Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals: Walk Through Exits Only – new album

According to Greg Prato, AllMusic, he is “known primarily as the over-the-top, drill instructor-like frontman for heavy metal titans PANTERA”. Well, he is much more than that and his first solo album, ‘Walk Through The Exits Only’, is currently streaming in full here (Revolver Magazine). Released in North America on PHILIP H. ANSELMO's own Housecore Records on July 16th, 2013, ‘Walk Through The Exits Only’ comes out internationally tomorrow, July 19th, 2013, through Season Of Mist. Philip H. Anselmo and THE ILLEGALS recorded the album over the past couple of years at Nodferatu's Lair in New Orleans with Steven Berrigan, while the mastering was done by Scott Hull. The album awaits you here (Housecore Records store), here (Season Of Mist e-shop), and on iTunes and Amazon:

“The master of all things heavy, Philip H. Anselmo, has returned with the very first solo album of his illustrious career. Years of fronting the legendary PANTERA and hard rock titans DOWN have propelled the vocalist to stardom and with ‘Walk Through Exits Only’, Anselmo and his backing band, THE ILLEGALS, have created a truly heavy, angry monster that merges the visceral aggression and power of PANTERA with the devastating thrash and Southern sludge that Anselmo and the NOLA scene pioneered. ‘Walk Through Exits Only’ is an essential metal album from one of the genre's most iconic names,” [the press release points direction]

“While the album has the kind of anger that fans have come to expect from the singer, the music is a fractured assault of lightning-fast riffs and blasts of drums, exploding out as if fired from a blunderbuss to evoke a more scattered version of PIG DESTROYER. The change is one that’s certain to surprise some listeners who, while prepared for a fair amount of sonic hostility, might not be ready for the unfocused savagery being unleashed here. Though ‘Walk Through The Exits Only’ is definitely a refreshing departure for Anselmo, the band behind him shouldn't be overlooked. … As a project, PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS finds the singer reaching for, and grasping, new levels of intensity, so while ‘Walk Through Exits Only’ might not be in the wheelhouse of a lot of PANTERA fans, it’s nice to see the frontman expanding his horizons with a little metal mayhem,” [congratulated Gregory Heaney, AllMusic – more here]

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS features: Philip H. Anselmo – vocals, Marzi Montazeri – guitar, Joey Gonzalez – drums and Stephen Taylor – bass