TOBY KNAPP ANNOUNCES HEAVY BLUES ALBUM "AUTONOMOUS CLOSING" FOR MORIBUND ROCKERS; SLAMS MODERN BLACK METAL "COSPLAY"
SHERIDAN, WY —
Neoclassical guitar virtuoso Toby Knapp has officially commenced studio tracking for his newly titled heavy blues album, "Autonomous Closing." The record is set for a global release via Moribund Rockers, the dedicated rock-and-roll subsidiary of his longtime label, Moribund Records.
Known for over three decades of blazing, high-speed progressive metal, Knapp’s venture into heavy blues is less of a mechanical overhaul and more of a sonic recalibration. Rather than altering his fierce, signature picking style, Knapp is simply reconfiguring his setup to extract a different flavor of raw power.
"I'm simply changing tones on my Stratocasters, not the overall attack," Knapp states. "It's a chance to honor my first guitar heroes: Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, Hendrix, and Johnny Winter. Before I started listening to the guys on Shrapnel, I was into a label called Alligator Records, which was the blues equivalent with top-tier guys like Albert Collins.
"The catalyst for "Autonomous Closing" also stems from an intense creative frustration with the modern extreme music landscape. Knapp, who has spent decades operating in the underground metal circuit, expressed deep exhaustion with the theatrical aesthetics that have overtaken the genre.
"I saw a pic of an asshole black metal 'guitar shredder' splattered in blood—total cosplay—and I'm like 'fuck this, I'm out,'" Knapp reveals. "I don't do theater. Even this blues album will be injected with Anti-Cosmic Gnostic philosophy."
Steering clear of standard blues clichés, "Autonomous Closing" promises to marry roots-heavy rock phrasing with bleak, esoteric philosophical themes. Knapp will command both the microphone and the fretboard for the duration of the record.
Following the tracking of this album, Knapp will shift focus back to completing the final Onward release, "Chrono Gnostic Aeon."
Further updates, including the official release date and single premieres for "Autonomous Closing," will be issued soon by Moribund Rockers.
For press inquiries, promotional materials, or interview requests, contact:Moribund Rockers Media RelationsPR@moribundrecords.com
