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Swedish progressive metal act Seventh Wonder are pleased to confirm Stefan Norgren (ex Lion’s Share) as their new permanent drummer after a long search to replace the departed Johnny Sandin.

Stefan is an experienced musician who was educated at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, has been a teacher and drum instructor for many years, possesses a great voice and also plays piano and guitar. Stefan brings a slightly heavier, angrier and more groove based drumming approach to the band.

On his appointment to Seventh Wonder Stefan comments: “I can’t wait to take on this challenge. Johnny´s work is insane so listening to the bands back catalogue and learning the drum parts has been both exciting and scary. My philosophy will be to stay true to the original drums while adding my personal touch.”

On Stefan’s arrival in the band Seventh Wonder guitarist Johan Liefvendahl comments: “When he walked in we instantly hit it off personally, which is very important in any band. We spent the day jamming and he auditioned a few SW songs and we all felt that what he brought was just what we were looking for. We’re very happy to have him aboard!”

Keyboard player Andreas Söderin adds: “Obviously, not having a drummer all these months had in a way brought the band to a standstill. When Stefan set up his gear and began tearing it up with us that day it was kind of like a rocket launch for us. Seventh Wonder is now at full speed ahead!”

Seventh Wonder released their fourth album “The Great Escape” in December 2011 on Lion Music. The video for the track “Alley Cat” from that release has seen over 130k views on YouTube.

Seventh Wonder will be headlining the prestigious PROGPOWER EUROPE Festival on Friday September 30.

 

Italian progressive metallers Twinspirits who released their third album "Legacy" on Lion Music in February 2011 have made available a number of special "making of" videos on YouTube to give fans an exclusive peak behind the scenes of the albums creation. Twinspirits keyboardist/composer Daniele Liverani worked his way through over 150GB of recorded footage to produce the following clips.

GENERAL MAKING OF LEGACY video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLZvQSWmYYI

Other videos can be found at:

"THE ENDLESS SLEEP" STUDIO SESSIONS SPLIT SCREEN full vids:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_chdHPyX8c
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=773Ojmrfgjo

"THE ENDLESS SLEEP" KEYBOARDS SESSIONS SHORT MEDLEY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9grUsZqRmU

"WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO" GORAN VOCALS SESSION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6TgLuPeA0Y

"LEGACY" GORAN VOCALS SESSION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXhOzMhU4Cs

THE MAKING OF "SLAVE TO THIS WORLD" video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzvlkYs0Mgc

LEGACY PICKING UP POSITIVE PRESS

“Legacy” is being widely hailed as Twinspirits best work to date with some selected comments below.

5/5 at http://www.ytsejam.com
"Like contemporaries Circus Maximus, Sun Caged, and Mind's Eye, Twinspirits have created the template for modern progressive metal - instead of playing by the steadfast symphonic rules, they don't walk on thin ice or turn their music into an emotional train wreck or conjure up a concoction of overzealous vain ridden solos that go nowhere - there is catchiness, tough riffs, hook laden arrangements, and the passionate technical tinge that all makes this album something exceptional, as there is a lot for those whole the musical scheme of things and there is a lot for those who love 'songs' as well."

96/100 at http://virtuosityone.com
"Daniele Liverani is well known for his grand visions (‘Genius Rock Opera’ anyone?) but with Twinspirits he seems to have found his niche, delivering creating intelligent, mature and enjoyable metal all performed to virtuoso levels by all involved. "

9/10 at http://www.metalperspective.com
“Legacy” is an album that will speak to the ears and hearts of every progressive metal fan. Liverani is an unrest musician and composer and has led the Italian progressive metalers to a fresh album of elegant progressive/power metal."

4.5/5.0 at  http://www.dangerdog.com
"Once more, on Legacy, Twinspirits delivers an ambitious, intriguing blend of melodic and heavy progressive metal. Thanks to a settled line-up, Twinspirits is hitting their groove. Strongly recommended!"

86/100 at http://www.powerofmetal.dk
"Twinspirits is moving towards the major league with this album and "Legacy" is a clear move in the right direction both soundwise as well as musically."


4/5 at http://www.friday13thmetal.co.uk

"This album features 11 tracks of operatic at times Progressive Metal and with this album have a 30 minute epic split into 5 parts entitled 'The Endless Sleep' is a masterpiece in it's own right”
 

 

We are pleased to unveil the completed cover art by Carl Andre Beckston (Monowasp) for our forthcoming Japan benefit album.

Join the albums facebook page for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/lionmusicjapanbenefit

 

Ok where has the time gone?

Today Lion Music celebrates its 300th release with new offering from Lars Eric Mattsson in "Aurora Borealis" hitting the stores right now.

We'd like to take some to thank everything that has helped to make Lion Music what it is today. Over the years we have worked with a lot of cool musicians and hopefully introduced a number to a greater audience worldwide.

We've met a number of really nice people. Many of whom have all helped us reach this landmark release in these difficult times for the music industry without asking for anything in return, driven purely by a love of music. You people are the real stars and without you the progressive/metal scene would be dead.

Yes we are in a “difficult” time for the music industry. Our opinion on the current issues faced by music piracy has been well publicised, as have those of a number of our roster, but we are determined to see it through. So we’d like to give an extra special “thank you” to anyone that has bought one of our releases or promoted us on various music forums and social networks worldwide.

300 releases in and we still have a hunger for more.

THANK YOU
The Lion Music Team.

 

Borealis who see their label debut "Fall From Grace" released on Lion Music on May 20th 2011 will be opening for Symphony X on April 27th 2011.  Full details:

Date: April 27th, 2011.
City: Toronto, On (Canada)
Venue: The Opera House
735 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON, Canada
(416) 466-0313
Link: www.theoperahousetoronto.com
Promoter: Inertia Entertainment
Doors: 18:00
Show: 18:45 or 19:00 (TBD) for a 30-min long set.

Full information on the bands forthcoming release can be found at http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/fallfromgrace.htm
 
Official Links
www.borealismetal.com
www.myspace.com/borealismetal 
www.facebook.com/borealisband 
www.twitter.com/borealisband 

 

Leading Swedish progressive metallers Seventh Wonder are looking for a new drummer preferably based in Sweden - all applicants should contact: drummer@seventhwonder.nu 
 
The bands current release "The Great Escape" has seen universally excellent praise from press and fans worldwide and the video for 'Alley Cat' has now had over 120,000 hits at YouTube - 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sRDa-xTfwg   
 
In addition Seventh Wonder are proud to confirm they will headline the ProgPower Europe 2011 festival on Friday September 30. Bassist Andreas Blomqvist is currently working in US and will unfortunately be unable to make this show. His replacement will be Johan Larsson, a good friend of the band and also the guy who did the artwork for "The Great Escape" and the "Alley Cat" video.
 
Official Links
http://www.seventhwonder.nu 
http://www.myspace.com/officialsw 

 

 

Dutch progressive metallers Day Six fresh from some support slots to Threshold in Europe hit the UK this week for some selected headline shows and an appearance at the Fused Festival.

Day Six UK-tour 2011
Mar 31st 2011 London The Dublin Castle UK
Apr 1st 2011 Canning Town, London Bridgehouse II UK
Apr 3rd 2011 Lydney Fused Festival UK /
http://www.fusedfestival.com

The band's current release "The Grand Design" was released in June 2010 on Lion Music.

Official Links
http://www.day-six.com
http://www.myspace.com/daysixweb

 

 

Dutch progressive metallers Sun Caged see their highly anticipated third album "The Lotus Effect" set for release on 17th June 2011 on Lion Music.

Those who try to describe Sun Caged's music will find this task to be considerable. Influences range from progressive metal to fusion and jazz, and atmospheric and ambient jaunts. The band's progressive blend is going to excite lots of listeners because of its diversity and excitement with "The Lotus Effect" serving up the most potent examples of the bands sound yet.

One full track from the forthcoming album, the 10 minute "Pareidolized (The Ocean In The Shell)" can be heard now at the bands MySpace page -
http://www.myspace.com/suncaged

Official Links
www.suncaged.com
www.myspace.com/suncaged

 

 

Pre-orders for Lars Eric Mattsson's forthcoming instrumental masterpiece "Aurora Borealis - Concerto For Orchestra & Electric Guitar" (released 15th April 2011) are now be taken at the LM store.

Direct link -
http://www.lionmusic.com/shop/M/Mattsson.htm

This new wholly instrumental 12 track release takes a fresh approach to the blend of guitar and orchestra for a musical experience as uplifting as seeing the wonder of the northern lights, from which the album gets its title. Whilst the combination of orchestra and guitar may have been done before by amongst others one of Mattsson’s influences Uli Jon Roth; ‘Aurora Borealis’ takes the range of sound and expressions further that what has been heard before and places as much emphasis on each tracks backing as with its guitar work. The result is a highly captivating and listenable experience. Lush in textures and timbres, ‘Aurora Borealis’ comes across at times like a film score; sometimes fast and exotic whilst at others sweet and luxurious. Many moods are covered and all of which see Mattsson deliver impassioned guitar work in his own inimitable style.

Also visit Lars' newly redesigned official website a
t http://www.larsericmattsson.com/

 

 

Neo-classical metallers Iron Mask will be playing live at the Prog and Power Metal Fest on 30th April 2011 at the Lotto Mons Expo Belgium with the likes of Europe, Edguy, Rage, Vanden Plas and Gamma Ray amongst others. 

 

 

 

Lion Music are proud to announce the signing of a 5 album worldwide licensing deal with vocalist Ian Parry for the new Consortium Project V album “Species” as well as newly re-mastered versions of the previous 4 album Consortium Project albums.

The new Consortium Project V album “Species” album was recorded and mixed by Marcus Teske & Ian Parry at the Bazement Studios in Germany and will be released mid 2011 on Lion Music.

On the final epic journey of the series Ian Parry comments, “Consortium Project V is a killer album and the strongest of all 5 Consortium albums being an incredible mix of everything that is powerful in Prog Rock and Gothic Power Metal".

The worldwide release of C-V "Species" marks the 21st album release from Ian Parry celebrating a career of over 25 years in the world of rock & metal.

As on previous Consortium Project albums a line-up of some of the most notable names in progressive / power / gothic metal circles provide the powerful performances on "Consortium Project V - Species":

Ian Parry – Lead & harmony vocals (Elegy, Ayreon, Vengeance)
Stephan Lill – Guitars (Vanden Plas)
Niels Vejlyt – Guitars (Infinity Overture)
Lene Petersen – Female vocals (ex Infinity Overture)
Casey Grillo – Drums (Kamelot)
Kris Gildenlöw - Bass (Pain of Salvation)
Jens Faber – Bass (Dawn of Destiny)
Veith Offenbächer - Guitar (Dawn of Destiny)

Special guest:
Markus Teske – Keyboards (Red Circuit)

Introducing newcomers:
Ani Lozanova – Female vocals (Ani Lozanova Project)
Kalin Jechev – Piano & keyboards (Ani Lozanova Project)
Peter-Jan Kleevens – Keyboards

The “Quadrilogy Remasters” will include bonus tracks in addition to the re-mastered sound and special guest performances from members of Kamelot, Elegy, Vanden Plas, Halford, Within Temptation & many more and release will follow “Species” in late 2011.

As a taste of what's to come here is the introduction video trailer taken from the opening track "Epilogue" from the new Consortium Project V "Species" album cam be viewed @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eywMarc7jY

Full information to follow soon.

Official Links
www.ianparry.com 
www.myspace.com/ianparrytheartist 
www.facebook.com/ianparry.rocksinger
www.youtube.com/ianparrycom