BLUE ÖYSTER CULT: THE ALCHEMIST & TAINTED BLOOD new single (videos)

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT: ‘The Alchemist’ – new single & video available now / from the album ‘The Symbol Remains’ also out today (Frontiers)

Included on
THE SYMBOL REMAINS
brand new album
CD / 2xLP / digital
out today (09.10.20)
(Frontiers)

pre-order link
orcd.co/symbolremains

An initial run of limited edition coloured vinyl has sold out,
with three new colours just added. These are only available
from the Frontiers store via the above link

The first new studio album by Blue Öyster Cult in almost two decades is out on 9th October. Entitled ‘The Symbol Remains’, its fourteen songs showcase a group that hasn’t been slowed by the passing of time but is simply unphased by it, resulting in one of their most spirited, diverse and inspired efforts ever.

The epic new single from the record, ‘Tainted Blood’, was written by Eric Bloom (one of the band’s two mainstays) and Richie Castellano, who has been a BÖC member since 2004. The latter also provides its lead vocal.

Also includes the epic new single TAINTED BLOOD

Containing fourteen new songs, ‘The Symbol Remains’ is packed with killer riffs, sweet harmonies, crunchy guitars and a dash of twang. The album captures, at long last, the creative side of a band that has been playing shows on the road consistently for nearly two decades. It also offers a palette of sonic variety and interesting song topics, including sword and sorcery, vampires, modern technology and apathetic bar brawls, courtesy of lyricist John Shirley, a frequent contributor to the band’s later catalogue, as well as O.G. back-in-the-day writer Richard Meltzer – author of some of BÖC’s most cryptic lyrics. There is also a special surprise with an appearance by founding member Albert Bouchard, who returns to add percussion (cowbell, of course) and backing vocals to the opening song, ‘That Was Me’.

Lead guitarist Buck Dharma wrote six of the tracks, including ‘Box In My Head’, an earworm of a song that is rich in melody and intricate vocal harmonies, and contains an almost-hidden little ‘easter egg’ in its nod to the song ‘Brandy’ by Looking Glass. Of the contributions by guitarist Richie Castellano, the palace intrigue of ‘The Alchemist’ lyric matches perfectly with the sinister music and is a standout track. Jules Radino also contributes a song with the hard-rocking ‘There’s A Crime’.

Both Dharma and Castellano share lead guitar duties, weaving in and around each other, their personal styles representing both the classic melodic and modern aspects of superior guitar playing.

Mixed by master engineer Tom Lord-Alge, the album packs a punch and is a record that is extremely diverse yet continually rocks hard. Blue Öyster Cult is BACK!