Black Label Society have recruited drummer Will Hunt of Evanescence, etc. fame to handle the drums for them. He replaces Craig Nunenmacher, who recently exited the group. The band issued the following statement on Hunt’s addition to the line-up:

“Longtime rock drummer Will Hunt has been selected to play drums on the upcoming Black Label Society album and tour. Will, who has performed with a variety of rock bands over the last decade, has recently drummed for Evanescence and Methods Of Mayhem. His commitment to BLS is for the upcoming album and tour. At the moment it looks like Will will perform double duty as he is still working with Evanescence and will be involved in their future plans down the road as well. More details are forthcoming…”

Black Label Society have officially parted ways with drummer Craig Nunemacher. A replacement appears to already be in the works and will be announced in the coming weeks. The band expect to begin recording their new album in the coming weeks with plans to have it available in stores in June through E1 Music.

Black Label Society have officially inked a deal with E1 Music. The group are currently working on new material for their next effort which the plan to begin recording around March with a June release date in the cards. For now, the official press release on the signing can be found below:

“(New York, NY) E1 Music announces the addition of guitar icon Zakk Wylde’s band, Black Label Society, to its rock and metal roster. The two album deal covers North America exclusively.

Wylde formed Black Label Society (BLS) in 1994 as a vehicle for his own artistic vision: uncompromising, unfiltered, no bullshi* rock’n’roll. The band quickly became a touring juggernaut and went on to release seven successful studio albums which have sold well over a million and a half albums total.

Wylde has been no stranger to success over the years. At only 19 years old, he was tapped to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band as lead guitarist and co-writer. He performed with Osbourne for nearly twenty years. While under Osbourne’s tutelage, he formed Black Label Society and in the decade since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever. SDMF for short, the Berserkers, along with Wylde have created a heavy metal institution true to his vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock and roll.

E1 Music VP of Metal Scott Givens comments on the deal, “Rarely does the opportunity come along to sign an artist as talented, influential and important as Zakk Wylde. I am thrilled to welcome him to the E1 Music Group. He is the future of our company and all of us are battle ready to go to the wall for him.”

Zakk Wylde said about the pairing, “I’ve known Scott Givens since I first joined Ozzy, and we’ve always looked for an opportunity to work together…everything came together at E1. I cannot wait to bring new BLS Nationwide on E1!”

Black Label Society will release a new studio album in late summer 2010. The band will also embark on its annual BLACK LABEL BASH tour in the fall.”

Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society recently revealed on Twitter that he has been in the studio recording a cover of Pantera’s “Suicide Note, Pt. 1” for an upcoming Pantera/Dimebag Darrell Abbott tribute being put together by UK metal magazine “Metal Hammer“. As previously reported, a variety of artists will be contributing tracks to the outing, including:

Machine Head – “Fucking Hostile“
Chimaira – “Slaughtered“
Evile – “Cemetery Gates“

Throwdown also recently recorded an as-yet unannounced track for the effort as well. No word yet on when the project sill surface.