Fazzio (drums), Superjoint Ritual may be a supergroup of hardcore proportions. But Anselmo tells Billboard.com that
the project developed out of a mutual love for a style no longer in fashion.
“Basically, it’s a bunch of guys with a love of the music that came out of the mid-to-late ’80s that miss it terribly and hear what is going on today,” he says. “We want to get back the f***in’ balls and the reality of the music that was coming out back then. Not dressed up, not image before substance. We’re a substance band.”
Eight years in the making, “Use Once And Destroy” began as an outlet for friends to jam. Eventually with a few demos recorded, the group added Williams III, normally a guitarist, on bass. In addition, Anselmo plays guitar on the album, which is a first for him. Overall, the results are a sandblast of metal that spews acerbic vocals with an unrelenting din.
As its debut tour nears a June 7 kick-off in Atlanta, Anselmo says the group’s live show will mirror its studio intensity. “Not a lot of gimmicks,” he offers. “Basically, just music and energy from guys that mean it. Just back down to the true roots of what music is.”
Thus far, only eight dates are confirmed, but shows are being lined up for San Antonio, Texas; Los Angeles; New Orleans; Minneapolis; Cleveland; Kansas City, Mo.; San Francisco; Phoenix; Houston; Dallas; and Denver.
Despite his numerous side projects, Pantera fans shouldn’t read too much into Anselmo’s recent diversions. Looking to express himself in different means, the menacing singer says once his commitments are through, Pantera will hopefully regroup in late fall to record a new album for a tentative early 2003 release.
Here are Superjoint Ritual’s tour dates:
June 7: Atlanta (Masquerade)
June 8: Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
June 9: Philadelphia (Trocadero)
June 11: Worcester, Mass. (Palladium)
June 12: New York (the World)
June 13: Pittsburgh (Metropol)
June 15: Detroit (Harpo’s)
June 17: Chicago (House of Blues)
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