In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, Ian Gillan spoke about the band's upcoming studio album, "Splat!", which is due on July 3 via earMUSIC.

Produced once again by Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper), the effort has been described in a press release as "the heaviest DEEP PURPLE album in many years".

Asked why he thinks "Splat!" turned out to be such a heavy record, Gillan said: “Well, I think Simon [McBride, DEEP PURPLE guitarist of the past four years] settled in, so it's more relaxed as things come naturally.

We find a good groove, and we tend to develop that, even if it's just a simple structure.

If it feels good, we put it to one side and think, 'Well, this may be an idea that we can work on, develop that structure, without losing the feel.' And so his energy is really… He's an immaculate player — immaculate.

And I think also you'll find the drums and bass are higher in the mix on this record than they have been previously — on any record, I think, DEEP PURPLE record.

So it's got a lot of energy." Ian also talked about the guitar-keyboards interplay in the first two singles from "Splat!", "Diablo" and "Arrogant Boy", saying: “Yeah.

Well, we can't escape what we are.

And so this happens every night — they're trading off in their playing.

These guys play their instruments the same way as you and I use words in a conversation.

We don't think ahead; you sort of respond and get on with it.

And so they talk to each other instrumentally all night long.

It's a joy to watch.

But the other thing is they know when to back off and to be part of the rhythm section, too.

My favorite part of the evening, actually, is when I'm not singing.

I step back between the drums and the keyboards, and I've got the best seat in the house.

The sound balance there is perfect.

So, I just get off on that and forget to come back sometimes.” The band's upcoming touring schedule includes 86 shows across 28 countries.

Tickets are available via DEEP PURPLE's official web site.