Chosen by Monk

Well, it looks like summer is officially here, at least for a wee while, and it’s hard to believe that it’s been more than four-and-a-half years since these LA hair metal revivalists last strutted their way onto our deathdecks, but here they are putting a #SMILE back on our faces with this latest taster of their new album, which will see them delivering us a dose of their #FavouriteDrug in mid-October:

The band say of the song:

Summer starts now – and John Diva demands “Good Times Just With a S.M.I.L.E.” The single kicks the door wide open for the summer we’ve all been waiting far too long for.

‘S.M.I.L.E.’ is the kind of song you blast first thing in the morning – loud and proud, packed with sunshine and a fistful of feel-good attitude – whether you’re heading to the beach or celebrating the last day of school before summer break.

Fuelled by a massive chorus, irresistible hooks and lush Beach Boys-inspired backing vocals, ‘S.M.I.L.E.’ lifts you up with an explosion of positive energy that will have you grinning and singing along from the very first listen. It’s the ultimate summer anthem, made for open roads, rooftop parties and endless nights under blue skies.

Part rock ’n’ roll manifesto, part feel-good rollercoaster, ‘S.M.I.L.E.’ proves that life’s too short to play it safe. So crank it up, flash those pearly whites and remember, good times are only a S.M.I.L.E. away.

Speaking about the upcoming album, they added:

We wanted to achieve absolute focus and intensity – and in the production, working together with Hannes [Braun – producer and co-writer], to be extremely efficient. What sounds like hard work (which it was) – this sharpening of focus – brought us a lot of joy. It can be fun to keep hammering away at a raw diamond until it sparkles and shines.

This time, there’s less emphasis on experimentation (like on ‘American Amadeus’ for example) – though the album is still experimental in the sense that everything unnecessary has been stripped away.

Frontman John Diva himself told me:

When I think about making this album, there’s a very personal layer to it. We recorded in southern Germany, where my family is from, and I stayed with relatives during the sessions. It brought back a lot of great memories, so I went into the studio with a double sense of joy – giving everything to the record while reconnecting with my roots.

‘Your Favorite Drug’ was a trip in the cleanest sense – we stayed completely sober, but worked in a real frenzy. Writing, recording, and finishing the album happened fast, and by the fourth record you know exactly what you want – and how to get it. There’s a lot of spontaneity in it too: the title track came together in just a few hours, and songs like ‘Bigger Than America’ evolved into something bigger and bolder than we first imagined.