The all-star Metal Allegiance collective — featuring present and former members of Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera, Megadeth, Lamb of God, King’s X, Judas Priest, Testament, Lacuna Coil, Dream Theater and more — will release its first album of original material on Sept. 18.
The Nuclear Blast Entertainment collection features nine songs (10 on the deluxe edition) bringing together the various musicians under the direction of Mark Menghi. The deluxe bonus track will be a cover of Dio‘s “We Rock” featuring vocals by Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy and Steve “Zero” Souza.
Metal Allegiance began as an ad hoc heavy metal covers project that’s played during the past 10 months on the Motorhead’s Motorboat and Shiprocked (where it played Van Halen‘s debut album in its entirety) cruises and as a kick-off event for this most recent NAMM convention. The material for the album was written by Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, the Winery Dogs), Alex Skolnick (Testament) and David Ellefson (Megadeth) at Portnoy’s house in New Jersey. “Metal Allegience was developed to do something different, to give the fans something new all while trying to leave a small dent in heavy metal history,” organizer Menghi says in a statement. “The foundation of Metal Allegiance is to surround ourselves with good people and good musicians. It’s not about egos. It’s not about who is a better player. It’s more about ‘Who is a good person?’ that is the foundation of Metal Allegiance.”
Anthrax‘s Charlie Benante adds that, “It grew into a fun thing for all friends and fellow musicians to be a part of,” while Philip Anselmo (ex-Pantera, Down) notes, “It’s always a pleasure to jam with such esteemed musicians and brothers.” Others contributing to the Metal Allegience album include Testament’s Chuck Billy and Gary Holt (also part of Slayer), former Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Lamb of God frontman D. Randall Blythe, guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses, Art of Anarchy), Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta, Doug Pinnick (King’s X, et al), Lacuna Coil‘s Cristina Scabbia, Sepultura‘s Andreas Kisser and more.
Menghi is hoping to coordinate more Metal Allegience shows to support the album’s release.
The full Metal Allegience track list includes:
1. “Gift Of Pain”
Vocals: D. Randall Blythe Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Gary Holt)
2. “Let Darkness Fall”
Vocals: Troy Sanders Lead, Rhythm & Acoustic Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums & Percussion: Mike Portnoy Additional Bass: Mark Menghi & Rex Brown
Additional Screams: D. Randall Blythe
3. “Can’t Kill The Devil”
Vocals: Chuck Billy Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Phil Demmel & Andreas Kisser
4. “Dying Song”
Vocals: Philip H. Anselmo Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: Mark Menghi
Drums: Mike Portnoy
5. “Scars”
Vocals: Mark Osegueda & Cristina Scabbia Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick
Bass: David Ellefson Drums: Mike Portnoy
6. “Destination: Nowhere”
Vocals: Matthew K. Heafy Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Matthew K. Heafy
7. “Wait Until Tomorrow”
Vocals: dUg Pinnick & Jamey Jasta Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson Drums, Percussion & Additional Vocals: Mike Portnoy
8. “Triangulum”
I. Creation
II. Evolution
III. Destruction
Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy
Additional Lead Guitar: Misha Mansoor, Ben Weinman, Charlie Benante, Phil Demmel, Matthew K. Heafy & Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal
9. “Pledge Of Allegiance”
Vocals: Mark Osegueda Lead & Rhythm Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Charlie Benante, Gary Holt & Andreas Kisser
10. “We Rock” (Deluxe Edition Only)
Vocals: Mark Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy & Steve “Zetro” Souza Lead & Rhythm
Guitars: Alex Skolnick Bass: David Ellefson
Drums: Mike Portnoy Additional Lead Guitar: Andreas Kisser, Phil Demmel & Gary Holt
Editor’s note: This post originally stated the material for the album was written at Mark Menghi’s house. It was Mike Portnoy’s house.