Justin Sullivan, lead singer of the English band New Model Army, will be guest vocalist on the track "The Windswept Mercy" which will appear on the new SOILWORK double album, The Living Infinite. Formed in 1980 in Bradford, England, New Model Army was and still has a very loyal following and SOILWORK frontman Björn "Speed" Strid counts himself among it.
Sullivan shares the serendipitous back-story on how he met up with Sweden’s melodic metal maestros SOILWORK:
"Some years ago, I met Björn somewhere in the deserts of the southwestern U.S. I expect we both had good reasons for being there - though things like reason get swallowed up in the strangeness of deserts. Anyway, I'm sure we were talking about deserts and the idea of desert music as Europeans always have an unending fascination with these wondrous alien places. ‘Would you sing on a SOILWORK record?’ he asked. ‘Yes, of course’ I replied, and so, many years later, I suddenly get an e-mail from SOILWORK in a studio in Stockholm at exactly the same moment NMA were in a studio in London. And by a miracle of technology was able to do a quick vocal on this great and strangely beautiful song. Perhaps you beat me to the desert music thing after all, Bjorn. Love the track. All The Best.”
SOILWORK’s Björn "Speed" Strid adds:
"It's a true honor to have one of my absolute favorite lyricists and singers, Justin Sullivan from New Model Army, contributing with guest vocals for our new album. I have been a long-time fan and I recall growing up in the small Swedish city of Landskrona, where so many people listened to the first wave of death metal AND New Model Army, including myself. I met Justin at a NMA show in Phoenix, Arizona three years ago and we talked quite a bit. He listened very patiently to my story. He also ran out to his tour bus to get his new solo album and gave it to me. I will never forget that. The man is a true legend, a gentleman, and he has a very unique presence in his voice, on stage and in his lyrics. The fact that he wanted to lend his amazing voice to ‘The Windswept Mercy’ brought me to tears. He will forever be my hero!"
SOILWORK members continue their work in the studio with producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH, BLOODBATH) recording The Living Infinite. The 2013 release will be a double album and will mark the recording debut of long-time touring guitarist David Andersson (NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA).
Next year’s world tour launch in North America marks SOILWORK’s first headlining run in this territory in almost three years. The 54-show trek through the U.S. and Canada will feature support from Jeff Loomis, Blackguard, The Browning, and Wretched. Tour dates are:
03/12/13 Empire – West Springfield, VA
03/13/13 The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
03/14/13 Bogie’s – Albany, NY
03/15/13 The Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
03/16/13 Webster Theater – Hartford, CT
03/17/13 Petit Campus – Montreal, QC – CANADA
03/18/13 Union Commerciale – Quebec City, QC – CANADA
03/19/13 Mavericks – Ottawa, ON – CANADA
03/20/13 The Opera House – Toronto, ON – CANADA
03/21/13 Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
03/22/13 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
03/23/13 Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
03/24/13 The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
03/25/13 Mojoes – Joliet, IL
03/26/13 Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA
03/27/13 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
03/28/13 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB – CANADA
03/29/13 The Exchange – Regina, SK – CANADA
03/30/13 The Distillery – Calgary, AB – CANADA
03/31/13 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB – CANADA
04/01/13 The Generator – Prince George, B.C. – CANADA
04/02/13 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, B.C. – CANADA
04/03/13 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
04/04/13 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
04/05/13 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
04/06/13 House of Blues – Hollywood, CA
04/07/13 Rocky Point Cantina – Tempe, AZ
04/08/13 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
04/09/13 Las Vegas Country Saloon – Las Vegas, NV
04/11/13 In The Venue – Salt Lake City, UT
04/12/13 Go
