Watch the Brand-New Slash Video “The River Is Rising”

SMKC (L-R): Brent Fitz (drums), Myles Kennedy (vocals), Slash (guitar), Todd Kerns (bass & vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar & vocals)
SMKC (L-R): Brent Fitz (drums), Myles Kennedy (vocals), Slash (guitar), Todd Kerns (bass & vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar & vocals) (Image credit: Austin Nelson)

Arriving February 11, 2022, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators’ new album – 4 – will be the first LP to be released on the brand-new Gibson Records label. Earlier this year, Gibson announced the launch of their new venture in partnership with “the world's most artist-friendly international record label,” BMG.

“It's an honor to be the first release on the new Gibson Records,” said Slash. “It's a zenith in our partnership for sure and having worked so closely with Gibson for so long, I know they will be a label that genuinely supports their artists creatively. Not just me, but all the artists they choose to work with. It's perfect.”

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators '4' album artwork

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators' new album 4 will be Gibson Records' first LP release  (Image credit: Gibson Records/BMG)

4 follows up 2018’s Living the Dream – the third studio album by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators. Following the release of Slash’s eponymous debut solo album in 2010 which featured a host of singing legends including Chris Cornell and Ozzy Osbourne, the first SMKC long-player – Apocalyptic Love – appeared in 2012, followed by World on Fire in 2014.

Recorded live in Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell) the new SMKC album promises to be unlike anything heard from the band to date. Taking a new approach, Cobb and the band decided to track virtually everything live – electric guitar solos and vocals included.

Speaking of the album’s recording process Slash said, “It has a very spontaneous, fun kind of thing to it, and I love that. That’s really the major difference on this record – we did it more or less live, and the mistakes are all in there. It’s the sound of the five of us just jamming together in one room.”

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators (Image credit: Austin Nelson)

SMKC have today offered the first teaser from 4 with their “The River Is Rising” video. Featuring some mean tremolo riffing this Gibson Les Paul-laden banger sets the scene as the opening track for a dynamic album of myriad sounds and styles.

“It grabs you right out of the gate,” says Slash.

Pre-order 4 by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators here.

Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as GuitaristTotal Guitar, Guitar WorldGuitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.