Meat Loaf has tapped an array of special guests for his new album, Hang Cool Teddy Bear.

Brian May, Steve Vai, Justin Hawkins and Jack Black are among those set to appear on the unusually titled disc, based on a short story of the same name by Killian Kerwin, a long-time friend of the singer.

Meat held a listening party in LondonВ last FridayВ (February 26), at which he spilled the beans on the album, which is due to be released in April through Mercury Records.

“I found the title in a Russ Meyer movie called Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls,” he explained. “It’s something you’ll love or hate but you walk past a poster saying Hang Cool Teddy Bear and I can guarantee you’ll stop for three or four seconds. I have your attention.”

Though retaining all of Meat Loaf’s traditional excesses, the album adds a modern-sounding twist. Overall, it’s a really strong rock record with lots of hummable hooks, though quality-wise it’s guilty of tailing off a little towards the end. Meat believes that working with Green Day/Goo Goo Dolls/Fleetwood Mac/Paramore producer Rob Cavallo was pivotal to its quality.

“I’ve been doing this for 43 years, and Rob Cavallo is the best producer in the world,” states Meat. “If you disagree, I’ll take you outside. I knew I was making the most important record of my life and Rob gave me my voice. It’s a Meat Loaf record, but it sounds different and new. It’s fresh.”