Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators have released their highly-anticipated fourth album, titled ‘4’ via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.
The band’s first single, “The River Is Rising” which Rolling Stone described as “raucous” (2/3/2022) is now the band’s 8th Top 10 Radio single in a row and climbs to #8 this week, following with singles “Call Off The Dogs” and “Fill My World”. Last week, SMKC performed “The River Is Rising” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where Slash joined host Jimmy Kimmel for a hilarious interview on the show, as well as an exclusive interview on CNN Indonesia.
Slash will join comedian and talk show host Conan O’Brien on his award-winning podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” on Monday, February 21, for an in-depth conversation about his music history, the new Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators’ studio album ‘4’, and more. Tune-in worldwide to “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” on Monday, February 21.
A decade and four albums into their career, the new full-length album ‘4’ marks the first new music from SMKC in four years. Slash and his bandmates Myles Kennedy (Vocals), Brent Fitz (Drums), Todd Kerns (Bass & Vocals) and Frank Sidoris (Guitar & Vocals) aka SMKC, partnered with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons), for the new album ‘4’ resulting in the band’s strongest collective statement to date. Recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, TN, Cobb shared the band’s desire to lay down the tracks live in the studio–including guitar solos and vocals–a first for the group, revealing a stunning, vital sound and style all captured live.
‘4’ is SMKC like you’ve never heard before. A vibrant rock album fuelled by memorable guitar hooks and compelling melodies, big choruses, and even bigger riffs, the album hits on a wide range of sounds, styles, and moods in 10 songs, and does it all with laser-sharp musical focus and a lightning-in-a-bottle sense of immediacy. The album kicks off with opening track “The River is Rising”, one of the band’s toughest and most dynamic compositions to date, unraveling via a menacing, tightly-coiled riff and deep-in-the-pocket groove. From the deliberate stomp rock of “Whatever Gets You By”, the bright-toned, heart-on-sleeve pop-rocker “Fill My World”, to the talk box-drenched guitar hooks of “C’est La Vie”, exotica-tinged psychedelic fever dream of “Spirit Love”, the anthemic swell of “The Path Less Followed”, to the cowbell-inflected boogie-shake of “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”, the grimy Aerosmith-esque funk of “April Fool”, to the rampaging attack of “Call Off the Dogs”, and climaxing with the epic, six minute album closer “Fall Back to Earth”, ‘4’ is an album that grabs hold, and never lets go.
In light of the 30-year alliance between Gibson–the iconic American instrument brand–and the GRAMMY award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Slash, the new album has the added distinction of being the first-ever album release on the new label Gibson Records, which is headquartered in Gibson’s hometown of Music City, Nashville, TN.
Gibson has released a limited, 250 count run of SLASH Les Paul Standard Limited ‘4’ Album Edition guitars available on Gibson.com. The first-ever album and guitar package collaboration features the new SMKC album ‘4’ on vinyl—which is housed in a uniquely designed compartment inside the guitar case–a 4 guitar pick tin and decal, and a signed SMKC band portrait. Watch the making of the new SLASH Les Paul Standard Limited ‘4’ Album Edition guitar here.