10 Huge Rock Releases To Look Forward To In 2017

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2017 is shaping up to be an exciting year for rock music.  Many iconic bands seem on the verge of releasing new material in the coming months, including two that haven’t released new music in over a decade, one much anticipated reunion, and another that has been on a search for a new lead singer for nearly a year.  This is Alternative Nation’s 10 most anticipated releases for 2017, with two additional possible (?) releases mixed in.

qotsa2013Queens of the Stone Age
“Same lineup, we’re locked in,” Frontman Josh Homme said during an interview on the Let There Be Talk Podcast in June. Additionally, in July, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen indicated on Two Hours With Matt Pinfield that the band will be back in the studio before the year’s end to record a new album. Leeuwen also mentioned that the approach will be simpler than QOTSA previous release Like Clockwork…, stating “It was a big record for us ’cause it was the hardest record to make, and we’re trying to not do that again.”

system-of-a-down-2015System of a Down
In a November interview with Kerrang, drummer John Dolmayan said “We’ve been working on a new album for the last six months and there’s about 15 songs that I think are album-worthy” and “We don’t know what’s happening in terms of release, it’s still not 100% as far as plans go. I want everyone on board and feeling good about it, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish right now. There’s a tremendous amount of pressure on us, though, because it’s been 11 years – at least 12 by the time it comes out.” Dolmayan adds the band won’t try and create “Toxicity Part Two” and insists they want to attract a new generation of fans.

toolband2016Tool?
An album more than a decade in the making. Every Tool album is already a long process, but family commitments, side projects, and a lawsuit delayed the album even further. A recent update on Tool’s website said the band will reconvene in the first week of January and work on the album to the tune of four days a week, however, the band had once said it hoped that the album would be released by the end of 2015, but the year will soon be 2017, and word from vocalist Maynard James Keenan is that he has not heard any music to write lyrics too, but the rest of the band have said that there are numerous tracks they are working on.  No rush guys, we’d rather have an album that’s worth waiting for 10+ years than one that is forgettable, even though no Tool album has really ever been forgettable.  While a new Tool album in 2017 is anything but a sure thing, we had to put it on the list just in case it finally happens!

trentreznorwidenew-700x416Nine Inch Nails
Earlier this month, Nine Inch Nails released an EP entitled Not The Actual Events and frontman Trent Reznor promises more new music from the band in 2017. In an interview with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe, Reznor revealed there are “two more major” releases to come in the upcoming year.

soundgardenstairsSoundgarden
Soundgarden seem poised to release their seventh studio album by the end 2017. In July of 2016, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron stated that the band has written “six solid tunes” for the new album, however, vocalist Chris Cornell recently indicated during an interview with Mike Mccready on SiriusXM’s Pearl Jam Radio that the recent Temple of the Dog reunion tour, which was comprised of Soundgarden members Cornell and Cameron, cut into Soundgarden’s recording and writing time and may have pushed the album farther back.

prophetsofragebandProphets of Rage
During a November interview with Tom Morello at the Bowl 4 Ronnie event in Los Angeles, the guitarist talked about the 2016 tour and the band’s future plans, “We had a great time. It was a band we put together because the times demanded it, but I think the band transcended that original mission. It was probably the most fun I’ve had on any tour. We rocked well, we rocked people hard and in 2017 there will be new music and there will be a lot more shows.”

stpdeleosStone Temple Pilots?
Since the departure of Chester Bennington and the death of Scott Weiland, Stone Temple Pilots have been searching the globe for a new lead singer (I believe around five Alternative Nation reporters, including myself, unsuccessfully sent in an online audition, mine probably being the least best of the five, you’re going to have to find it yourself if you want to hear it). Rumors have circulated that they have been recording new music and at one point, Fillipino musician John Borja was hailed as being the one chosen for the job, however, that announcement has since been denied, with the band claiming that they have been rehearsing with numerous vocalists, including X-Factor Season 3 runner-up Jeffery Adam Gutt.

livebandedLive
Earlier this month, after much speculation, Live’s Twitter and Facebook pages announced the band has reunited with founding vocalist Ed Kowalczyk and have been working on new music to likely be released in 2017. Many fans rejoiced after a return to their definitive sound with 2014’s The Turn, which featured Unified Theory vocalist Chris Shinn on vocals. Will the return of founding lead vocalist Ed Kowalczyk continue the spark that was ignited by Shinn? Hopefully we will find out in 2017.

thekillers2016The Killers
The Killers are set to release their first album in five years, the followup to 2012’s Battle Born, in 2017. The recording process for the new album hasn’t been easy, with bassist Mark Stoermer announcing an indefinite hiatus from touring several months ago.

linkinparknew
Linkin Park
Linkin Park have been hard at work on their followup to 2014’s The Hunting Party, with the band spending 2016 working on the album, and for the first time in their career not performing a single live show. The band originally were hoping to release the new album in 2016, but we’ll have to wait until 2017.

billycorganhoodieWilliam Patrick (Billy) Corgan, Solo Album
On September 8, 2016, William Patrick Corgan announced on a Facebook live video that he had recorded a new solo album with producer Rick Rubin and that it would consist of 12 or 13 tracks. He described work on the album as being near completion though a release date was not given.

You will here all the best from 2017’s upcoming releases on Alternative Nation Radio.