"We are all very excited about the music that we have created for Black Star Riders. The synergy between the five of us has been phenomenal and I can't wait for the world to hear the new songs."

Jimmy and Black Star Riders are set to enter the studio in Los Angeles in January 2013 to start recording their debut album with the legendary Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Rush).

The new, as yet untitled, album will be released in May 2013 through Nuclear Blast, the label behind acts such as Anthrax, Nightwish and Meshuggah.

Black Star Riders are one of the first bands signed by Monte Conner, the former Roadrunner A&R guru who recently joined Nuclear Blast as the president of Nuclear Blast Entertainment, a new US partnership he co-founded with Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger. Says Monte:

"As a lifelong Thin Lizzy fan, I was floored by this line-up’s new material. Not only do the new songs sound like Thin Lizzy but they sound like classic Thin Lizzy. Black Star Riders totally captures the essence of what was great about the original band while at the same time adding something totally fresh and modern. Even when I heard the band decided to change their name, my interest in signing them did not waver for one second."

The band are looking to support their May album release with European festivals shows in the summer of 2013 and follow this up with worldwide touring. The set list will consist of material from the new album and classic Thin Lizzy material.