The early 21st century saw
Pantera singer
Phil Anselmo launch several side projects, including
Necrophagia,
Viking Crown,
Christ Inversion,
Southern Isolation, and
Superjoint Ritual. The latter group is comprised of guitarists
Jim Bower and
Kevin Bond, drummer
Joseph Fazzio, with none other than
Hank Williams III on bass (
Anselmo handled both vocal and bass duties for the group's recordings, but opted to concentrate solely on vocals for the group's live shows). According to
Bower, the members of
Superjoint Ritual approached the writing and recording of their debut with "the perfect 15-year-old mentality of having everything loud, everything on 10, getting loaded, and letting whatever happens, happen." Recorded at a rehearsal space turned recording studio in
Anselmo's backyard, the sessions were produced by former
Ugly Kid Joe member
Dave Fortman (who has turned into quite a producer of ultra heavy bands --
Eyehategod,
Soilent Green, etc.). May of 2002 saw the release of the quintet's debut,
Use Once and Destroy, an album that reflected such influences as
Black Flag,
Righteous Pigs,
Celtic Frost, and
Voivod, among others.
Superjoint Ritual supported the album with a summer tour the same year.
–
Greg Prato, Rovi