Veteran metal vocalist John Bush is fronting a new supergroup dubbed Category 7, and the band has already inked a deal with Metal Blade Records.
The outfit features Bush (Armored Saint, ex-Anthrax) alongside guitarists Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex-Machine Head) and Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob, Sonic Universe), bassist Jack Gibson (Exodus), and drummer Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall, Overkill).
It was Demmel and Orlando who initially conceived the idea for the supergroup, sharing the desire to form a classic twin guitar unit a la Thin Lizzy. Bittner and Gibson were the next two on board, and after demoing early material, the musicians tapped Bush to be the frontman.
“Mike Orlando’s and Phil Demmel’s awesome riffs made writing lyrics over the music a piece of cake,” Bush said via a press release. “The rhythm tandem of Bittner and Gibson rounded out the sound and the connection felt like it was put together in the stars. Obviously, everyone being a veteran of the metal scene made it that much easier.”
Given Demmel and Bush’s longtime relationship with Metal Blade — their other bands being signed to the label — the iconic metal imprint was the obvious home for Category 7.
“Happy to welcome Category 7 into the Metal Blade family,” enthused label founder Brian Slagel. “Of course, some of them are already in! Seriously love working with this crew and it’s great stuff!”
The band’s first single is set to drop on May 2nd, and the full-length debut album is slated for a summer release. Stay tuned to Heavy Consequence for more on the new supergroup.