Roadrunner United

Roadrunner United

Roadrunner United is a United States metal project organised by Roadrunner Records to mark the label’s 25th anniversary. It is active from 2004 to the present and is associated with death metal, heavy metal, metal, metalcore and thrash metal.

Project overview

The project centres on the compilation album Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions, which brings together artists connected with Roadrunner Records. Four team captains lead the sessions: Joey Jordison, Matt Heafy, Dino Cazares and Robb Flynn. In total, 57 artists from 45 past and present Roadrunner bands take part in the recording of 18 songs.

Contributors

The roster includes musicians from across metal and related styles, among them Mikael Åkerfeldt, Rob Barrett, Corey Beaulieu, Glen Benton, Max Cavalera, Dave Chavarri, Mike D’Antonio, Steve DiGiorgio, Matt DeVries, Dez Fafara, Dani Filth, Rhys Fulber, Michale Graves, Paul Gray, Justin Hagberg, Howard Jones, Johnny Kelly, King Diamond, Andreas Kisser, Andy La Rocque, Jesse David Leach, Cristian Machado, Logan Mader, Sean Malone, Roy Mayorga, Dave McClain, James Murphy, Daryl Palumbo, Nadja Peulen, Dave Pybus, Josh Rand, James Root, Souren “Mike” Sarkisyan, Josh Silver, Acey Slade, Mike Smith, Peter Steele, Corey Taylor, Kyle Thomas, Jeff Waters, Jordan Whelan and Christian Olde Wolbers.

Track list and performances

The album’s songs are performed by changing combinations of these artists. Notable tracks include “The Dagger”, “The Enemy”, “Annihilation by the Hands of God”, “In the Fire”, “The End”, “Tired ’N Lonely”, “Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)”, “Dawn of a Golden Age”, “The Rich Man”, “No Way Out”, “Baptized in the Redemption”, “Roads”, “Blood & Flames”, “Constitution Down”, “I Don’t Wanna Be (A Superhero)”, “Army of the Sun”, “No Mas Control” and “Enemy of the State”.

Selected line-ups

“The Dagger” features Howard Jones on vocals, Robb Flynn on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jordan Whelan on rhythm guitar, Jeff Waters on lead guitar, Christian Olde Wolbers on bass and Andols Herrick on drums. “The Enemy” includes Mark Hunter on vocals, Dino Cazares and Andreas Kisser on guitars, Paul Gray on bass and Roy Mayorga on drums. “The End” features Matt Heafy on vocals and solo guitar, Dino Cazares on rhythm guitar, Nadja Peulen on bass, Roy Mayorga on drums, Logan Mader on melodic guitar harmonics and Rhys Fulber on keyboards and programming.

Other tracks bring in additional combinations, such as Keith Caputo with keyboard parts on “Tired ’N Lonely”, Junkie XL on programming and synths on “No Way Out”, Mikael Åkerfeldt with Josh Silver on “Roads”, and Peter Steele on vocals and keyboards on “Enemy of the State”.

Release

Roadrunner United: The All Star Sessions appears in 2005, with the album released on 11 October in the United States and 10 October in the UK.