Gibson caught up with the frontman and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist to discuss the guitar philosophy behind the new album ("Lots of guitar riffs!"), advice for aspiring players and more.

How does this new album differ from your last one, The Order of the Black? It's pretty much the same as the last ones, with different song titles! (Laughs) Everyone wants to know what it sounds like, and it sounds like the last pervious nine records but with different songs. It's just how we do a Black Label Society album!

What was the writing process like for this album? If we're on the road, I'm usually the first one down and first one up, because I don't drink. So, I'll get up in the morning, and I'll start running scales. Then, I'll start playing mellow tunes, like Creedence Clearwater or Bob Seger-acoustic stuff. So, I'll get song ideas on the road. Then, when I get home, every day I'll go into the studio and get inspired to write riffs.

What was your guitar philosophy on this release? Lots of guitar riffs! My philosophy is writing riffs on the E string and the A string. When I used to listen to "Smoke on the Water" or "Iron Man," those riffs can be played on basically one string. Being a kid, those were the first songs I learned. They're just riffs. They're on two strings, the actual riff. That's just riff writing.

So, I sit down and keep digging and digging and writing and then record whenever I have something good. I'll stockpile it. I might write the whole song right there, too. Then, the guys get here, and we do it. I'll play it for Chat (Szeliga), and he'll play air drums on his legs, and then he'll get on the drums and play it one time through, record it and do this thing, as opposed to sitting in a rehearsal room and blasting away. It's so much easier now that we have the studio. You can shape it and mold it instantly when you're in the studio.