My Interview With Rob Hussey About The Making Of His Album: Cyanide Rally The Troops With A 21 Gun Salute Heard Around The World!

 In a year already brimming with nostalgia-fueled comebacks, Las Vegas-based hard rock band Cyanide has delivered a thunderous statement of intent with their latest album, 21 Gun Salute. Fronted by veteran vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Rob Hussey, the 12-track release is a molten cocktail of attitude, anthems, and all-star collaborations that pays homage to the band’s roots while aiming squarely at the future.

(Rob Hussey)

21 Gun Salute was a true labor of love. After a few years of delays, recording finally commenced in August 2022. So many aspects of my life blew up around me during the making of this album.

Many times it seemed as if this record would never be finished. A lot of obstacles were overcome. The finished product is a testament to hard work, courage and resilience as my world disintegrated around me.

Released on October 17, 2025 via Kivel Records, 21 Gun Salute is Cyanide’s most ambitious project to date. It’s a sonic blitzkrieg that fuses sleaze, swagger, and social commentary — all wrapped in a production sheen that doesn’t sand down the band’s raw edge.

Rob Hussey, who also co-produced the album, leads a tight core lineup featuring Greg Montoya on bass, Rob Hussey on lead vocals, Paul Courtois on drums, and LaHi Cassiano on lead guitar. Plus, a guest list for the album that will definitely turn some heads: Oz Fox, Jeff Duncan, John Zito, Keith Robert War, Erik Johnson, and Jeremy Varao make multiple appearances, adding texture and punch to the album’s layered sound!

Track Highlights

• “Fireball” (feat. Oz Fox) kicks off the album’s high-octane streak with blistering solos and a chorus built for arenas.

• “Back the Fk Off”** (feat. John Zito) is a snarling, riff-heavy warning shot that channels classic Sunset Strip aggression.

• “21 Gun Salute” (feat. Keith Robert War), the title track, is a mid-tempo anthem that blends military imagery with personal defiance — a fitting centerpiece for the album’s themes of resilience and rebellion.

• “Social Media Disease” (feat. Oz Fox) takes a scathing swipe at digital addiction, pairing biting lyrics with a groove-laden hook.

(Rob Hussey)

Songs like Back the Fuck Off, Social Media Disease, Take What You Want and As the World Burns directly address many of these obstacles. A very dark heavy vibe was added to the record and these songs from these experiences bring hints of Metallica, Priest, Maiden, Slayer and Anthrax to our sound. As with the first album, there are also much happier party vibes found in songs like Get Up and Dance, Slip N Slide and Sweet Little Trash. These songs conjure old school vibes of Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Van Halen, KISS, Def Leppard and Poison that are instantly memorable and familiar.

A painful ballad about the demise of a relationship and a cover of the Climax Blues Band classic I Love You round out the 12 song set in true arena rock fashion. Thanks to Jason Constantine for keys/synth and La’Shana Smith for piano on these tracks. The album was produced by Ty Sims, who took over for departed producer Jason Constantine, and co-produced by Rob Hussey, who also played drums, bass and rhythm guitar on the album and wrote 9 of the 12 songs solo. Hussey teamed up with former guitarist Marc Mersol on 21 Gun Salute, and his late dear friend Danny Goldstein on Rock and Roll Army.

For Rob Hussey, 21 Gun Salute is more than just a record — it’s a mission statement. “This album is about standing your ground,” he’s said in recent interviews. “It’s for the misfits, the survivors, the ones who still believe in the power of a great riff and a raw lyric.”

That ethos bleeds through every track, from the satirical bite of “We Want You!” to the emotional vulnerability of “Never Let Me Go” (feat. Jeff Duncan). Even the closing ballad, “I Love You,” feels like a defiant embrace rather than a surrender.

Cyanide has long been a fixture in the Vegas rock scene, known for their explosive live shows and unapologetic attitude. With 21 Gun Salute, they’ve crafted a record that feels both timely and timeless, a love letter to hard rock’s golden age, filtered through the lens of modern chaos.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of ’80s metal or a newcomer looking for something with teeth, 21 Gun Salute delivers the goods. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it doesn’t flinch.

(Rob Hussey)

This album has something for all fans of the classic period of metal that dominated the airwaves from 1981 to 1991. A true salute to the decade of decadence. The title track 21 Gun Salute is a tribute to the troops of the USA and everything they have sacrificed for us, with a rocking AC/DC/KISS/Crüe vibe that will have you raising your fist in the air!

21 Gun Salute is now streaming everywhere. The album had over 150k streams in its first weekend of release October 17th. The CD is available to purchase thru Kivel Records at www.kivelrecords.com/store and also thru Eonian Records.

R.I.P. to the fond and loving memories of Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Van Halen and Ace Frehley who we all lost during the making of this album. Their influence and legacy will never be forgotten.

Special thanks to Count’s Vamp’d, Danny and Korie Koker and the Count’s 77 family for all of their support over the years. Vamp’d will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

Thanks to everyone that helped out and contributed to the making of 21 Gun Solute!

~Rob Hussey~

{My Take}

With 21 Gun Salute, Cyanide, and Rob Hussey have fired off more than just a new album, they’ve delivered a declaration of identity, grit, and unapologetic rock 'n' roll spirit. It’s a record that doesn’t just echo the past; it reloads it for a new generation, with blistering riffs, defiant lyrics, and a lineup that feels like a who’s who of hard rock credibility. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer drawn to the fire, this album stands tall as a battle cry for those who still believe in the power of guitars, guts, and glory.

To all the members of Cyanide, all the guest artists on the album, and to Kivel Records.

This Fan and Music Journalist Salutes You!

All's well that ends well!

What's next for Rob Hussey, and for Cyanide?

Only time will tell.

GE

Check these links for more information about Cyanide, their music, and where you can catch them live. 

Cyanide Facebook

Cyanide Instagram

Cyanide Official Website

Cyanide YouTube

Cyanide On Apple Music

Cyanide On Spotify 

Cyanide 21 Gun Salute On Kivel Records

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