Marty Friedman's 'Inferno' Set for Release this May; Details Revealed

Widely respected as the most influential lead guitarist in thrash metal history, MARTY FRIEDMAN has confirmed the final track listing for "Inferno," his first solo album of original material in four years, and his first recording in more than a decade that will be released worldwide simultaneously.

Due out in late May via Prosthetic Records (except in Japan, where the album will be released by Universal Music), "Inferno" -- recorded primarily in Los Angeles with engineer Chris Rakestraw (Danzig, Children of Bodom) and mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Amon Amarth) -- features what FRIEDMAN recently told Guitar World is "the most intense writing and playing I can do." The album also includes notable guest appearances by several artists influenced by FRIEDMAN, including flamenco/metal acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, Children of Bodom front man Alexi Laiho, Skyharbor mastermind Keshav Dhar and Revocation guitar whiz David Davidson, as well as FRIEDMAN's first songwriting collaboration with Jason Becker since the pair played together in Cacophony, the pioneering duo of guitar mayhem.

In addition, "Inferno" breaks all genre rules and creates new ones with an exhilarating and musically daring mash-up with Jørgen Munkeby of the acclaimed "blackjazz" act Shining, as well as two tracks featuring vocals by rock guru Danko Jones. Overall, "Inferno" is by far FRIEDMAN's most thrilling and adventurous effort to date. The full track listing is as follows:

1. Inferno
2. Resin
3. Wicked Panacea (feat. Rodrigo y Gabriela)
4. Steroidhead (feat. Keshav Dhar)
5. I Can't Relax (feat. Danko Jones)
6. Meat Hook (feat. Jørgen Munkeby)
7. Hyper Doom
8. Sociopaths (feat. David Davidson)
9. Lycanthrope (feat. Alexi Laiho & Danko Jones)
10. Undertow
11. Horrors (co-written by Jason Becker)
12. Inferno -reprise-

"Steroidhead" -- hailed by Rolling Stone as a "mix of searing solos and chugging prog-metal riffs" -- was unveiled last month prior to the annual NAMM convention, where FRIEDMAN introduced a new Paul Reed Smith signature series guitar and performed live before capacity crowds at the PRS and Roland/Boss demonstration booths. Check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloECYg6bWc

"I'm extremely proud of the work I've done with Cacophony and Megadeth, but I was never interested in looking back or stopping there," FRIEDMAN says. "'Inferno' is the album that fans of my work with those two bands have always wanted me to make. I've finally made it, and completely on my own maniacal terms."

FRIEDMAN will kick off a world tour for "Inferno" in May, when he teams with Gus G for a European tour. Dates are listed below. Soon after, FRIEDMAN will return to America for his first tour of his home country in more than a decade. Stay tuned for further information.

"Inferno" North American street date: May 27, 2014
"Inferno" UK street date: May 26, 2014
"Inferno" EU street date: May 23, 2014
"Inferno" Japanese street date: May 21, 2014

MARTY FRIEDMAN & GUS G LIVE DATES:
5/1 Tampere,FL - Klubi #
5/2 Helsinki, FL - Nosturi #
5/3 Stockholm, SW - Stockholm Rocks Festival #
5/5 Gothenburg, SW- Tradgarn #
5/7 Malmo, SW - KB #
5/9 Krakow, PL - Lizard King #
5/10 Warsaw, PL - Progreja #
5/12 Munich,DE - Backstage #
5/13 Colmar, FR - Grillen #
5/15 Essen, DE - Turock #
5/16 Zoetermeer, NL - De Boerderij #
5/17 Hasselt, BE - Muziekodroom #
5/18 Uden, NL - De Pul #
5/20 Savigny Le Temple, FR - L'impriente #
5/21 London, UK - O2 Academy Islington #
5/22 Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall #

#with Gus G.

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