Black Label Society

Lore & Background

Black Label Society was formed in May 1998 when Zakk Wylde and drummer Phil Ondich recorded what became the debut album Sonic Brew. Rather than releasing it as a solo album, they decided to form a long-term band. Nick Catanese, who had toured as rhythm guitarist for Wylde's Book of Shadows tour, was retained as second guitarist, and John DeServio joined as bassist for the album's tour. Sonic Brew was released in Japan on October 28, 1998, and worldwide on May 4, 1999, after signing with Spitfire Records.

Reader's Guide

Black Label Society's significance lies in its role as the primary vehicle for Zakk Wylde's musical output after his work with Ozzy Osbourne. The band's discography spans over two decades, with albums such as Order of the Black reaching number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and Catacombs of the Black Vatican debuting at number 5. The group has experienced frequent lineup changes, with Wylde playing all instruments except drums on the first four studio albums. Despite these changes, the band has maintained a consistent presence in heavy metal, touring extensively and releasing new material into the 2020s. Their 2021 album Doom Crew Inc. featured the single "Set You Free," which was selected by Loudwire as the 22nd-best metal song of 2021. The band's longevity and Wylde's distinctive guitar style have cemented its place in the genre.

Did You Know?

• On the first four studio albums, Zakk Wylde played every instrument except drums, including vocals, guitars, piano, and bass guitar.
• The band's eighth studio album Order of the Black reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.
• Black Label Society released a vinyl-only EP titled Nuns and Roaches on November 29, 2019, featuring six songs originally recorded in 1999.
• The compilation album The Song Remains Not the Same was released on May 3, 2011, and its title is a nod to Led Zeppelin.

From Solo Projects to a Band: The 1998 Genesis

Zakk Wylde's road to Black Label Society was anything but a straight line. In the early 1990s he fronted Pride & Glory, a group fusing bluesy Southern rock with heavy metal, but the project dissolved in December 1994 after a single album. He then shifted to a stripped-back acoustic approach with the 1996 solo record Book of Shadows. When that effort found only limited commercial traction, Wylde sat down with drummer Phil Ondich in May 1998 to record what would become Sonic Brew. A pivotal choice crystallized during those sessions: instead of shipping yet another solo release, Wylde committed to building a permanent band. Nick Catanese was locked in as second guitarist from the start, having already served as rhythm guitarist on the Book of Shadows tour, while John DeServio, a former temporary bassist in Pride & Glory, joined for the album's promotional run. Sonic Brew hit Japanese shelves on October 28, 1998, but a delay in finalizing a deal with Spitfire Records pushed the international release to May 4, 1999.

A Revolving Roster: Bass, Drums, and Guitar Turnover

Perhaps no aspect of Black Label Society's story is more distinctive than the constant rotation of its rhythm section and rhythm guitar. After John DeServio's initial departure, Steve Gibb assumed bass duties, only to be temporarily displaced by Alice in Chains' Mike Inez during the 2001 Ozzfest run. Robert Trujillo stepped in for 2002, but his 2003 recruitment by Metallica forced another scramble; Inez filled a brief two-week tour, and James LoMenzo arrived in 2004. LoMenzo himself exited in October 2005 to join Megadeth, sending DeServio full circle as the band's original bassist returned. The drum seat cycled through Phil Ondich, Craig Nunenmacher (2000), Will Hunt (2010), Johnny Kelly (2011), Mike Froedge (2011), and Chad Szeliga (September 2011). On the guitar side, founding rhythm player Nick Catanese remained until his amicable departure in December 2013, after which Lizzy Borden's Dario Lorina took the chair.

Twelve Albums, Five Labels, and a Chart Peak

Black Label Society's catalog is both broad and varied: twelve studio albums, two live recordings, two compilations, one EP, and three video releases spanning from Sonic Brew (1998) to Doom Crew Inc. (2021). The band navigated a succession of labels—Spitfire Records for the first five studio efforts, Artemis Records for Mafia (2005), Roadrunner Records for Shot to Hell (2006), and Entertainment One Music for later material. Commercially, the group's strongest Billboard 200 showing came with Order of the Black (2010), which climbed to number four, followed by Catacombs of the Black Vatican (2014) debuting at number five. Beyond conventional studio work, the band explored acoustic territory with The Song Remains Not the Same (2011), a collection of unplugged renditions whose title nods to Led Zeppelin, and the Unblackened DVD captured at Club Nokia in March 2013. In November 2019 they issued Nuns and Roaches, a vinyl-only EP built from six tracks originally recorded back in 1999.

Still Rolling: Recent Releases and Festival Futures

More than two decades in, Black Label Society shows no intention of fading. Doom Crew Inc., their eleventh studio album released on November 26, 2021, earned fresh critical attention when Loudwire named its lead single "Set You Free" the twenty-second-best metal song of that year. The band has remained a fixture on major touring circuits, headlining the 2011 Black Label Berzerkus tour with Children of Bodom and Clutch, and joining the 2013 Gigantour alongside Megadeth, Device, Hellyeah, and Newsted. Their festival presence extends well into the 2020s: in February 2026 the group was confirmed for the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, slated for September. Wylde's creative range stretches beyond the core metal sound as well—he personally conceived and compiled the acoustic material for The Song Remains Not the Same, and in October 2013 the band debuted a music video covering Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine," underscoring a willingness to reach outside the genre's usual boundaries.

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