Metal Allegiance Return With ‘Black Horizon’

Metal Allegiance have released “Black Horizon”, their first original song since 2018. The track features Alice In Chains vocalist William DuVall alongside guitarist Alex Skolnick, bassist Mark Menghi and drummer Mike Portnoy.

The song began with material developed during an earlier writing period and was completed after DuVall joined the project. Its arrangement moves between restrained, ominous verses and much heavier choruses, using an apocalyptic lyrical setting to introduce what the band describes as a new phase. Josh Wilbur mixed and mastered the recording.

‘Black Horizon’ opens a new era for the metal collective with DuVall fronting a lineup of Skolnick, Menghi and Portnoy.

Menghi said DuVall had long been one of his preferred vocalists and viewed the collaboration as an ideal way to reactivate Metal Allegiance. Skolnick described the song as rescued from a stockpile of unfinished riffs, while Portnoy noted that his drum parts had been recorded some time before the final vocal arrangement was completed.

Metal Allegiance began as an all-star celebration of heavy metal but subsequently released two albums of original material and an EP. The group’s flexible structure has allowed members of Testament, Megadeth, Dream Theater and numerous other bands to collaborate without forming a conventional touring lineup. DuVall is also scheduled to appear at Metal Allegiance’s January 22 concert at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, alongside Chuck Billy, John Bush, Gary Holt, Andreas Kisser, Troy Sanders and other guests.