“Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue,” the new album from Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, will be released Friday, Jan. 26. Revolver is offering an advance taste of the record alongside a live video of “Finger Me.”
Hear “Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue” now courtesy of Revolver at THIS LOCATION.
The album will be released on CD, vinyl, and digital formats in North America via Housecore Records and in Europe by Season of Mist. Physical preorder bundles are available via the Housecore Store at THIS LOCATION. For digital orders, point your browser HERE.
Following up 2013’s “Walk Through Exits Only,” this new body of work hinges on no holds-barred lyrical misanthropy and insurgent instrumental intricacy as it sharpens any and all edges to guillotine precision.
“It ain’t pretty,” Anselmo said. “It’s more straightforward and cohesive to a degree, but it still goes off the rails here and there. We went through it song after song cut and fucking dry. I was in a specific mindset. I wanted to further my endeavors into a genre of music that I adore. As all ten songs blow by, I wanted an unforgiving feel. This is what was on my mind. It’s a recorded capsule of time.”
Following a successful maiden touring cycle for The Illegals, the frontman hunkered down at his home studio in Louisiana to record what would become “Choosing Mental Illness as a Virtue” in 2014 and 2015. The lineup shifted as Stephen Taylor (Superjoint) transitioned from bass to guitar, Mike DeLeon (Flesh Horder, Being Killed, ex-MOD et al) joined as a guitarist, and Walter Howard (Grieved, Oppressive Force) took over bass duties. Meanwhile, Jose Manuel “Blue” Gonzalez (Superjoint, Warbeast) held down the drums. Through rigorous rehearsals and writing sessions, a framework for the new music took shape as Anselmo wholeheartedly welcomed the ideas of his cohorts.
“Their creative input is fucking fantastic,” Anselmo said. “This is something that was very different from the first record where I was very staunch. I wanted it to be ugly. I was very firm that I was writing every fucking note. The thought was, ‘This is my contribution to ugly music right this second in a heavy metal vein.’ That was great at the time. Walk Through Exits Only made its own little statement that I am a free agent and I belong to no single band. This time, I worked closely with everyone. We tried different ideas together. It made the spirit of this thing come alive even more because of the enthusiasm these guys bring. It enhanced the integrity of the project.”
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