TAPROOT are back and are set to release their seventh studio album, “SC\SSRS”, on September 29 via THC MUSIC/Amplified Distribution
The follow-up to 2012’s “The Episodes” was produced by TAPROOT guitarist/vocalist Stephen Richards at The Loft in Saline, Michigan.
You can check out the first single from the album, “V\CT\M \ PLAY“, below.
“SC\SSRS” is the musical brainchild of Richards, who recorded and wrote the album over the last decade, first as material for a new TAPROOT release, then with the intention of a solo effort, before returning to the group’s new music.
Says Richards: “I had written most of this record to be the next TAPROOT release years ago, following ‘The Episodes‘, when some health and other issues arose, we decided to take a break that turned into a longer than anticipated hiatus. After my mother’s passing, I decided I needed to record these songs and share them with friends and fans that were interested in hearing what was next. I’ve spent the last six years doing as much as I could around my personal life to make it happen, and after all of the hard work, the other guys jumped behind me to support and we decided to get it out there and release what is the new TAPROOT record ‘SC\SSRS‘.”
Bassist Phil Lipscomb adds: “Steve had all these great songs recorded that he’d originally written for the next TAPROOT record that he was planning to just release independently as part of his solo project, but we started talking, and I encouraged him that we should just do it as a TAPROOT record and pay it the respect that it deserves. And that’s exactly what we did.”
TAPROOT has also welcomed new guitarist Taylor Roberts, and the return of original drummer Jarrod Montague, who will join the band for select upcoming shows (with all other shows featuring longtime drummer Dave Coughlin of SPONGE) including the “reunion” appearance at Blue Ridge Rock Fest in September, and the “SC\SSRS” album-release party, which will mark the band’s first club show in six years, on September 29 at The Machine Shop, in Flint, Michigan.
The group also recently announced the release of “Best Of Besides“, a 17-track collection of remastered demos and rarities, mastered by Richard Easterling (TANTRIC, ZEN FROM MARS),in stores and digital May 5.
