Peter Frampton’s first album of all-new music in 16 years just got its most powerful preview yet. “Lions at the Gate,” out now, is a protest song featuring guitar from Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and vocals from Morello’s son Julian, drawn from Frampton’s upcoming album ‘Carry the Light,’ due May 15. Inspired by the lion statues that once guarded Hollywood mansions in the 1920s, the track carries a sharp political edge and a sonic weight that matches it. “Tom’s playing took it to another level,” Frampton says simply, and he’s right.
‘Carry the Light’ arrives with a remarkable guest list. Sheryl Crow, Graham Nash, H.E.R., Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and jazz saxophonist Bill Evans all appear across the ten-track album, each bringing a distinct dimension to what engineer and co-producer Chuck Ainlay describes as possibly “the best album Peter’s ever made.” That’s a significant claim for a catalog that includes ‘Frampton Comes Alive!,’ still one of the best-selling live albums ever recorded, and it’s one the music appears to be backing up.
“Lions at the Gate” is a track that reminds you what Frampton does when he’s working with players who match his ambition. It’s charged, purposeful, and built around one of rock’s most distinctive guitar voices meeting one of its most politically urgent ones. The combination lands with real force.
‘Carry the Light’ is out May 15.
‘Carry the Light’ Tracklist:
- Carry the Light
- Buried Treasure (feat. Benmont Tench)
- I’m Sorry Elle (feat. Graham Nash)
- Breaking the Mold (feat. Sheryl Crow)
- I Can’t Let It Be
- Lions at the Gate (feat. Tom Morello)
- Islamorada (feat. H.E.R.)
- Can You Take Me There (feat. Bill Evans)
- Tinderbox (feat. Bill Evans)
- At the End of the Day