I just spilled my beer all over my desk because I’m so excited to share this news with you. CROSSBONE SKULLY, the band formed by the legendary Tommy Henriksen (ALICE COOPER, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES), is releasing their sophomore album “Condemned To Rock N’ Roll” on January 29 via earMUSIC. I mean, who needs personal relationships or a social life when you have rock music, right?
Alongside the album announcement, CROSSBONE SKULLY dropped a brand-new single, “Riding With Angels”, available now on all digital platforms. Because, you know, we were all just sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for some new rock music to jam out to. The new single offers another glimpse into the world of “Condemned To Rock N’ Roll”, an album that captures the full spectrum of the band’s sound and spirit. I’m not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that they’re releasing a new album or that they managed to come up with a title that’s not already taken by a million other bands.
The Album: A Reflection of Henriksen’s Life
“Condemned To Rock N’ Roll” draws inspiration from music that has shaped Henriksen throughout his life, from ’80s metal, classic rock, pop, country, and everything in between. The result is what Henriksen stands for: “‘Condemned To Rock N’ Roll’ is the sound of a life spent chasing the dream, the song, and everything that comes with it.” Wow, that sounds deep. I’m pretty sure I need to go listen to the album like 10 times to fully understand the complexity of Henriksen’s emotions.
Across the album’s 14 tracks, themes of love, rebellion, and survival collide with Henriksen’s unmistakable songwriting and voice. At its core, lies a simple truth: “I didn’t choose rock n’ roll. I was condemned to it.” Ah, the classic tale of a musician being forced into a life of rock music against their will. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they’re actually really good at it and people enjoy listening to them.
Fronted by Henriksen and featuring fellow ALICE COOPER guitarist Anna “Blackthorn” Cara, CROSSBONE SKULLY continues to expand its universe with a revolving cast of rock n’ roll misfits and collaborators. Behind the scenes, the album reunites Henriksen with executive producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange, acclaimed engineers Mike Plotnikoff and Olle Romo, mastering engineer Howie Weinberg, and Grammy-nominated mixer Jay Ruston, creating a powerhouse team behind the record. I’m not sure what’s more impressive, the fact that they have so many talented people working on the album or that they managed to fit all those names into one sentence.
New Single: A Tribute to the People Who Matter
WhereThunder Love delivered raw power and relentless energy, “Riding With Angels” reveals a different side of CROSSBONE SKULLY. Henriksen explains: “‘Riding With Angels’ pays tribute to the people who have traveled alongside me — the ones who supported me, believed in me, and helped me get through to the light.” Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they’re trying to appeal to a wider audience and sell more records.
The “Condemned To Rock N’ Roll” track listing is as follows:
01. Let’s Kick Some Ass
02. Condemned To Rock n’ Roll
03. Thunder Love (Feat. Phil Collen)
04. Riding With Angels
05. Emergency
06. Warriors
07. Angel With Tattoos
08. It’s Your Love
09. Sex Fire
10. Truck All Night
11. Destroy You Bastards
12. Victory
13. Nobody Cares
14. It’s Never Too Late (bonus track)
I’m not sure what’s more exciting, the fact that they have 14 tracks on the album or that they managed to come up with so many creative song titles.
CROSSBONE SKULLY’s critically acclaimed debut album, “Evil World Machine”, made a bold statement, featuring the singles “High On You”, “The Boom Went The Boom”, “Everyone’s On Dope” and “I’m Unbreakable”. Super-producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange came out of retirement to work on “Evil World Machine” and served as executive producer on the effort, which came out in October 2024. I’m pretty sure that’s all the information you need to know about the album, but just in case, let me repeat it a few more times.
In a 2024 interview with Sentinel Daily, Henriksen said that CROSSBONE SKULLY had been in the works “since about 2018.” He explained: “I believe it’s one of those things where, it’s, like, I’m always doing all different types of music. I’ve never been, like, ‘I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do that.’ Because music is — I don’t know… music, it’s life for me. When I do music, I do it because I love it. I don’t ever sit back and go, ‘I’m gonna do it for money, or I’m going to try and write a hit song.'” Wow, that’s so inspiring. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they’re trying to sell records and make a living off their music.
In conclusion, CROSSBONE SKULLY is releasing a new album, and it’s going to be amazing. Or, at the very least, it’s going to be a great addition to your rock music collection. So, go ahead and pre-order the album, or don’t. I’m sure they’ll still manage to make a living off their music either way 🤘.
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