Conundrum will be the first new album from the Alex Skolnick Trio since 2011’s Veritas, and the group tapped into current events for the emotional inspiration of the album.“It represents the sense of confusion many of us are feeling in the midst of the strangest sociopolitical upheavals of our lifetimes,” said Skolnick, a guitarist,composer and founding member of metal band Testament, before establishing himself on the international jazz scene. “This album captures many styles in an effort to channel that angst into art and inspire others to do likewise.”

While the group is known for their inventive jazz reinventions of hard rock and heavy metal standards,  the new album will feature almost exclusively original music. The tracks include six compositions by Skolnick, one apiece by bassist Nathan Peck and drummer Matt Zebroski, and the group’s interpretation of Erik Satie’s “Gymnopédie No. 1.”

Skolnick was still a teenager when he made heavy-metal history on Testament’s essential debut, The Legacy.  The band remained a major touring act in heavy metal music. Recently Testament has been appearing in arenas and amphitheaters as part of Slayer’s “Final World Tour.”

While Testament continues to thrive, it’s the Trio and their songs that Skolnick says he imagine performing far into the future. “These days I still love playing screaming, loud guitar and heavy metal, though I don’t think I’m going to be one of these guys who’s past social-security age and in a rock band and touring,” he said. “But I can see myself doing these songs with the trio for many years to come.”

Conundrum will release on September 7, with the album available for preorder on Amazon. The album cover art and tracklist are below.

1.Unbound
2.Django Tango
3.Conundrum
4.Gymnopédie, No. 1
5.Culture Shock
6.Dodge the Bambula
7.Key of Sea
8.A Question of Moral Ambiguity
9.Protect the Dream