When I first opened the stream to review the latest effort from Zakk Wylde and crew, the first thing I saw was the song title “Losin’ Your Mind.” Some of my favorite tunes from Wylde come from his first side project Pride and Glory. One of those tunes was called “Losin’ Your Mind.” When I saw that song as the first track, I didn’t know what to think. Was this a new song with the same name? Did he record it again with Black Label Society? Nope, Unblackened was a live recording. Holy Crap!! I thought. Could Wylde still sing like that? Did this signal a change of sound for Black Label Society? Did it mean that Wylde was going to break out the rebel flag Les Paul that his road techs named the “Tetanus Special” due to all the rusted beer bottle caps that Wylde hammered into the guitar with finishing nails? Well, time will tell.

 

 

For now, Unblackened serves as the best of Zakk Wylde. Recorded earlier this year in high definition at Los Angeles’ Club Nokia, Unblackened is Black Label Society presenting its songs in a whole new light, with greater use of acoustic instrumentation.

 

Wylde plays both guitar and piano, with Nick Catanase on guitar, John DeServio on bass/vocals, Chad Szeliga on drums, Derek Sherinian on keyboards/piano, and Greg Locascio providing additional vocals.

 

Although Zakk Wylde has won many best metal guitarist awards, the Southern rock side of Zakk Wylde is where he shines. Maybe that is why he started Unblackened with the song “Losin’ Your Mind.” Perhaps the next Black Label Society album will be called The Southern Chapter of Metal.