Straight Outta Burbank... is an extended play (EP) by the American rock band Stone Sour, released on November 27, 2015.[1] The EP comprises five cover songs selected from bands that influenced Stone Sour's members, serving as the second part of a two-EP series known as the Burbank Duology, following Meanwhile in Burbank... earlier that year.[2][3]The tracks on Straight Outta Burbank... include covers of "Sailin' On" by Bad Brains, "Running Free" by Iron Maiden, "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones (featuring guest vocals from Lzzy Hale of Halestorm), "Too Fast for Love" by Mötley Crüe, and "Seasons in the Abyss" by Slayer.[1] Initially released as a limited-edition vinyl for Record Store Day Black Friday 2015, with only 5,000 copies pressed, it later became available digitally through platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music.[4][5]Stone Sour, fronted by Corey Taylor—who is also known for his work with Slipknot—used the Burbank Duology to pay homage to classic rock influences while showcasing their versatility in reinterpreting hard rock and metal staples.[6] The EP received positive attention for its faithful yet energetic renditions, contributing to Stone Sour's reputation for blending aggressive riffs with melodic elements during their 2015 activities.[7]
Background
The Burbank Duology
The Burbank Duology refers to a two-part series of extended plays (EPs) by the American rock band Stone Sour, consisting of cover songs recorded as tributes to their musical influences. The project began with the announcement on October 5, 2014, that the band had entered a studio in Burbank, California, to record a covers album tentatively slated for an early 2015 release. This initiative came during a creative hiatus following the release of their double-concept album House of Gold & Bones Part 2 in April 2013, allowing the band to explore reinterpretations of tracks that shaped their sound while preparing for their next original studio album, Hydrograd, which would not arrive until 2017.[8]The first installment, Meanwhile in Burbank..., was released on April 18, 2015, as a limited-edition vinyl exclusive for Record Store Day, featuring five covers of songs by punk, metal, and rock acts that influenced the band members. Stone Sour's motivation for the duology was to pay homage to these formative artists, capturing the essence of tracks they grew up loving and that inspired their own music, as frontman Corey Taylor explained: "We wanted to tackle the bands that inspired us, the ones that inspired us to get where we are." The project emphasized respect for the originals while infusing them with the band's energetic style, serving as a bridge between their touring performances of cover material and new compositions.[9][10]The second EP, Straight Outta Burbank..., followed on November 27, 2015, also as a Black Friday Record Store Day vinyl exclusive before a wider digital release, completing the duology with another set of five covers from influential punk, metal, and rock sources. Although plans for a third EP titled No Sleep 'Til Burbank were discussed in April 2015 to extend the series, it was ultimately not released, leaving the duology as a cohesive pair of releases that highlighted Stone Sour's broad musical tastes and gratitude toward their roots. These EPs provided fans with a diversionary yet reverent collection during the band's transitional period, reinforcing their connections to genres like punk and metal without detracting from ongoing original songwriting efforts.[11][12]
Title and concept
"Straight Outta Burbank..." serves as the title of the second extended play (EP) in Stone Sour's Burbank Duology, a collection of cover songs recorded by the American rock band fronted by Corey Taylor. The title is a deliberate parody of N.W.A.'s seminal 1988 hip-hop album Straight Outta Compton, substituting "Burbank" to evoke the Los Angeles suburb where the sessions took place at drummer Roy Mayorga's home studio. This playful reference nods to the band's temporary California base during recording, infusing the project with a lighthearted, irreverent twist on hip-hop's influential "straight outta" motif while grounding it in rock's raw energy.[13]Conceptually, the EP positions itself as a tribute to the underground and mainstream influences that shaped Stone Sour's sound, drawing from punk, metal, and classic rock without aiming for reinvention. Rather than producing original material, the band selected tracks from artists like Bad Brains, Iron Maiden, and the Rolling Stones to honor the diverse musical heroes that inspired their formation and evolution. As Taylor explained, "This is something we've been talking about for years… to kind of show the world what got us into making music in the first place," emphasizing a celebratory homage to these genres' foundational role in rock history. The approach allows Stone Sour to inject their spirited interpretations, blending reverence with their signature intensity to highlight shared roots across scenes.[14]Taylor further underscored the EP's thematic intent in interviews, describing it as an outlet for fun and creative freedom amid the band's heavier obligations. "I love 'Straight Outta Burbank', because it's a little bit further out there than 'Meanwhile in Burbank…' This one hits a few different corners: [it's] got BAD BRAINS on one end and the STONES on the other … and the crazy thing is it all works," he noted, capturing the eclectic joy of paying tribute through covers. He added, "I hope people enjoy the spirit, music and fun that went into this," framing the project as an irreverent yet affectionate bridge between hip-hop's bold naming conventions and rock's enduring influences. This conceptual framing underscores the EP's role in the duology as a relaxed, homage-driven endeavor rather than a commercial pivot.[14][9]
Recording
Sessions
The recording sessions for Straight Outta Burbank... took place at drummer Roy Mayorga's home studio in Burbank, California.[12]The core lineup participating included Corey Taylor on vocals, Josh Rand and Christian Martucci on guitars, Johny Chow on bass, and Roy Mayorga on drums.[12][15]Lzzy Hale of Halestorm contributed guest vocals to the cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter."[16]
Production
The production of Straight Outta Burbank... was handled by Stone Sour, with recording taking place in drummer Roy Mayorga's home studio in Burbank.[17] The EP's five covers were selected for their personal significance to the members, allowing Stone Sour to reinterpret punk, metal, and rock classics with their distinctive heavy riffs and dynamic arrangements.[17]Lzzy Hale of Halestorm provided backing vocals on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" to complement Corey Taylor's lead.[18] This approach ensured the EP maintained a cohesive yet diverse sonic palette, bridging the originals' spirits with Stone Sour's modern metal sensibilities. The EP was completed by September 2015.[12]
Release and promotion
Announcement
Stone Sour officially announced Straight Outta Burbank... in late October 2015 through their social media channels and label Roadrunner Records, positioning it as the second installment in the Burbank Duology of cover EPs following Meanwhile in Burbank... earlier that year. The announcement highlighted the EP's exclusive vinyl release for Record Store Day Black Friday on November 27, 2015, limited to 5,000 copies, and teased its collection of covers from influential rock and metal acts including Bad Brains, Iron Maiden, the Rolling Stones, Mötley Crüe, and Slayer.[19][20]On November 9, 2015, the tracklist and artwork were unveiled via a feature in Rolling Stone magazine, which also premiered an exclusive stream of the EP's cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" featuring guest vocals from Halestorm's Lzzy Hale. The revealed tracklist included: "Sailin' On" (Bad Brains), "Running Free" (Iron Maiden), "Gimme Shelter" (Rolling Stones feat. Lzzy Hale), "Too Fast for Love" (Mötley Crüe), and "Seasons in the Abyss" (Slayer). This reveal built significant anticipation among fans for the EP's punk, hard rock, and metal influences.[21]To further heighten excitement ahead of the physical release, select tracks from the EP were made available for streaming during November 2015, with the full EP accessible for streaming on Apple Music and other digital platforms starting November 27, 2015, allowing listeners access to the complete set of covers on release day. This streaming rollout complemented the vinyl exclusivity marketed for independent record stores.[22][23]
Marketing strategies
The marketing strategy for Straight Outta Burbank... emphasized limited physical exclusivity to drive collector interest and support independent retailers, followed by a rapid digital rollout to maximize accessibility across streaming platforms. The EP was initially released exclusively on bronze-in-clear vinyl as part of Record Store Day's Black Friday event on November 27, 2015, with production limited to 5,000 copies available only at participating independent record stores nationwide.[24][4]Just two weeks later, on December 11, 2015, a digital version of the EP was issued through major platforms including iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, and Amazon Music, broadening its reach beyond vinyl enthusiasts.[25] To further promote the release, Stone Sour made the full EP available for streaming in its entirety online, capitalizing on the growing popularity of on-demand listening services to engage a wider audience.[26] This dual-format strategy balanced scarcity for physical collectors with immediate digital availability, aligning with the band's goal of connecting with diverse fan segments through both tangible and virtual channels.
Music
Style and genre
Straight Outta Burbank... is classified primarily as alternative metal, incorporating elements of punk rock, heavy metal, and classic rock to reflect the diverse origins of its cover songs, which span from hardcore punk in Bad Brains' "Sailin' On" to New Wave of British Heavy Metal in Iron Maiden's "Running Free" and thrash metal in Slayer's "Seasons in the Abyss."[27][4][15] The EP also draws on glam metal influences from Mötley Crüe's "Too Fast for Love" and classic rock from The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter," creating a broad stylistic palette that honors the originals while aligning with Stone Sour's hard rock roots.[9][7]Stone Sour adapts these tracks through modern production techniques that emphasize heavier guitar riffs and Corey Taylor's versatile vocals, infusing the material with the band's signature intensity to form a cohesive sound across the duology.[15][7] This approach remains reverent to the source material—preserving raw energy and structural integrity—yet reinterprets it with subtle enhancements, such as Lzzy Hale's guest vocals on "Gimme Shelter," to add contemporary depth without overshadowing the classics.[9][15] As Taylor noted in a Metal Hammer interview, the EP explores "a few different corners" stylistically compared to its predecessor, broadening the genre blend while maintaining high-energy cohesion.[28]With a total runtime of 19:27 across five tracks, the EP prioritizes concise, high-impact arrangements that deliver punchy performances without unnecessary extensions, underscoring its focus on distilled rock aggression.[5][1]
Cover selections
The cover selections on Straight Outta Burbank... were curated to pay tribute to pivotal influences across punk, metal, and rock, reflecting the band's eclectic tastes and desire to honor formative artists, as frontman Corey Taylor described in a 2015 interview.[9] These choices allowed Stone Sour to reinterpret classics while infusing their signature energy, with selections drawn from songs the members grew up admiring and that inspired their own music.[13]The opening track, a cover of Bad Brains' "Sailin' On" from their 1982 self-titled album Bad Brains, was selected to nod to the band's punk roots and the raw energy of hardcore pioneers. Stone Sour amplified the original's speed and aggression, retaining the core riff and tone while layering Corey Taylor's distinctive vocals over the instrumentation.[15])Iron Maiden's "Running Free," originally from their 1980 self-titled debut, serves as a tribute to early heavy metal influences that shaped Stone Sour's sound. The rendition remains faithful to the source material's galloping rhythm and structure but incorporates additional guitar layers from Josh Rand and Christian Martucci for enhanced depth.[15]The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" (1969) features guest vocals from Halestorm's Lzzy Hale alongside Taylor, chosen to explore emotional interplay in a rock staple. Stone Sour maintains a tempo and structure faithful to the original, emphasizing vocal dynamics through Hale's harmonies with Taylor over atmospheric instrumentation.[13][15][18]Mötley Crüe's "Too Fast for Love" from their 1981 debut album represents a nod to glam metal's high-energy ethos and 1980s excess. Stone Sour delivered an energetic take that captures the original's driving pace and attitude, with Taylor's vocals driving the sleazy rock vibe.[9]Closing the EP, Slayer's "Seasons in the Abyss" (1990) maintains the thrash metal intensity of the original while adapting it with Taylor's clean vocals layered over the riff-heavy structure. The selection underscores Stone Sour's appreciation for extreme metal, preserving the song's dark atmosphere through Rand and Martucci's guitar work.[29][15]
Reception
Critical reviews
Upon its release, Straight Outta Burbank... received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the EP's faithful yet energetic renditions of classic rock and metal tracks as a fitting homage to Stone Sour's influences.[7][15] The Album of the Year aggregate assigned it a critic score of 60 out of 100, based on a single review that highlighted its enjoyable but derivative nature as a collection of covers.[30]AltWire lauded the EP as a "masterful" tribute, noting how Stone Sour effectively owned diverse covers from Bad Brains, Iron Maiden, the Rolling Stones, Mötley Crüe, and Slayer, transforming them into compelling performances that honored the originals without mere imitation.[7] Similarly, 615 Film awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, commending the raw energy in tracks like "Sailin' On" and the fan-pleasing duet on "Gimme Shelter" featuring Corey Taylor and Lzzy Hale, which showcased vocal synergy and added emotional depth.[15] However, the review critiqued selections such as "Running Free" and "Too Fast for Love" for lacking innovation or standout intrigue compared to the stronger cuts.[15]Time for Metal gave the EP a 6.5 out of 10, acknowledging the inherent risk in covering iconic songs but praising the solid production and Taylor's distinctive vocals for making the interpretations succeed overall.[31] Across these critiques, common themes emerged of appreciation for the band's reverence toward its rock and metal roots, with strong emphasis on the EP's high-energy delivery and appeal to longtime fans, tempered by reservations about its originality and viability as a standalone release rather than bonus material.[7][15][31]
Fan response
Fans have given Straight Outta Burbank... a generally positive reception, with an average user rating of 3.15 out of 5 on Rate Your Music based on 78 ratings, particularly among metal enthusiasts who praised the band's covers of Slayer's "Seasons in the Abyss" and Iron Maiden's "Running Free" for capturing the originals' intensity while infusing Stone Sour's signature style.[27][15]In online discussions on music platforms and fan sites, the collaboration with Halestorm's Lzzy Hale on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" drew widespread acclaim, with users highlighting her powerful vocals as a standout element that elevated the track.[18] Many fans regard the EP as essential for understanding Stone Sour's musical roots, appreciating how the diverse cover selections reflect the influences that shaped Corey Taylor and the band's sound from punk and hard rock to thrash metal.[15][32]
Commercial performance
Chart performance
Straight Outta Burbank... did not achieve significant mainstream chart success, reflecting its status as a limited-edition release.
Sales
Initially released as a limited-edition vinyl for Record Store Day Black Friday 2015, with only 5,000 copies pressed, the EP later became available digitally.[4] Physical formats dominated initial consumption, with vinyl comprising the entirety of early physical sales due to its colored, limited-edition pressing. No RIAA certifications have been recorded for the release.
Content and credits
Track listing
The EP Straight Outta Burbank... by Stone Sour features five cover songs recorded during sessions in Burbank, California, with no original compositions included.[17] The track listing is identical across digital, CD, and vinyl editions.[4][6]
The EP Straight Outta Burbank... was performed by the 2015 lineup of Stone Sour, consisting of Corey Taylor on lead vocals, Josh Rand on guitars, Christian Martucci on guitars, Johny Chow on bass, and Roy Mayorga on drums.[33]Additional musicians included Lzzy Hale providing additional vocals on "Gimme Shelter," and Jeremy White contributing harmonica on the same track.[34][35]The EP was recorded at Roy Mayorga's home studio in Burbank, California.[17] Jay Ruston handled the mixing, with engineering duties shared by the band and Ruston.[36][35] Mastering was performed by Paul Logus.[17]