BLUE ÖYSTER CULT To Release First New Studio Album In Nearly Two Decades

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT founding member Eric Bloom has confirmed to MassLive.com that the band is planning to release its first new album since 2001's "Curse Of The Hidden Mirror".

"We're not exactly working on it yet, but the ink is going on the contract soon," he said. "We've all been working on songs over the years, but there's a lot of negotiation, because it's not just about the new product but also about the back catalog."

Two years ago, Bloom told OC Weekly that he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about working on new music, especially considering that "Curse Of The Hidden Mirror" didn't exactly light up the charts.

"In the economic reality, it costs money to make a record," Bloom said. "The time it takes to make a record, if you want to make it right, is time we would have to take off from working and we'd rather be out there working than making a record that nobody's going to buy. We're a classic rock act with a paradoxical future: the current buying public is not really going to care what we put out.

"Classic rock radio probably won't play anything new from us," Bloom added. "Pop stations won't play anything from us. So people finding out we have anything new is unlikely. I know the hardcore people would love to have new stuff from us and eventually we're going to do it, but for a decade, there's really been no reason to do it."

Bloom also wondered whether it makes sense for a band like BLUE ÖYSTER CULT to release full-length albums in a digital age when streaming seems to dictate the dominance of singles and extended play formats.

"Obviously when we started, making records was all vinyl," Bloom said. "The technology of everything has changed hand over fist. Every decade is something else. Cassette to CD, and now all streaming, and nobody seems to care about albums anymore. People just pick a song that they like and download it or stream it. The industry has totally changed. Record labels have come and gone. Now artists make their own label or just put their own songs up on YouTube. It's all totally changed. The music business has collapsed."

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT has been active since 1967 and has released a number of critically acclaimed albums without ever reaching the top of the Billboard chart. (The highest any of their albums has ever placed is 24, for 1981's "Fire Of Unknown Origin"). The band's most successful single is the iconic "(Don't Fear) The Reaper".

Photo courtesy of Chuffmedia

I'd prefer it if the Bouchard's were involved. I think they've been the missing ingredient.

I've enjoyed new releases by old reshuffled band lineups in the past, so I'm not about to let that come between me and any band, but I do agree that certain people missing will often make you feel less optimistic. At this point I'd say I'm curious and will listen once they drop a new single and then decide how I feel about it.

Don't get me wrong, I owned Heaven Forbid and it was a good album. I never got around to buying Curse of the Hidden Mirror, so can't comment on that one.

I think they're a great, but criminally underrated band who's best work was with the original lineup (which lasted a pretty long time as lineups go).

I like Curse of the Hidden Mirror
I'm a bit surprised that so many BOC fans didn't.
I admit that it's different but that has been a constant with BOC over the years.

They've been talking about a new album for some time but hadn't nailed it down to a time frame.
The last thing I heard was Buck saying that they had half the new songs done.
I look forward to new material.
They are a band worthy of admiration. They are still out there touring endlessly.

I have quite a few BOC cds from the 1970s and into the 1980s although I never play them BUT that's not anything against the band it's just that I'm always listening to other bands although about 6 months ago I did listen to one of there albums from about 1973 or 1974* I think it was although I can't remember the name of the album at the moment but I thought it sounded pretty good and in fact I did play it all the way through a second time.

* * *It was either Tyranny And Mutation or Secret Treaties?. Quite possibly Tyranny And Mutation I think?.* * *

Ritchie said:

I have quite a few BOC cds from the 1970s and into the 1980s although I never play them BUT that's not anything against the band it's just that I'm always listening to other bands although about 6 months ago I did listen to one of there albums from about 1973 or 1974* I think it was although I can't remember the name of the album at the moment but I thought it sounded pretty good and in fact I did play it all the way through a second time.

* * *It was either Tyranny And Mutation or Secret Treaties?. Quite possibly Tyranny And Mutation I think?.* * *

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Both are great IMO.
I see the first 3 (the black and white period) like BOC one point oh.
Secret Treaties sort of is the high point of that period.
It's more consistent than the first 2. Although I often skip the first song.
For me early BOC is best done in the live album On You Feet Or On Your Knees.
I wore that out back in the 70's when it came out.
BOC is one of those bands that it's really difficult to narrow things down.
They have changed so much over their career.

Saw them back in the 70's at a big outdoor show.
I was not a super big fan.
I liked some songs but overall I just thought they were pretty good.
Part way through their set after a full day of other bands (they headlined) we started to work our way up toward the stage.
And we managed to get right up front just when they went into Astronomy.
I can still remember Eric and Buck right there like 20 feet away.
And it was the time of the laser show. Which was super cool outdoors.
The song has a lot of "air" in it. Space to hear every instrument.
It was super dramatic the way it builds.
I was absolutely gobsmacked. I remember thinking "Holy Crap! That is just amazing."
Outdoors on a summer night after a day of partying, just super great music and lasers shining into the sky as far as you could see. I became a total fan in one moment and set about reading all the lyrics and buying every album that came along.
There was a reason why they headlined so many big show back then.
I am looking forward to more great music for sure.

The first time that I heard Don't Fear The Reaper on the radio back in 1976 when it first came out I straight away thought wow that sounds good also a then girlfriend back in around 1978/79 gave me two vinyl albums that she had one was Black Sabbath Volume 4 and the other was a BOC album Agents Of Fortune which I believe has Don't Fear The Reaper on it.

Ritchie said:

The first time that I heard Don't Fear The Reaper on the radio back in 1976 when it first came out I straight away thought wow that sounds good also a then girlfriend back in around 1978/79 gave me two vinyl albums that she had one was Black Sabbath Volume 4 and the other was a BOC album Agents Of Fortune which I believe has Don't Fear The Reaper on it.

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Yeah that was actually when they reached a whole new level.
They had been a pretty big band for some time but Reaper put them into the very top draws at the time.
They did a lot of big outdoor shows with the full laser show. It was a huge draw.
They always delivered amazing shows.

They toured with Sabbath and the 2 bands took turns headlining.
Skynyrd opened for them.