Thin Lizzy have announced the release of their first album in over 40 years, The Acoustic Sessions, which will come out on January 24 and offer a fresh take on some of the band’s most iconic tracks.

To accompany the announcement, they also released the single ‘Slow Blues E.B (Eric Bell Acoustic Version), which features fresh acoustic guitar parts recently laid down by founding member Eric Bell at the Oh Yeah! Centre studio in Belfast, seamlessly blending past and present.

On the rest of the record, original vocals from Phil Lynott are paired with brand-new guitar parts from Bell, an innovative approach which reimagines Thin Lizzy’s classic material by combining period-correct elements with modern production.

Listen to ‘Slow Blues E.B’ below:

Commenting on the project, Eric Bell said, "I remember recording 'Eire' from our debut album Thin Lizzy in 1971. I wrote the main guitar part first on acoustic and then we built it up from there. I played the 12-string acoustic throughout the track and introduced the electric on top.

“This was useful in the studio in Belfast recently where we recorded fresh guitar parts to allow us to create new Thin Lizzy acoustic versions of some of our favourite songs, by recreating those original acoustic parts and adding the vocals which Philip laid down on the day and those original drum parts which Brian came up with in the original recording sessions".

Producer and mixer Richard Whittaker added, “Traditionally, song writers and bands have used acoustic ‘polyrhythmic’ instruments such as piano or guitar to demo or sketch out their ideas. In most cases these parts are replaced as the production process develops but occasionally, these core elements survive and remain intact.

“I encountered this during the Vagabonds project. After sifting through all the Decca recordings, I presented a list of ideas however, in most cases additional development and material was required. So the guys at the label approached Eric (Bell) who was happy to get involved with the project and between us, I think we’ve made something really quite unique and special.”

Each track on the album is a freshly created version of songs featured on either the 50th-anniversary super deluxe editions of Vagabonds Of The Western World, considered Thin Lizzy’s breakthrough. The new album also includes acoustic renditions of songs from their self-titled debut and Shades of a Blue Orphanage.

The album will be available in both CD and limited-edition marble vinyl formats, along with an ultra-limited vinyl edition featuring an exclusive bonus track, and is available for pre-order now.