DevilDriver are gearing up to release Outlaws 'Til the End, an album featuring metal re-imaginings of outlaw country classics by Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Willie Nelson and more. Today (April 26th), they've shared their take on Hank Williams III's song "Country Heroes," featuring clean vocals from the heavy-metal cowboy himself. The track — which marks Hank 3's first on-record appearance since 2013, as Rolling Stone points out — finds DevilDriver galvanizing the 2006 track's organic arrangement with groove-metal guitars and shout-along choruses, giving Hank 3's honky-tonk fare a harsh, hefty upgrade.
"This record would not have meant as much to me without having Hank 3 on board," current Devildriver vocalist Dez Fafara told Rolling Stone. "He is one of the most authentic and real outlaw country artists out there right now. I chose to record 'Country Heroes' because the lyrics are extremely well-written, and using the names of all the outlaws within the song really does the song justice."
Outlaws 'Til the End hits shelves July 6th via Napalm. In addition to Hank 3, the 12-track release features appearances by Lamb of God's Randy Blythe and Mark Morton, Fear's Lee Ving, Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell, 36 Crazyfist's Brock Lindlow, and Wednesday 13. The band recently shared a teaser for the release that saw the aforementioned musicians recalling their personal introductions to outlaw country, and how their views on the genre have evolved over time.
