Roadrunner United: The Heavy Metal Supergroup Project
Roadrunner United is a unique collaborative heavy metal project assembled by the Roadrunner Records label to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The ambitious 2005 endeavor brought together over fifty artists from the label's storied roster to create a commemorative album, The All-Star Sessions.
Early career
Roadrunner United was not a band with a traditional formation, but a conceptual project initiated by the label's A&R executive, Monte Conner, in 2004. The idea was to create a definitive album showcasing the label's legacy and influence across the metal and hard rock genres. Four "team captains" were chosen from different eras of Roadrunner's history to lead the songwriting and recording process.
Breakthrough
The project's breakthrough was immediate upon the release of The All-Star Sessions in October 2005. The album debuted at number 107 on the Billboard 200 chart, a notable feat for a compilation-style project. It served as a powerful testament to Roadrunner Records' impact, uniting legendary figures with newer artists on one record.
Key tracks
The End — This opening track, led by team captain Joey Jordison of Slipknot, features a staggering vocal lineup including Corey Taylor, Matt Heafy, and Mikael Åkerfeldt, setting the album's collaborative tone.
Annihilation by the Hands of God — A brutal track spearheaded by Fear Factory's Dino Cazares, it showcases the label's strength in the industrial and groove metal subgenres.
Independent (Voice of the Voiceless) — This song, led by Trivium's Matt Heafy, stands out for its melodic thrash approach and features vocals from Heafy and Machine Head's Robb Flynn.
In the Fire — A highlight of the album's diverse range, this track is a gothic-tinged duet between Type O Negative's Peter Steele and ex-The Gathering vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen.
Tired 'N Lonely — This song demonstrates the project's softer side, a melancholic ballad written and performed by team captain Robert Flynn of Machine Head.
The recording process for The All-Star Sessions was a complex logistical feat, with contributions recorded in studios across the globe. A landmark concert at the Nokia Theater in Times Square, New York City, on December 15, 2005, brought the project to life on stage, featuring numerous participating musicians.
While Roadrunner United was a one-time studio project, its legacy endures. The album remains a unique snapshot of the heavy metal landscape in the mid-2000s and a tribute to Roadrunner Records' pivotal role. Artists like Machine Head have members who were central to the project's creation. The aggressive musicianship echoes bands like Slipknot, whose members served as team captains. The melodic metalcore elements align with Trivium, another key contributor. The project's spirit of collaboration mirrors the cross-pollination found in groups like Killswitch Engage.
The music of Roadrunner United is a staple on specialty metal and hard rock radio stations, particularly those focusing on 2000s metal and label retrospectives. Online metal radio streams frequently feature tracks from The All-Star Sessions during anniversary specials and themed programming blocks dedicated to supergroups and collaborative works.
Listeners can experience the powerful collaborations of Roadrunner United on heavy metal and hard rock radio stations featured on onairium.com. Discover this unique chapter in metal history by tuning into the dedicated stations available on our platform.
