Michael Angelo Batio released a new single, “The Badlands,” on Friday (15). The instrumental track, his first new music in seven years, reunites the guitarist with Nitro bandmate and former Lamb Of God drummer Chris Adler.
“The Badlands” is the debut single from Batio’s upcoming ninth studio album, More Machine Than Man, out June 12 on RatPak Records. He released his last album of original tracks, Intermezzo, in 2013.
Said Batio in a statement about the album:
“This is the most in-your-face album I have ever recorded. I limited the use of keyboards so you can hear the detail and precision of the rhythm guitars. My goals were to write the best songs I could, keep the tracks as raw and natural as possible and make the grooves relentless!”
“The Badlands” is also a first for Adler. It’s the first new music to feature the drummer since his departure from Lamb Of God in 2019. Due to a severe motorcycle accident, Adler had been sitting out from touring with the band for more than a year before the announcement.
Adler appears throughout Batio’s new album. The two have not released music together since Nitro’s final single, 2017’s “It Won’t Die.” Nitro was supposed to be working on a new album together, but broke up (for the second time) in 2019. Batio said at the time that some of the music on his next solo album would be inspired by the unused songs.
More Machine Than Man is available for pre-order now.
A video for the song was released via RatPak Records can be seen below:
