photos by Kayla Grindle
STEVE AUSTIN, the founding vocalist/guitarist for long-running visionary metal outfit Today Is The Day and renowned engineer of his Austin Enterprise studio, begins a new chapter in his musical journey, delivering the first official music from his classic outlaw country/bluegrass act.
Having toured and made records since 1993, STEVE AUSTIN has recorded and produced some of the biggest hard rock and metal bands of our time, including Deadguy, Converge, Unsane, former Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra, Grammy nominated Lamb Of God, and the massive Today Is The Day catalog, among many others. But a different type of heavy vibe pours forth from his new solo venture.
Echoes of his heroes such as Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe, Merle Haggard, and The Outlaws can be heard in the songs of STEVE AUSTIN. Armed with an old Martin D-28 and music bleeding from the heart, the songs are a combination of traditional classic country and bluegrass.
The STEVE AUSTIN material began to take shape during the COVID-19 pandemic. A time of great reflection and isolation from touring, it was the perfect setting to begin this new path. Eventually, with an album written and life returning to normal, AUSTIN commissioned a cast of talented players to flesh out an incredible lineup to complete the album, and another set of musicians to take the act to the stage. While AUSTIN has been working diligently on the project’s debut album over the past several years, the band made their live debut with several shows in early 2024.
Now, the first official music from this new project finally arrives, with their lead single, “So Far Gone,” delivered through a high-energy video. The song sees STEVE AUSTIN handling guitar, bass, and vocals, flanked by Ryu Bennett on fiddle, Colin Frecknall (Today Is The Day) on drums, and pedal steel by Dana Flood, who has toured and performed with Johnny Rodriguez, George Jones, Willie Nelson, and many other country legends. The single arrives as a limited 7” vinyl release, which features a cover of the Townes Van Zandt classic “Waitin’ Round To Die,” intimately performed solely by STEVE AUSTIN on the B-side. The audio was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Steve at Austin Enterprise Recording and Mastering in Orland, Maine.
The “So Far Gone” video was directed by the frontman’s son Hank Austin with director of photography Robert Torres and assistant director Alex Sulock, with DJ Cox (bass), Ryan Curry (rhythm guitar), and Justin Young (drums) performing with AUSTIN in the video.
“I’m excited to see this debut single of ‘So Far Gone’ and the cover of ‘Waitin’ Round To Die’ coming out ahead of my new solo album, Marked Cards And Loaded Dice. Growing up in Tennessee, listening to all my country heroes like Hank Williams Sr., Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, and The Outlaws, I wanted to make a real country music album that can make ya’ feel something inside. Country music that the working man could relate to. Songs that bleed emotion. Songs and stories about tragedy, heartbreak, hope, and living through this thing called life. ‘So Far Gone’ starts the story off with a rocking bluegrass jam that tells my story. Five years in the making, and it’s finally here!”
Watch STEVE AUSTIN’s “So Far Gone” video on YouTube at THIS LOCATION.
“So Far Gone” and the cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Waitin’ Round To Die” are streaming on all digital services HERE and the limited 7” can be purchased at the SuperNova Records webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
The sprawling debut LP from this new project, Marked Cards And Loaded Dice, will be released in the first quarter of 2026. Details on the album will be posted in the weeks ahead, and tour dates from the group will be announced shortly thereafter.
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