For those unaware, RUFFYUNZ is a partnership between Randy Pratt (Cactus/The Lizards), Emmy winning engineer JZ Barrell, and singer Ed Terry and a collection of drum, guitar and keyboard masters.

Guest artists featured on the band’s new album RUFFYUNZ II include legendary Bobby Rondinelli, who dominates the drums (Black Sabbath, Rainbow, BOC), Don Airey (Deep Purple), Dave Maniketti (Y&T), Pat Thrall (Pat Travers, Glenn Hughes, Meatloaf), Tracy G. (Dio) and Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake).

Bassist Randy Pratt on bass, pedals and riffs and is best known for his work with The Lizards & Cactus. Singer Ed Terry has sung live with Stevie Wonder, Sister Sledge, John Oates, Sissy Houston, Slash and recorded with John Lennon, Keith Richards, Talking Heads, Simply Red, Little Steven, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, David Lee Roth, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner.

JZ Barrell handles recording, engineering, mixing and arranging…he earns his writing credits. Jesse Berlin is the band’s “go-to-first guitarist” usually and helps set a bedrock with embellishments.

The band’s concept is to use “known” drummers, guitarists and keyboardists as guests on their records. Once the guest guitarist has done his or her thing, Jesse trades solos with them. And, trust me, he really throws down the gauntlet, as he shreds!

1. Hype In My Head
2. Back It On Up
3. Undercover Agent For The Blues
4. Doesn’t Matter
5. Candyman
6. Dark Side
7. Slither Man
8. Bubbles
9. Can’t Slow Down
10. Keep It Coming
11. The Game

Opening on a great example of how expert musicians, masters of their craft can come together to bring a sound as smoothly grooved as AOR can be, the lead single Hype In My Head is backed by the blues/funk/hard rock of Back It On Up, the down south, rocking grooves of Undercover Agent For The Blues, the hard psych rock vibe of Doesn’t Matter and then comes the drum-led, harder-edged beauty Candyman.

Up next is one of my own personal favorites from this sophomore album, the guitar slinging Dark Side which is in turn followed by the funk-soul-blues storytelling of Slither Man, the melodic, funky Bubbles, the groove laden Can’t Slow Down, the album rounding out on the atmospherically-charged rocker Keep It Coming, closing on the sidewinding storytelling within The Game.

Says Randy, “Hey folks, here’s a first look at a video [see bleow] for a song from our upcoming release RUFFYUNZ II, reuniting my longtime rhythm section partner, Bobby Rondinelli on drums.”

We have a groovy list of guests Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy and Deep Purple for decades) on smoking Hammond B-3, Dave Maniketti on BADASS guitar, Tracy G. (Dio & WW III) on BRUTAL guitar, Joel Hoekstra from Whitesnake.”

And starring in our video, Pat Thrall from the classic Pat Travers band line up, Hughes Thrall, Asia and if you’re old and cool enough to know the band AUTOMATIC MAN, that’s Pat!”

Please check out ‘Hype in My Head’ and watch for the imminent release of our new album, RUFFYUNZ II on Hyperspace Records.”

Ruffyunz - Hype in My Head [Official Video]