Warren Haynes taps into the spirit of the ’60s counterculture with his cognisant new single, “Day of Reckoning”. Featuring guest vocals from singer-songwriters Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson, the track will appear on Haynes’ first solo album in nine years, Million Voices Whisper, out November 1st via Fantasy Records.
“Day of Reckoning” finds power in its simplicity, Terrence Higgins‘ imposing bass drum beat introducing the song before the chorus of Haynes, Nelson, and Johnson deliver the stern warning, “Now is the time to take our place in history / Let it be known – it’s never too late to be free.” The song’s bluesy crawl assisted by John Medeski‘s sparing Rhodes keyboard gets a bit of a gospel bent as Haynes calls and Nelson and Johnson respond, the latter reminiscent of the late Johnny Cash as he forebodes, “It’s a testimony,” in his gravelly baritone. While the stable of singers gives “Day of Reckoning” an intimidating heaviness, its overall message is one of salvation as a million voices all come together as one.
“Lukas, Jamey, and myself sang together on the Last Waltz tour a few years ago,” Haynes said of the single. “I love the way our voices blend and wanted to get the three of us together to sing on this song. Lukas played some amazing guitar as well. ‘Day of Reckoning’ is written about equality and civil rights in a modern light and can apply to many demographics. ‘It’s never too late to be free.’”
Million Voices Whisper marks Haynes’ first solo album since 2015’s Ashes & Dust featuring Railroad Earth and only the fourth solo album of his illustrious career. In addition to Nelson and Johnson, the 11-track album hears Haynes and his former Allman Brothers Band compatriot Derek Trucks reunite in the studio for the first time since the legendary Southern rock band’s dissolution a decade ago. Trucks and Haynes teamed up for three songs on the standard Million Voices Whisper release including “Real Real Love”, a song co-written by the late Gregg Allman that Derek and Warren completed in his style. The Million Voices Whisper Deluxe Edition CD includes an additional Trucks collab, “Back Where I Started”, as well as a recording of Haynes, Nelson, and Johnson covering Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young‘s “Find the Cost of Freedom” into an extended “Day of Reckoning”.
Check out the visualizer for Warren Haynes’ “Day of Reckoning” below or on your preferred streaming platform. Million Voices Whisper is available here for pre-order. Haynes is currently on the road with his solo band featuring Medeski, Higgins, Gov’t Mule bassist Kevin Scott, and saxophonist Greg Osby. After a run of fall shows with the Waren Haynes Band on the Million Voices Whisper Tour, Haynes and Scott will close out 2024 with a three-night Gov’t Mule New Year’s Run. Find Waren Haynes tickets here.
Warren Haynes — “Day of Reckoning” (ft. Lukas Nelson, Jamey Johnson) [Official Visualizer]
Warren Haynes —”Day Of Reckoning” (Behind The Scenes)