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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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)
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
