Absolute Power, the heavy metal project from Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury and vocalist and producer Simon Efemey, drops the title track from their upcoming second album, Needs Must When the Devil Drives, featuring former Judas Priest and Iced Earth vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens, out November 6 via Time To Kill Records. Stream it now and pre-order below.
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Fifteen years after their self-titled debut, Absolute Power return with a powerful celebration of classic heavy metal drawing from the timeless legacy of Judas Priest, Saxon, Black Sabbath, Dio, and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The title track speaks directly to the working-class West Midlands upbringing Embury and Efemey shared.
Embury explains: “This song, whilst being title track of our new record, also talks about how both Simon and I grew up in the West Midlands listening to heavy metal of the 1980s , all the classics as you would expect. The areas where we both came from were very much industrial areas. Working-class families and for us, as teenagers, heavy metal was our escape from the everyday realities of our areas; you did what you had to just to get by. Needs must when the devil drives!”
Efemey describes the album’s spirit: “I want people to have a good time in the old school way. I want them to forget the mundane, boring or horrible parts of their jobs. I want them to forget themselves for a couple of hours. That’s what good music should allow us all to do.”
Needs Must When the Devil Drives features an impressive guest list. Tim “Ripper” Owens returns after appearing on the debut, delivering his unmistakable screams on the title track. The Mission and Tricky guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite adds subtle goth-tinged textures across several songs. Napalm Death guitarist John Cooke and drummer Carl Stokes of Cancer and The Groundhogs also appear, alongside additional guitarists Dominik Gryzbon and Ilsa Nielson and drummer Joe Taylor. The album also features a cover of Queen‘s 1978 classic “Sheer Heart Attack.”
TRACKLIST
- Needs Must When the Devil Drives (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens)
- Saviour
- Kernschmelze
- Stand Up and Be Counted
- Within
- Mountain of Hope
- Insanity
- Hammer of Justice
- Praise the Fire
- Sheer Heart Attack
- Orphans of the Storm
LINE-UP
Simon Efemey — vocals, production
Shane Embury — bass, additional instruments (Napalm Death)
Guests:
Tim “Ripper” Owens — vocals (ex-Judas Priest, Iced Earth)
Mark Gemini Thwaite — guitars (The Mission, Tricky)
John Cooke — guitar (Napalm Death)
Carl Stokes — drums (Cancer, The Groundhogs)
Joe Taylor — drums
Dominik Gryzbon — lead guitar
Ilsa Nielson — lead guitar