Gov't Mule: Warren Haynes (vocals, guitar, slide guitar); Allen Woody (rhythm guitar, mandolin, dulcitar, bass, electric upright bass, fretless bass); Matt Abst (drums, djembe). Additional personnel: Hook Herrera (harmonica); Michael Barbiero (glockenspiel); Johnny Neel (organ). Recorded at Muscle Shoals Studios, Sheffield, Alabama; Water Music, Hoboken, New Jersey; Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York. In 1997, following a short period of splitting time between the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule, Warren Haynes left the former to concentrate full-time on the latter. With Haynes' rededication to the band, Mule went on to resurrect and expand upon the power-trio concept first pioneered by Cream and Mountain. Much like its predecessors, the Mule's fifth album, LIFE BEFORE INSANITY, continues to be yoked to leader Haynes' gruff vocals and formidable guitar playing. This time around, the Mule wanders away from its blues-rock roots, embracing a creative expansion marked by odd time signatures and more of a low-key delivery. Haynes' soulful vocals are an especially appropriate match for the haunting "Tastes Like Wine" and the goosebump-inducing title track. Elsewhere, the Mule welcomes such guests as Ben Harper on the meandering "Lay Your Burden Down" and harmonica player Hook Herrera on the gnarly "I Think You Know What I Mean." Although most of LIFE is low-key, Haynes gets to flash his chops on a slide-drenched, rip-roaring cover of Robert Johnson's "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day," a hidden track.

• Genre: Pop
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 06/04/2013