Former Audioslave and erstwhile Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello has re-donned the guise of his alter-ego, The Nightwatchman, for a new CD. Set for release on August 30, 
World Wide Rebel Songs once again finds the guitarist sharpening his lyrical blades for social injustice. As opposed to his earlier Woody Guthrie-style acoustic efforts, though, Morello has embraced his inner guitar hero on the new album—a move largely inspired by a recent collaboration with Bruce Springsteen.
“On this record,” Morello told MusicRadar.com, “I felt much more comfortable melding the worlds of Tom Morello, 'electric guitar hero,' and Nightwatchman, 'brooding folk singer.’ [laughs] Where that evolution first happened was when I played the electric version of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” with Bruce Springsteen. That was the first time I ever sang on stage with an electric guitar. At first, I wanted The Nightwatchman material to stand in very stark contrast to Rage and Audioslave. But I've mellowed a bit on that now. I enjoy playing big riffs and guitar solos. That's who I am as an artist. So I finally got to a point where I could put it all together. There's plenty of grim folk tales of retribution on this record, but there's also big, 'Nugent-esque' guitar solos all over it.” [laughs]
He continued, "It wasn't so much that I needed confidence; it just never really occurred to me that I really could blend those worlds. I love the idea of the lone, guerilla-style acoustic singer…but playing with Bruce was kind of an epiphany moment for me. I'm going to do it both ways now: some nights will be the big rock band with the Freedom Fighter Orchestra, and other nights will be solo acoustic nights."
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