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BLACK SABBATH Enlist RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Drummer For New Album

Black-Sabbath-with-Brad-Wilk

Over the weekend, on January 13th to be precise,  a press release arrived in my mailbox announcing that Black Sabbath have named their new album 13 and that the album is due in June.

That wasn't the most interesting part of the press release. 

For me, the kicker was that Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk was hired by the band for the studio sessions. I think everybody assumed that Tommy Clufetos would be playing on the album, seeing as though he is Ozzy's drummer and played with the band at their reunion shows over the summer. Perhaps Clufetos was already booked?

I'm assuming Wilk was recommended by producer Rick Rubin, who produced Rage Against The Machine's cover album, Renegades, as well as their live album, and all of Wilk's work with Audioslave.

Ultimately, I'm taking a wait and see approach with this. While Wilk never stood out to me as a mind-blowing drummer, maybe his laid back approach is just what Sabbath needed?

How do you feel about this? Is Wilk a suitable replacement for Bill Ward, who seems like a distant memory? Does this make you more excited or less excited for the new Black Sabbath record?

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  • 400ouncebounce

    Brad Wilk's approach is much different to that of Bill Ward, Who incorporates a lot of fills, unlike Wilk who is a big big fan of the cowbell and sitting back on a groove. On live recordings you can see a young Ward being very physically involved with the song's drive and his furious improvised fills- although Wilk isn't too bad, how could they possibly have overlooked Ben Koller- the modern day Bill Ward?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1354952201 Pat Nestor

      ward also included a lot of quick changes in groove and had a pretty fluid style, which wilk can undoubtedly match. im interested to see if the album will sound groovier and am kinda pumped to hear how this turns out

  • Kxrt

    Wilk has nothing to do in a band like Sabbath, what a poor choice for that sit.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Smoothedge69 Bobby Olson

    He's too young. He just doesn't look right with the veterans. They could have picked anyone who could have filled in for Bill, (the greedy bastard),. They could have used Jason Bonham. I think BCC broke up, so he's got some time on his hands.

    • http://www.facebook.com/craig.shafer2 Craig Shafer

      Jason Bonham would probably have been one of my first picks as well

  • rageneedsanewabum

    I'm pretty pumped actually. Hopefully Ozzy's voice won't be boring in this one though.

  • big rich

    bill ward should have been involved from the start brad wilk isnt good enough to tune bills set disgrace

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1260412929 Johnn Harbringer

    I'm not a Clufetos fan (especially with all of his "here, let me pump my fist before every snare hit" form of stage presence), so I'm glad it's not him playing on the album. I don't think that Wilk would have been my first choice as a drummer for Black Sabbath, but I guess we'll just have to see how the album turns out. It may be great, it may be awful, it may be plain weird. I'm just happy to have any Sabbath at all.

  • cuttzor

    Wilk will surprise you all watch and see

  • Jim Won't Fix It

    As a drummer of 20 years it's my opinion that Brad Wilk is one of the finest drummers alive today. He has more groove and taste than any other rock drummer I can think of. Bill Ward is good, Wilk is awesome. The only other candidates for me would have been Matt Cameron or Jimmy Chamberlain. Maybe Kenny Aronoff…

    • http://www.facebook.com/craig.shafer2 Craig Shafer

      Dude your an idiot if you think you can even compare Wilk to Ward, and even call Wilk better? Your obviously not much of a drummer.

  • dazza

    brad is the man!! solid and steady he make simple beats sound huge, this will be a great sound with sabbath

  • http://www.facebook.com/craig.shafer2 Craig Shafer

    Not sure how i feel about Wilk as the drummer but I am sure it will be good, I mean come on Ozzy is back in the line up XD

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