Mike McCready says Pearl Jam’s new album is “heavier than you’d expect”

nme.com:

Pearl Jam‘s Mike McCready has teased the band’s forthcoming album, revealing that it’s “heavier than you’d expect”.The band’s record-in-progress is the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Gigaton’ and McCready offered some details about the album in a recent interview with Classic Rock.“I’m hoping it’s gonna come out [in 2024],” McCready said. “We have a bunch of songs tracked.

We worked with Andrew Watt, who’s a younger pop producer-type guy, but he’s really a rock guy at heart — I think we’re his favorite band.

When we were in the studio with him this past year, he really kicked our asses, got us focused and playing, song after song.”Watt has previously worked with Miley Cyrus, Post Malone and Lana Del Rey but has also had credits on albums from other rock artists, including Ozzy Osbourne and Iggy Pop.“It’s a lot heavier than you’d expect,” McCready continued. “There’s the melody and energy of the first couple of records.

Andrew pushed us to play as hard and melodic and thoughtful as we’ve done in a long time. I feel like Matt Cameron’s drumming has elements of what he did in Soundgarden.”McCready also promises that fans will hear a lot more of his lead guitar work.“For better or worse, you’re gonna hear a lot more lead guitar from me, stuff I haven’t done in a long time.