Tom Morello, the iconic guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, is stepping into a new realm of creativity with his upcoming solo album. In a recent chat with NME, Morello opened up about the liberating experience of working solo and teased his fresh single "Soldier In The Army Of Love."
“I’ve done a number of solo records before, but I love the idea of being in a band because what you get out of being in a band is chemistry,” Morello mused. “Together you create something that none of you could create alone.”
However, the solo path offers a different kind of magic. “What you get out of being a solo artist is purity and being able to create something that no one else would be able to create,” he continued.
Morello's latest venture is set to be his "first straight-up rock and roll record" under his own name. Inspired by heavy rock tracks he created with his 13-year-old son, Roman Morello, this album marks a new chapter in his musical journey.
“I was just letting the music lead the way," he explained. "The songs that I was writing with [13-year-old son Roman Morello] were like heavy rock songs. It felt like it was time for me to make this album.”
In 2018, Morello released his debut solo album, "The Atlas Underground," followed by "The Atlas Underground Fire" and "The Atlas Underground Flood" in 2021. These albums featured a star-studded lineup, including Bruce Springsteen, Bring Me the Horizon, IDLES, and Steve Aoki.
The upcoming album's first single, "Soldier In The Army Of Love," has a special backstory. “One day I was walking by his room and these huge drop-D riffs were coming out of there," Morello recalled. "And I said ‘What’s that’ and [Roman] said ‘Oh, I’ve just been working on some riffs, do you think these go well together?’. I was like ‘Son. Those go very well together and we’re about to write our first song together.’”
"'Soldier In The Army Of Love' is about the redemptive power of rock and roll," he added. "It’s got huge Morello riffs spanning multiple generations and a shredding guitar solo where you'll have to guess which one of us played it."
"Soldier In The Army Of Love" drops on June 28, promising to deliver a sonic punch that only Tom Morello can pack. Get ready for an album that blends the raw energy of rock with the purity of solo creativity. This is Morello at his most authentic, and it’s going to be a wild ride.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for LOVE ROCKS NYC/God's Love We Deliver
