Los Angeles, California: How many metal musicians does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Who cares? They shorted out the entire grid hours ago. And you’re maybe going to want to think about buying your own portable generator as Nuclear Messiah draw closer.
Because, if you want to talk metal supergroups, super sessions, super whatever-you-like, Nuclear Messiah has not only got them all beat. It also has even the doughtiest hard rock warrior cowering in a corner, probably wearing ear protectors, and simply marveling at the cast of superstars filing through the studios as the sessions came together.
There’s 36 of them altogether, a staggering lineup representing every era of heavy music, and uniting icons from thrash, classic rock, hard rock, and progressive metal. And not one of them has phasers on anything less than stun - and that includes Captain Kirk, William Shatner, who voices the opening “The Prophet of Fallout.”
A thunderous all-star concept set, the forthcoming album’s called Black Flame - and how appropriate is that? The God of Hellfire himself, Arthur Brown, starred on Nuclear Messiah’s first single, a cover of Lucifer’s Friend’s classic “Ride The Sky,” before Christmas (watch it at https://youtu.be/yEaLCjdy2hk); now the new year opens with the incendiary title track, “Black Flame” itself. It’s a Chris Poland original and, for anyone schooled in the art of Megadeth’s most combustible albums, you can already guess what that means.
The heart of Nuclear Messiah, Poland’s melodic fluidity, experimental phrasing, and sheer command of tone have inspired generations. From Megadeth’s Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? to his work in OHM and Damn the Machine, Poland’s guitar sound remains one of the most distinctive in modern music.
“Chris isn’t just a guitarist — he’s a spirit of sound,” says Brian Perera, Cleopatra’s founder and the album’s executive producer. “Nuclear Messiah was built around his brilliance and brought to life by an army of legends who share his passion and precision.”
Poland isn’t the only Megadeath-er in sight, either. “Black Flame” also features fellow Mega-alumni Glen Drover (guitar) and Chris Adler (drums), alongside vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow), keyboardist Jonathan Cain (Journey) and bassist Phil Soussan (Ozzy).
It's a line-up to make your ears bleed just thinking about it.
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/nuclearmessiah_blackflamesingle
