User:L1A1 FAL/Blue Öyster Cult's 15th studio album

The Symbol Remains is the fifteenth studio effort by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult. The album is the band's first studio release since 2001's Curse of the Hidden Mirror. It also marks the recording debut by long-time band members Jules Radino and Richie Castellano.

Background
The lack of sales success of the band's previous studio album, Curse of the Hidden Mirror contributed to a disinterest from the band towards recording new music. Frontman Eric Bloom noted in 2017 that "it costs money to make a record," and that the time spent producing an album would be better spent touring "than making a record that nobody’s going to buy." Although he did concede that some hardcore fans would be enthusiastic about such a release, it would likely not be a financially successful project. Nevertheless, he admitted that a new effort would eventually arrive.

Lead guitarist Buck Dharma stated in another interview that the band had "tentative" plans to record in 2017, and noted that the then-current band was "so good it would be a shame not to." Dharma had also revealed that he had originally intended to contact longtime band manager and collaborator Sandy Pearlman about ideas for the album, although Pearlman's death in 2016 from a stroke prevented that from occurring.

In April 2019, Bloom further reiterated that an album would eventually arrive, and announced that the band would "soon" be signing a new recording contract.

In July 2019, it was announced that the band had signed with Frontiers Records, and that the album would be released in 2020. Bloom noted that half of the songs were already written, with the remaining portion to be written during production of the album.

The album art and tracklisting were revealed in August 2020

Band

 * Eric Bloom – lead vocals, stun guitar
 * Buck Dharma – lead guitar, vocals
 * Danny Miranda – bass, backing vocals
 * Richie Castellano – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
 * Jules Radino – drums, percussion