Black Label Society is a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, founded in 1998 by guitarist/singer Zakk Wylde. Eleven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums have been published by the band to date.
Wylde started his own solo band, Pride & Glory, in the early 1990s, playing a blend of bluesy Southern rock and heavy metal. Nevertheless, after only one album, they split in December 1994. Wylde later released an acoustic solo album, Book of Shadows (1996). After achieving moderate financial success with Book of Shadows, Wylde and drummer Phil Ondich recorded what would become Black Label Society’s debut album Sonic Brew in May 1998. Instead of doing another solo record for Wylde, it was decided that they would establish a long-term band. From the beginning, it was clear that Nick Catanese would be kept as the band’s second guitarist (Catanese previously toured as rhythm guitarist for the Book of Shadows tour). John DeServio, who had previously worked with Wylde as a replacement bassist in Pride & Glory, joined the band for the album’s tour.
Sonic Brew was released on October 28, 1998, in Japan. The album was not released in the rest of the globe until May 4, 1999, due to difficulties in contracting with a record label (Spitfire Records).