Alex Williams is transforming hair metal into country on his upcoming album
ead, Ozzy Osbourne, and Guns N’ Roses. With the help of talented guitar players such as Dan Dugmore and Rob McNelley, and under the production of longtime collaborator Ben Fowler, Alex Williams is set to breathe new life into these classic hair metal songs by infusing them with a country twist.
The idea of blending country and glam metal might seem unusual at first, but for Alex Williams, it presented a challenge and an opportunity to highlight the storytelling and songwriting that often gets overshadowed by the theatrics of the hair metal era. Williams, known for his country music Outlaw revivalist sound, is no stranger to stepping outside the box. His previous album, Waging Peace, received critical acclaim and showcased his talents as a live performer and songwriter. Collaborating with artists like Cody Jinks has further solidified his reputation in the independent country music scene.
Fans of Alex Williams got a taste of what’s to come when he released a country music cover of Ozzy Osborne’s “Flying High Again” featuring Cody Jinks in the summer of 2024. This cover was just a glimpse of the larger project that Williams had in mind. He recently dropped his version of Ratt’s “Round and Round” to coincide with the announcement of his upcoming album. Williams expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “’Round and Round’ is one of my favorite songs of all time and has been since the first time I heard it. As far as this one goes, I had worked up an alternate version of it first, prior to deciding to do a full album of covers. It felt natural to include it in the album.”
The upcoming album, titled Space Brain, features covers of iconic hair metal songs like “Nobody’s Fool” by Cinderella, “Ace of Spades” by Motörhead, and “Wild Side” by Mötley Crüe, among others. The album showcases Williams’ unique take on these classic tracks and is set to be released by Lightning Rod Records on July 18th. Fans can already pre-save/pre-order the album to be among the first to experience Alex Williams’ country twist on these beloved hair metal hits.
In a surprising and bold move, Alex Williams is breaking boundaries and reimagining the hair metal era through a country lens. By infusing these classic songs with his own style and perspective, Williams is honoring the legacy of these iconic bands while bringing a fresh and exciting twist to their music. For fans of both country and hair metal, Space Brain promises to be a one-of-a-kind listening experience that pays homage to the past while carving out new musical territory for the future.