Rounder will be releasing their third project from The Steeldrivers, Hammer Down, on February 5, 2013.
This will be the first album from the newly-reconstituted band. Original members Richard Bailey on banjo, Mike Fleming on bass, and Tammy Rogers on fiddle recorded the album with Gary Nichols on guitar and Brent Truitt on mandolin. Nichols has been working with The Steeldrivers since the Spring of 2010, but this will be his first appearance on one of their recordings. Truitt has only been on board this past year.
Several of the songs on Hammer Down are contributions from founding members Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson, both of whom have stepped down from active touring, but whose distinctive songwriting has helped define the group since their start in 2008. Compositions from Rogers and Nichols are also included.
Audio samples should be available shortly before the release in February.
