BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Unblackened Tour wraps at the Grove April 19; Photo by Justin Reich
Backed by their dysfunctional metal fanbase, Black Label Society is ending their U.S. touring of “Unblackened” at the Grove of Anaheim on Apr. 19.
“The sky’s the limit — actually there is no sky and there is no limit,” Zakk Wylde said.
With Wylde’s signature bullseye Les Paul, unmistakable brotherhood kutte and Nordic God-based beverages (Valhalla Java coffee, to be exact), Black Label Society has become an unstoppable touring force of bearded legends.
“I’m blessed to be able to do what I always wanted to do when I was a kid,” Wylde said. “There are no drawbacks to that. The reason you have posters of Jimmy Page on the wall and Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Al Di Meola and all these guys is because that’s what you want to do with your life.”
The band now consists of founder, Wylde (vocals and guitar), John DeServio (bass guitar) and newest members Jeff Fabb (drums) and Dario Lorina (guitar).
“Everybody that’s ever been with the band, always brings their own flavor to the soup,” Wylde said. “That’s the beautiful thing about it. Dario, he can play the guitar, play piano and sing – so obviously he’s a triple-threat. Jeff’s just amazing on the drums. I’ve been really fortunate that all the guys we roll with are all great guys, and just phenomenal musicians as well.”
The addition of the new members doesn’t halt success for BLS, but gives opportunity for new strengths and success.
“It’s just like with a head coach, you just let all of the guys use their strengths. You don’t force a Rottweiler to be a poodle or the other way around,” he said. “That’s why you utilize it and that’s why it works, you use its strengths.”
While on tour, BLS released the album “Catacombs of the Black Vatican” that, even under a time-crunch, continues the perfect blend of Wylde’s ever-improving voice backed by impeccable guitar riffs.
“It was like, ‘all right, I’ve got 25 days to write a record.’ So every day you go out there and you start writing,” Wylde said. “Pretty much all of the other records I’d walk into the studio with nothing, and then once you get in there you get inspired and start writing because everything sounds great and it’s just the breeding ground.”
The song “Fields of Unforgiveness” goes back to the roots of Wylde’s career, offering listeners an Ozzy Osbourne feel.
“I still get turned on by music just as much as when I picked up a guitar when I was 14 years-old, and now I’m 48,” he said. “You just hear other great musicians and it’s definitely inspiring.”
The most traditional BLS songs on the album are “Beyond the Down” and “Heart of Darkness,” holding true to the heavier, up-tempo band.
Although this album still offers the unforgettable BLS sound, it matches it with new mid-tempo, blues-inspired riffs. “My Dying Time,” with a killer music video and a sinister feel, highlights the instrumental value of the band, featuring minimal lyrics.
With new releases and continuous tour dates, BLS doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“To me it was never a drag, no one ever had to force me to practice. Ever,” Wylde said. “You just do it because you love it. Everything down to making the records, to writing them, to making them, to mixing them, to the artwork, to everything. If I was a team owner, I’m interested in everything – the drafts, the players, the concession stand, the parking – I mean, I just love being involved with everything, down to the way the grass is mowed.”