Brantley Gilbert Exclusive: 'Tattoos' Out Now

Brantley Gilbert knows how to mix things up in the world of country music, and his new album is just that: a perfect mix of outlaw country.

Throughout his career, Gilbert has always been the best kind of different. His music and lyrics speak to his small-town upbringing, but his brand is anything but the typical small-town guy. Gilbert dons ball caps and trucker caps, leaving the cowboy hats to the other guys. He tips his cap to those that starch their jeans and button their shirts, but he prefers to rock the cap and show off his ink.

"I'm a different kind of cowboy; my horses are steel and run on gas," said Gilbert.

Gilbert said that his place in the Country/Rock genre is meant for "pushing boundaries and bending the rules." Like every other production from Gilbert, 'Tattoos' pushes the boundaries of country music, and it couldn't be better.

'Tattoos' is Gilbert's seventh studio album, and he intends to honor the work put in by himself and all of the contributors by headlining Brantley Gilbert’s World’s Largest Album Release Party on Broadway in downtown Nashville on Friday, September 13.

In an interview with Gilbert, he revealed that he was going to make it his job to create an album that could never be forgotten. His co-author, Randy Montana, encouraged him to write a tattoo song, but Gilbert had his doubts. He said he had never heard a song about tattoos that he liked, so it was his new mission to make a song about tattoos "that didn't suck."

His whole album became one that was dedicated to showing off his artistic confidence and independence. Gilbert's album cover alone, illustrates his journey through life, which is exactly how he wanted it to be.

“All my albums, they capture a chapter of my life,” Gilbert explains. “If somebody wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through and where I stand, they can start at the beginning and listen through, and that’s why it was undeniable that Tattoos should be the title – because my tattoos do the same thing.”

Gilbert is currently in the second half of his "Off the Rails" tour, and he has loved getting to immerse some of the newer members of his band into his touring style. Gilbert said, "Every band we've ever had has been special in its own way. This one in particular has been the most fun I've ever had on stage because these dudes jump around, they act a fool. There's just a lot of energy, there's fire...it's a powder keg, man,  it's nonstop and high energy...it's something to behold."

Along with his successful music career, Gilbert is a family man, through and through. He is the "Dad" to his crew while they are on tour, and he is the ultimate father to his two kids. His wife is expecting their third in October, and he gave his wife all the praise for being an incredible mother to his kids.

"God blessed me with an incredible family," Gilbert said. "There was a large portion of my life that I had never planned on being anyone's dad or anybody's husband, so all this is a blessing beyond measure."

The final thing he had to say about his new album and about his place in the music industry was this:

"I don't have a Carrie Underwood voice, you know, I'm not blowing anyone away with my vocals. This thing sounds like cigarettes, dirt roads and diesel fuel. I always felt like writing was part of what I brought to the table to make me special."

'Tattoos' is out and available to stream now, and the "Off the Rails" tour continues until mid October. Tour dates can be found here , as well as merch, music, videos, and other tour promo.