Uriah Heep, one of the pivotal hard rock groups to emerge from England in the late 1960s returns with Outsider, its 24th studio album, and the first since 2011’s Into the Wild album.

Outsider will be released on June 6th in Europe, June 9th in the UK and June 10th in North America on Frontiers Records.

“We are very proud of our history” says founder / guitarist Mick Box, “but it is equally important to keep producing new material. This new album, Outsider, is very much a rock album in true ‘Heep’ style. We still have the same passion and energy for our music that we have always had.”

The record, which was produced by Mike Paxman (Asia, Status Quo), also introduces bassist Dave Rimmer, who joined the band last summer after the untimely death of long time member, Trevor Bolder.

Formed in London in 1969 by guitarist Mick Box and late singer David Byron as “Spice”, the group evolved into Uriah Heep (the name was taken from a character in Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield) when they began conceptualizing the first record.

The album Very ‘eavy, Very ‘umble, launched the band’s distinct sound in 1970, one that was built around layered harmony vocals, swirling keyboards, and heavy guitar riffs.

Current lead singer Bernie Shaw and keyboardist Phil Lanzon have been ever present since the mid 1980s, and drummer Russell Gilbrook joined Uriah Heep in 2007.