New York hard rockers Black Water Rising will release their as-yet-untitled sophomore album in July. The follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed self-titled debut is described in a press release as "another honest, barebones, no frills rock album.

"The recipe is the same as the first. I didn't deviate from what I believe Black Water Rising music to be, I didn't set out to grow or mature," says frontman Rob Traynor.

"I feel this new album is not much of a departure from the first, and I believe that's a good thing. Besides, I don't think fans would want it any other way. I'm still writing from the same place I was writing from before, I'm still the same guy... for better or for worse. We're still the same band, with the addition of a killer new guitarist, Dennis Kimak, who joined us after the departure of our original guitarist Johnny."

The first single from the new album, "Show No Mercy", can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.

Black Water Rising was formed from the ashes of various national touring acts. After releasing two albums with a band called Dust To Dust, Traynor locked himself away in his Brooklyn, New York recording studio, later emerging with a collection of songs that would become the seeds of Black Water Rising's debut album. Traynor was soon joined by former Boiler Room drummer Mike Meselsohn, former Stereomud guitarist Johnny Fattoruso and bassist Oddie McLaughlin and they would unleash their self-titled debut album on March 2, 2010.

Invigorated and eager to capitalize on the success of their debut album, the band's new material promises to be riff-heavy and proudly anchored in the foundations of traditional hard rock and metal songwriting, with hooks and catchy choruses to pull you in. New songs like "Show No Mercy", "Pissed And Driven", "Last Man Standing" and "Fire It Up" combine the bands love of Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest with the sonic stomp of Black Label Society, all while retaining a musical identity of their own.

Black Water Rising is:

Rob Traynor - Vocals, Guitar
Dennis Kimak - Guitar
Mike Meselsohn - Drums
Oddie McLaughlin - Bass