On Feb. 4, 2017, Black Sabbath played their final show, leaving fans to wonder when or if they'd ever get new music from the original members of heavy metal's prime movers. For Geezer Butler, the answer is yes, and it's coming in the form of Deadland Ritual, a new group with a powerhouse lineup featuring drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses, The Cult, Velvet Revolver), guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and singer Franky Perez (Apocalyptica, Scars on Broadway) alongside the legendary bass player. Get your first taste with the music video for "Down in Flames," premiering right here at Loudwire.

The sound of Deadland Ritual isn't typical for any of the members involved and while they all maintain their own distinctive hallmarks, it's united with a renewed spirit and something immediately recognizable as unique. "Down in Flames" lies more in hard rock than metal with doomy overtones and soulful playing. Tension drives this track, each moment a nail-biter waiting to see where Deadland Ritual move next.

"I was working on a new solo album when this came to light," Butler notes. "It was appealing for me to work in a band environment because that's what I'm used to, so [it] feels really natural. I'm really looking forward to playing shows with these guys."

As for how the lineup fell into place, when asked who called who when starting the project, Sorum recalls, "Steve and Franky were the first guys I called. We knew we wanted to create a heavier rock sound, but when I contacted Geezer and he agreed to play I knew this could be a great band. Not long after we connected with producer Greg Fidelman, Deadland Ritual was born."

With two festival dates on their 2019 schedule (Download and Hellfest on June 14 and June 22, respectively), Deadland Ritual aren't rushing anything. As they continue to write, more singles will be released and there's also the possibility that the group will arrive at a full-length album. As for the live set list, they're promising to take a deep dive into each members' catalog and Sorum vows they're “not the typical songs you would expect."

For more updates, keep your eyes on the Deadland Ritual website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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