Fans of Aerosmith have new music to enjoy, thanks to the legendary bassist Tom Hamilton, who is back with the debut full-length release by his new band, Close Enemies.

The Close Enemies album will be available on Friday (Mar. 13), and fans can preorder the record now. UCR is excited to present an exclusive preview of the entire album that you can listen to below.

The group’s lineup includes Hamilton on bass, guitarists Trace Foster and Peter Stroud, drummer Tony Brock, and vocalist Chasen Hampton.

As Hamilton shares with UCR, the material for the album came together in a surprisingly effortless and organic manner. “We sat around in Peter’s basement, and there’s just something about that room. We set up a couple of mics and captured these amazing drum sounds,” he explains. “All of the guitar and bass tones were right there. I came in with a rough demo of a song that I’d had in my mind. Everyone listened to it and then immediately started contributing these beautiful parts to it. By the end of the day, we had this beautiful track that I couldn’t believe.”

READ MORE: Hear Close Enemies’ ‘Sound of a Train’

Close Enemies’ Familiar Faces

Hamilton with Aerosmith, enough said. Brock provides the thunderous sound that still resonates from albums by the Babys, Rod Stewart, Steve Perry, Eddie Money, and many others. Stroud has numerous credits starting early on with Pete Droge and is well-known for his work with Sarah McLachlan and Don Henley, but has also been a consistent collaborator with Sheryl Crow.

Close Enemies’ other six-string threat, Foster, has spent years touring with bands like the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, working alongside both Hamilton and Joe Perry, as well as being Angus Young’s right-hand man in AC/DC. Cheap Trick and Melissa Etheridge are just a couple more names on his extensive resume. Hampton serves as the vocal glue, bringing a chameleon-like quality to the group’s sound. He guides listeners on quite a journey across the 10 tracks on Close Enemies.

Listen to the Full ‘Close Enemies’ Album Now!

If the album is considered a dying art form (we’ve heard that line before), the members of Close Enemies are working hard to revive it and enlisted songwriter Gary Stier (the “secret weapon,” as they call his role) to assist in that quest. “Take a Pill,” their latest single, arrives today as a new example of their combined efforts.

“There’s so much I think that song really reflects about where we are in our ages now,” Stroud shares with UCR. “I think anyone in our age range can relate to that song. The lyrics can be misinterpreted, but it’s more about how easy it is to take something just to change your mindset or escape from depression or whatever the case may be. So there is that element of it, and it is very tongue-in-cheek at the same time.”

Watch Close Enemies’ ‘Take a Pill’ Video

‘This Feels Like Going Back to the Beginning’

Close Enemies has been performing live for over a year now. They made their debut with a hometown show in Nashville. As Hamilton told UCR shortly after that concert, he actually felt some butterflies going into the experience.

“I was a little bit nervous, you know. But that feeling energizes you. It doesn’t hold you back; it makes you want to dive deeper,” he says.

Speaking via Zoom, he appeared visibly excited about the road ahead. “This feels like going back to the beginning,” he remarked then. “You know, we don’t have any previous albums. We’re probably going to be riding around in vans and flying commercial, just like when Aerosmith started — and I’m looking forward to that. There’s a certain camaraderie with that.”

“I can remember that first show in Nashville like it was yesterday, and I can clearly see how much this band has evolved since then,” Stroud reflects. “Obviously, everyone is great players. We can easily pull off a one-off show.”

“But the difference between now and then, in terms of tightness, cohesiveness, and energy among us, is night and day,” he adds. “That first show was a lot of fun, but nothing replaces getting out there and playing night after night.”

READ MORE: Watch Tom Hamilton Play First Show With New Band, Close Enemies

Building the Band One Song at a Time

While touring regularly, Close Enemies members have shared six tracks from their album so far. They intentionally released new music song by song, allowing fans to get acquainted with the band both live and on record before releasing the full album. All involved have enjoyed building up the band at a reasonable pace without rushing anything.

“With Aerosmith, we had our period where we started developing a following; then we became established,” Hamilton tells UCR. “Every time we went into recording sessions, there was pressure to ensure everything was good or better than before; business became part of the process. With Close Enemies, we started from scratch; thus we didn’t have that pressure from business considerations.”

Watch Close Enemies’ ‘Rain’ Video

The Song That Ignited an Important Fuse

“‘Rain’ was where it felt like all cylinders were firing,” Stroud tells UCR. “I realized we had this whole concept happening where no idea gets tossed aside. Everyone contributes when we work together on these songs. The songs came together quickly in their initial stages; we still have another ten songs beyond these that we’ve started on.”

“I finally had to put on the brakes and say, ‘Guys, we’ve got to finish these initial ten songs and get this record done,'” Stroud recalls. “When we’d hear them even in demo form, I thought, ‘Damn, this is good! This will be so much fun!’ We approached it correctly from the start by not caring about anything other than playing what we want to play how we want to play it.”

What Can You Expect at a Close Enemies Concert?

The band will continue touring this year so fans can hear songs from their new album alongside some old favorites from Hamilton’s time with Aerosmith and Brock’s history with the Babys.

On the Aerosmith side, they’ve pulled out deeper cuts like “Seasons of Wither” and “Sick as a Dog,” while also highlighting Hamilton’s signature work on the classic “Sweet Emotion.”

“I was too young and inexperienced to know whether it would be a hit or not,” he recalls. “I just knew it felt great to play.”

Even now as he reflects on crafting “Sweet Emotion,” he finds parallels with what he’s doing currently. “I kept working on it and developed parts between verses where it rocks out before returning to verse,” he shares. “Then in the middle section returns to the intro with that bass riff again. Those elements are significant regarding what I love about Aerosmith’s music and now with Close Enemies.”

Indeed listening to moments from this new Close Enemies album like “More Than I Could Ever Need,” it’s clear why this legendary bassist continues connecting with bringing fresh songs forward.

Tune in and you will likely understand why members of Close Enemies are so enthusiastic about their forged connection.

The Close Enemies album arrives Friday, Mar. 13. Fans can preorder the new record now.

Watch Close Enemies’ ‘More Than I Could Ever Need’ Video