Known for aggressive lyrics and blaring vocals as part of Godsmack, Sully Erna shows his softer side with the release of his latest solo album Hometown Life. The singer held an album release event that took place at the very intimate Berlin Bar in Manhattan where fans, press and label people gathered to hear the album at an open bar.

Hometown Life is Erna’s follow up to his first solo album Avalon and musically it’s a departure. Where Avalon was grittier, tribal and drum heavy, Hometown Life is clean, tender and more acoustic piano and string driven.

Erna performed two new songs “Falling to Black” and “Don’t Comfort Me” -- both very emotional tracks that he expressed with passionate vocals and his acoustic guitar.

Growing up in Lawrence, Mass. Erna pays homage to where he grew up throughout the songs on Hometown Life. As a multi-instrumentalist, he played piano, acoustic guitar, drums and more on the record. He mixed elements of jazz, classical tunes, blues and pop to show his diverse music tastes.

The new solo album is Erna’s first on the label BMG which is also the new home for Godsmack. After 17 years, the band decided to part ways with music label Universal/Republic. A rep from BMG expressed excitement to have Erna and the rest of Godsmack on the label and to expect some new music from the band soon enough.

Erna embarks on a North American tour which kicks off on Oct. 26 and ends in his home state of Massachusetts on Nov. 23. Go here for tour dates, and check out our photo gallery of Erna’s performance above.

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