Tag: Pride and joy music

Autumn’s Child – New Album out on Jan.14th….

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

The new album from Autumn’s Child called “Zenith” is set for release on January 14th.

Tracklist:
1. Emergency,
2. Evangeline,
3. Love Is A Fighter,
4. Nightingale,
5. Never Say Die,
6. Heaven Can Wait,
7. Angel Of Danger,
8. High On Love,
9. Crowdpleaser,
10. Don’t Wanna,
11. Damaged Goods

Press release:

Mikael Erlandsson needs no further introduction when it comes to melodic rock.
He has released six successful solo albums and a lot of titles with groups like Phenomena, Salute among others. Between 2006-2018 Erlandsson fronted the Swedish super group Secret Service which he toured with live all over the world.
Together with the fantastic guitar player Andy Malecek from the successful German hard rock band Fair Warning he founded the band LAST AUTUMNS DREAM in 2003 which also featured Ian Haugland, Mic Michaeli and John Leven of Europe fame at the time. The self-titled debut album was produced by Claes Andreasson and became a great success.
Last Autumn’s Dream went on releasing another 14 albums with different line ups including great musicians like Jamie Borger (Treat) and Marcel Jacob (Talisman). They toured Japan, England and Germany but decided to take a break in 2018.
Shortly after, Erlandsson founded the group AUTUMN’S CHILD. Their self-titled debut album was released in January 2019 through AOR Heaven feat. Jona Tee on keyboards (H.E.A.T), Robban Bäck, former drummer of Eclipse and currently in the line-up with Swedish rock band Mustasch, Claes Andreasson of Swedish Westcoast/AOR band Heartbreak Radio who also produced the first Autumns Child album together with Mikael Erlandsson. Guitars come courtesy of Pontus Åkesson (Moon Safari). In 2020, the group released the sophomore album “Angel’s Gate”.
January 2022 sees Autumn’s Child returning with album 3, “Zenith”, this time via Pride & Joy Music, which once again features Michael Erlandsson on vocals, keyboards & guitars, Pontus Åkesson on lead guitar, Robban Bäck on drums, Claes Andreasson on piano and Magnus Rosen on bass. Guests include Jona T. (Heat) with a keyboard solo on “Emergency”, Sayit Dölen on rhythm guitar on “High On Love”, Martin Olsson on bass on “Angel Of Danger”, “Evangeline”, “Love Is A Fighter” & “Nightingale”, Anna-Mia Bonde on background vocals on “Emergency”, Rasmus Ehrnborn ( Soilwork, Night Flight Orchestra ) on guest guitar on the track ” Don’t Wanna ” and Roberth Nygren on acoustic guitar on “Heaven Can Wait”.
“Zenith” was produced by Erlandsson & Claes Andreasson, mixed and mastered by Mikael Andersson at Soundport Studios, Sweden; drums recorded by Mikael Andersson at Soundport Studios.

AMADEUS MELODIC ROCK SHOW’s 2020 – TOP 10 RELEASES…

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

It’s that time of the year when you look back and try to choose the most interesting releases of 2020. This year was a horrible one for all the humanity and as we realize that there are harder times on sight for everyone of us but mostly for the artists who try to make a living through their music, here are some of the best releases of 2020.

Many thanks to everyone who support in every way the music we love.

Let’s hope for a better year ahead.
See you all in 2021!
Rock ON!

Lino “AmadeuS”

2020’s  TOP TEN RELEASES
1-H.E.A.T.  –  H.E.A.T. II
2-BROTHER FIRETRIBE – FEEL THE BURN
3-ROB MORATTI – PARAGON
4-STAN BUSH – DARE TO DREAM
5-COLLATERAL – ST
6-EAST TEMPLE AVENUE – BOTH SIDES OF MIDNIGHT
7-GATHERING OF KINGS – DISCOVERY
8-BONFIRE – FISTFUL OF FIRE
9-ATLAS – PARALLEL LOVE
10-WILDNESS – ULTIMATE DEMISE

2020’s – TOP 5 SINGLES
1-IMPERIUM – VISION IN A DREAM
2-CATS IN SPACE – LISTEN TO THE RADIO
3-LASTWORLD – DYING TO LIVE
4-BAND OF HEARTS – I STAND ALONE
5-AUTUMN’S CHILD – RUBICON SIGN

Lazarus Dream – “Alive” set for release in November…

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

PRESS RELEASE:

New German Hard Rock project LAZARUS DREAM featuring multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer and powerhouse vocalist Carsten Lizard Schulz gives a pleasure as immense and deep as the sounds and abilities which pour from their album „Alive“.
Carsten Lizard-Schulz delivers a powerful, emotion filled performance and makes this an album full of incredibly poignant vocals listeners worldwide are used to get delivered from him and appreciate on critically appraised albums by EVIDENCE ONE, DOMAIN, DEAD END HEROES and MIDNITE CLUB, to name only a few.
Markus Pfeffer used to be a member of internationally praised German AOR-band SCARLETT in the early nineties and delivers riffing and fret board acrobatics you rarely get to hear him play on albums by his main band WINTERLAND, On the LAZARUS DREAM album, he not only plays guitar, but also bass and keys.
The powerhouse drumming by guest Markus Kullmann (SINNER, VOODOO CIRCLE, Glenn Hughes) not only completes the hearing pleasure but also adds an incredible groove which lifts the songs to a new level. More musical guests featured are percussionist Thomas Rieder, flute player Sabrina Roth and Thomas Nitschke on Hammond and synths.

The album is set for release on November 13th via Pride & Joy Music.

Track list:
1. Dawn Of Time
2. House Of Cards
3. Wings Of An Eagle
4. Can’t Take My Soul Away
5. Listen, 6. Fleshburn
7. The Healing Echoes
8. Desert Mind
9. Visions and Sins
10. Steam
11. Don’t Blame Me
12. Hotel Overload
13. Days Of Darkness And Rain

Shadow Tribe – “Reality Unveiled” set for release in November….

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

PRESS RELEASE:

ALTARIA/STARGAZERY bass player Marko Pukkila has joined forces with ex-CELESTY/SPIRITUS MORTIS/MASQUERAGE frontman Kimmo Perämäki in a new band called SHADOW TRIBE. The group, whose lineup is rounded out by Simo Pirttimaa on guitars and Petri Heinonen (King Satan) on drums, has signed a worldwide record deal with Pride & Joy Music who will release the group’s debut album “Reality Unveiled” on November 13th, 2020.


SHADOW TRIBE is a melodic metal group from Finland. The band is driven forward and managed by Altaria/ Stargazery bass player Marko Pukkila, who is well known within the industry. He has been around the European rock scene for over two decades and played on almost 40 different releases incl. work with musicians like Vinny Appice, Kee Marcello, AJ Pero, Frankie Banali, Rowan Robertson, Ryan Roxie just to name a few.

Track list:
1. Splinters Of A Hologram
2. Christaromancy
3. Headstrong
4. Speck Of Sawdust
5. Connection
6. A World Taken Hostage
7. Many Tears To Go
8. We Weren’t There
9. Stolen Fate
10. Instant Heaven

“Reality Unveiled” was produced by SHADOW TRIBE between 2018 and 2020; and mixed and mastered by singer Kimmo Perämäki who also mixed and mastered the latest Stargazery album and created the SHADOW TRIBE artwork.

SHADOW TRIBE is:
Kimmo Perämäki – vocals
Simo Pirttimaa – guitars
Marko Pukkila – bass
Petri Heinonen – drums

Orion’s Reign – New EP out on Sept. 27th…

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

“Symphony of War” is the new release by Orion’s Reign.
On this new work, the band, having already released the full length symphonic epic album “Scores of War”, emphasizes on the symphonic elements of its music and offers symphonic versions of songs from its latest album. Tim Ripper Owens and Mark Boals are guest vocalists. In addition, a folk version of song “Nostos” and a symphonic metal cover of “Elan” (Nightwish) are included.

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Tracklist:
1) Freedom is not Negotiable
Orchestra arrangements: Kirk Gazouleas
Voice: Dan Vasc
2) Together We March
Orchestra arrangements: Kirk Gazouleas
Voice: Dan Vasc and Tim Ripper Owens
3) The Gravewalker
Orchestra arrangements: Kirk Gazouleas
Voice: Dan Vasc
4) Last Stand
Orchestra arrangements: Kirk Gazouleas
Voice: Dan Vasc and Mark Boals
5) Ride to War
Orchestra arrangements: Kirk Gazouleas
Voice: Dan Vasc
6) Nostos
Flute, Zurna, Duduk, Reed Organ: Kirk Gazouleas
Guitars: Michael Batistatos and George Thanasoglou
Percussions: Noel Kardaris
Voice: Aubrey
7) Elan
Orchestra arrangements: Kirk Gazouleas
Voice: Dan Vasc
Guitars: Michael Batistatos and George Thanasoglou
Drums: Noel Kardaris
Recorded by Orion’s Reign
Mixed/mastered by Linus Corneliusson
Studio: Fascination Street Studios (Sweden)
For Elan: Recorded/mixed/mastered by Orion’s Reign at Soundflakes studios (Greece) and Remastered by Linus Corneliusson at Fascination Street Studios
Cover Artwork created by Stan W. Decker

LIONCAGE – New album out in September

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

Melodic rockers LIONCAGE will release their new album called “Turn Back Time” on September 21st from Pride & Joy Music.

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Tracklist: 1. Heaven’s Gate, 2. Black Water, 3. Comfort Me, 4. Blind, 5. Turn Back Time, 6. Believe In Magic, 7. The Walls, 8. Dead Man Walk, 9. So Long Ago, 10. How Can U Say, 11. Let The Children Dance, 12. How Does It Feel

The lions are very proud and grateful to have made it this far. The new album reflects exactly what the band loves and what Lioncage stands for, also in 2018: a diverse album with great tunes, many hooks, cool grooves and powerful guitars.
If you think that this album celebrates rock music more than anything else presented by Lioncage so far – you are right. The lions roar louder and the guitar sounds are thicker.
Since 2017 the band has performed live on stage in great gigs together with FM, Dan Reed Network, Tyketto, Three Wishes and others. This has had a sustainable influence on sound and song-writing, it has added new sides to the music and has given it more power without losing any melodiousness.
Once more the band was pleased to welcome outstanding guests to their cage who supported them passionately and professionally, to name only a few among many others: Neil Murray (b), a.o. Whitesnake, Black Sabbath), Olaf Senkbeil (v, Dreamtide) and Joe Castellini (g)
For the first time some friends of the lions contributed to the song-writing. “Comfort Me” was written together with Joe Castellini and “Turn Back Time” with Olaf Senkbeil.
Lioncage initially started as a trio but has meanwhile grown into a permanent group of five lions, every now and then enhanced by a guest.

Lioncage are:
Thorsten Bertermann (v),
Torsten Landsberger (d),
Lars, König (g),
Arvid Lucas (b),
Bülent Sezen (d)

Guests:
Anya Mahnken (Beyond The Black, Unheilig u.a.) – vocals on track 9; Olaf Senkbeil (Dreamtide) – vocals on track 5; Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath etc) – bass on track 1; Joe Castellini – guitar on track 3

Web: http://www.lioncage.de

 

DeVicious – New album in August…

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

DeVicious are an international Hard Rock band based in Germany. The band has so far released five video clips, and “Never Say Never” now marks their first physical release which was set for a release to August 24th, 2018 on Pride & Joy Music.

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Tracklist: 1. Everything, 2. Penthouse Floor, 3. One Track In Mind, 4. Lullaby, 5. A Night To Remember, 6. Crying In The Rain, 7. Calling Angels, 8. Hand In Hand, 9. Never Say Never, 10. The Silence
Founded in 2016 in Karlsruhe, Germany by six long time musician friends who in the past have performed and recorded with Andi Deris Band, Chryztyne, Umbra Et Imgao and Zar, the group has the intention to play 80’s type of Hard Rock.
The group consists of Alex Frey (bass, song-writing, production), Radivoj Petrovic (lead guitar), Gisbert Royder (rhythm guitar), Denis Kunz (keyboards), Lars Nippa (drums), and Serbian singer Zoran Sandorov aka Mister Sanders. After the release of the first videos for the tracks ““Everything” and “Penthouse Floor” in early 2018, the band toured in Germany together with the bands Xtasy and Ammunition in March 2018. In December 2018, DeVicious will again hit the road as support for none other than US Hard Rock legends Hardline. Album No.2 already is in the making.
Live with Xtasy & Hardline: 06.12.2018 D-Hamburg, Logo; 07.12.2018 Bochum, Rockpalast; 08.12.2018 D-Mörlenbach, Live Music Hall, 09.12.2018 D-Munich, Backstage Club Web: http://www.deviciousband.com

AMRS APPROVED :  7.9 / 10

THE SOUL EXCHANGE – New album in June….

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

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The Soul Exchange is a band that mixes Classic Hard Rock with a contemporary Metal sound. They have taken influences from the 70’s Hard Rock scene and created their own unique style of Metal infused, guitar driven hard rock, with great attention to the melodies and grand vocal arrangements. The lyrics deals mostly with subjects from the darker side of life such as insanity and evil in various forms.
The Soul Exchange found their formula and sound with the line-up consisting of Daniel John (vocals & keyboards), Hans von Bell (guitars), Thomas von Bell (guitars), Patrik Ekelöf (bass), and Benny White (drums). Although mostly unknown to the wide public, all band members have long careers in the music business. They released the critically and likewise publicly acclaimed debut album “Bloodbound” in March 2017 on the Mervilton Records label and the five Track EP “Vow Of Seth” in December 2017 on the Pride & Joy Music label.
In the fall of 2017, the Swedish group began working on their 2nd full length release titled “Edge Of Sanity” that is penned for release on the Pride & Joy Music label on June 15th, 2018. It’s not a theme album per say, but lyrically all the songs have a common theme with lyrics that are metaphorical and treats the dark side of the human psyche. Musically the record is hard hitting and dark themed but not hard listening. Sonically ”Edge Of Sanity” is harder and darker than anything The Soul Exchange have produced in the past, but the trademark vocal arrangements and choruses are predominant, and grander than ever before.
In contradiction to the 2016 debut ”Bloodbound”, that was mainly written by Hans & Thomas von Bell with lyricist Jens Joel Evaldsson over a two year time span, all nine songs on the new effort were written in a very condensed period of time and a true team effort by Hans & Thomas von Bell, Daniel John and producer Magnus Ljungqvist with Daniel John taking over the full responsibility as the band’s lyricist. This has resulted in a much more coherent effort compared to the debut.
Live dates:
April 21, Record Store Day, Hot Records, Stockholm, Sweden
June 15, Nalen, Stockholm, Sweden
Web: http://www.soulexchangeofficial.com http://www.facebook.com/soulex

HARTMANN – New album in May….

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

The new album from Oliver Hartmann (ex AtVance) called “Hands On The Wheel” is set to be released from Sonic11/ Pride & Joy Music on May 18th.

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Tracklist (CD): 01. Don’t want back down, 02. Your best excuse, 03. Cold as stone, 04. Simple man, 05. Last plane out, 06. Soulmates, 07. The harder they come, 08. Dream world. 09. I remember * 10. Lost in translation, 11. The sky is falling, 12. Heart of gold
*= only included on CD and as download code inside of the vinyl

Line-up:
Oliver Hartmann (vocals, guitar);
Mario Reck (guitar);
Armin Donderer (bass);
Markus Kullmann (drums);
additional keys by Jimmy Kresic

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The history of HARTMANN started in 2005 with the debut ‘Out in the cold’, often reviewed as ‘Album of the month’ in a wide range of rock magazines all over the world. With their successful followers ‘Home’ (2006), ‘3’ (2009), ‘Balance’ (2012), the live & acoustic DVD/CD ‘Handmade’ (2008) and the compilation ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ (2013) the band has meanwhile worked out their status as being one of Germany’s best modern hard rock bands that is offering international high-class melodic rock. The band also enjoys the good reputation as an outstanding live band and has been called to tour with rock legends as Toto, The Hooters, Uriah Heep, Edguy, Mother’s Finest, Y&T and others. Their latest album ’Shadows & Silhouettes’ (2016) has been accompanied again with a club tour and many festivals last summer.
Now the forthcoming new album ’Hands On The Wheel’ – way more rough and rocking and than its predecessor – will be released May 18th 2018 on the artist’s label Sonic 11 Records in cooperation with Pride&Joy Music/Soulfood, again co-produced by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Beyond The Black, Kamelot).
Including the participation of guest musicians as Jimmy Kresic (The Roots, Rock Meets Classic), Karolina Galbavà & Irena Morisakovà (Hans Zimmer), the album will contain the catchy singles/videoclips ’Don’t want back down’ and the very special duet ’Simple man’ feat. Mr. Big vocalist Eric Martin, accompanied by a huge promotion-/video-campaign of Germany’s No 1 rock radio station Rockantenne and a special Facebook & online campaign.
Since the late 90’s founder Oliver Hartmann is known as a highly respected singer and guitarist on the international music scene due to four albums with the band At Vance, studio work for hard rock and metal acts as Hammerfall, Rhapsody, Helloween or Edguy, as a long time studio and live member of top sellers as Avantasia and as part of ‘Rock Meets Classic’ that is featuring the big names of the international rock scene: Alice Cooper, Ian Gillan, Uriah Heep, Status Quo, Thin Lizzy, Paul Rodgers, Eric Bazilian, Jimi Jamison, Midge Ure, Steve Lukather, Chris Thompson, Bonnie Tyler and many others.
Besides that Oliver Hartmann is also fronting the successful Pink Floyd Tribute Echoes that climbed up to No 20 of the German charts in 2015 with their acoustic live DVD ’Barefoot To The Moon’ and received outstanding critics world wide.

 

Web: http://www.oliverhartmann.com

http://www.facebook.com/HartmannBand

UNIVERSE INFINITY – New album on April 13th….

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

Swedish melodic rockers Universe are back as Universe Infinity and their new album called “Rock is alive” is set for release on April 13th from Pride & Joy Music.

Here’s a bite:

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UNIVERSE started in 1982 in Upplands Väsby, Sweden, where hard rock ruled the streets. The members hailed from several different local bands. After leaving the band Moon, lead guitarist Michael Kling, who founded the band WC in the late 70’s with John Norum, became one of UNIVERSE’s founding members. Bassist Hasse Hagman, who played in Joey Tempest‘s first band, along with drummer Anders Wetterströmand guitarist Per Nilsson, all came from the band Twilight. Once UNIVERSE got their hands on keyboard player Fredrik Kriström and singer Kjell Wallen, the band was complete. They played diligently for a couple of years all over Sweden, opening for Nazareth, among many other gigs. In 1985, the band released its self-titled debut album with songs like “Rollin’ On”, “Stories from the Old Days”, and “Strong Vibrations”. In 1986, Kjell Wallen left the band on good terms following creative differences and was subsequently replaced by Janne Åström. With Janne as the new frontman, the band focused fully on a follow-up to their debut album. Several demos were recorded but never ended up in the right hands. The band dissolved in early 1988 and then had a short reunion for a final show in the ice hall in Upplands Väsby later that year.

The band members went their separate ways, each showing up here and there in different contexts with connections to music. Everyone maintained occasional contact and eventually Per Nilsson reached out to the others to see if they were interested in playing together again. In 2002, all the members met up together for the first time in 14 years. They immediately knew they wanted to play again, and became convinced that the old material still had potential. Everyone agreed that a new album had to be released, but also that they were being pulled in different directions. For several years they kept continuous contact, waiting for the time when recording an album became inevitable. At first, UNIVERSE lacked a singer, but suddenly one day he was just there. Andreas Eklund (ex-House Of Shakira) became the new front man, his narrative lyrics and tasteful melodies opening the door to another dimension, so the band could take a bigger step into the galaxy. Now, finally, UNIVERSE is back as UNIVERSE INFINITY with “Rock Is Alive”, a powerful album that is a tribute to the music of the 70’s and 80’s, and to their youth in Upplands Väsby. “Rock Is Alive” was produced by Michael Kling and Per Nilsson at Kling Studios, and mixed and mastered by Stefan Helleblad; drums were recorded in Standstraight Studio One Scandinavia. The artwork was created by Sylvain Lucchina at Razor Images.

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Line-Up: Michael Kling – Lead Guitar; Andreas  Eklund – Vocals; Hasse Hagman – Bass; Freddy Kriström – Keyboard; Anders Wetterström – Drums; Per Nilsson – Guitar

PAL (Pettersson/Andersson/Ljunggren) – Debut album out on January 26th 2018

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

 

P.A.L. - Prime_300x300px.jpgPAL is a Swedish musical collaboration between guitarist Roger Ljunggren and Peter Andersson and Peo Pettersson.
Roger and Peter, longtime friends, started writing and play music together way back. They first got to know each other in the early eighties. Growing up in Skara, a small town in the southwest of Sweden sharing a passion for music and specially song-writing the sweat out together in a small rehearsal studio together with some other local musicians.
The group started in 1987 when a demo was recorded in Peo’s studio Vanäs for a band called Escape which at that moment was short of a singer and Peo helped out.
Now, thirty years later the three musicians are making music together again. The songs on the debut album “Prime” are a collaboration between the three – where Roger wrote the music and recorded the guitars and solos and Peter arranged, produced and played the bass. Peo then added the vocals. Mauritz Petersson was hired to do the drums.
You can surely hear vintage elements in their music , but this time with a more modern approach and passion for the music they all grew up with. The first label that was invited to listen to the material was AOR Heaven in Germany. A record deal was signed with them shortly after. Release of the debut album “Prime” is scheduled in Europe January 2018.

Line Up
Roger Ljunggren – Guitar
Peter Andersson – Bass
Peo Pettersson – Vocals / Keyboard
Mauritz Petersson – Drums

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Empire – New album in November

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

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The new album of EMPIRE is called “Chasing Shadows” is set for release on November 17th through Pride & Joy Music.

EMPIRE is the Hard Rock band of German guitarist Rolf Munkes (ex Majesty, ex Razorback, Crematory) which has released four exceptional albums in between the years of 2001 and 2007. On these releases, Munkes was accompanied by numerous high-class musicians.

The history of EMPIRE began in the year 2001 with the release of the album “Hypnotica” (Lion Music) which featured both the American singers Mark Boals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) and Lance King (ex Nightmare) on vocals. The line-up at the time was completed by Neil Murray (bass, ex Whitesnake, Brian May Band, Black Sabbath etc.), Gerald Klos (drums), Anders Johansson (drums, ex Stratovarius) and Don Airey (keyboards, ex Rainbow, Deep Purple). Rolf Munkes produced „Hypnotica“ himself; the mix was handled by Stefan Kaufmann (ex Accept, ex U.D.O.).

Only one year later, “Trading Souls”, the band’s second album came out on Lion Music. The CD once again was produced by Munkes with the mix being handled by Kaufmann. On this release, singer extraordinare Tony Martin (ex Black Sabbath) replaced King and Martin on the vocal spot.

Tony Martin also sang on the – up until now – most successful CD from EMPIRE, “The Rave Ride”, which was released in 2006 on German label Metal Heaven. Besides of Munkes, who, for the first also produced and mixed this release himself at his own  Empire Studios in Bensheim, Germany, Neil Murray took again care of the bass work whilst the drums this time were handled by ex-Rage/ex-Axxis drummer André Hilgers.

In 2007, the so far last album of EMPIRE saw the light of day. “Chasing Shadows” was once again released on Metal Heaven and the first record feat. former Rainbow singer Doogie White in the line-up. Mike Terrana (ex Rage, ex Axel Rudi Pell, Tarja Turunen) joined the group on drums.

In 2017, German label Pride & Joy Music will re-issue all four releases in a revised version. “Chasing Shadows” which will be released on August 18th, 2017 with one bonus track.

Web:https://www.facebook.com/rolf.munkes

Line-up: Tony Martin (Vocals, ex Rainbow), Rolf Munkes (Guitars, Crematory, ex-Razorback), Neil Murray (Bass, ex-Whitesnake u.v.m.), Mike Terrana (Drums, ex-Rage)

Discography:
2001 – Hypnotica,
2002 – Trading Souls,
2006 – The Raven Ride,
2007 – Chasing Shadows

Empire – The Raven Ride (reissue)

Posted on by Lino "AmadeuS" R.

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EMPIRE is the Hard Rock band of German guitarist Rolf Munkes (ex Majesty, ex Razorback, Crematory) which has released four exceptional albums in between the years of 2001 and 2007. On these releases, Munkes was accompanied by numerous high-class musicians.
The history of EMPIRE began in the year 2001 with the release of the album “Hypnotica” (Lion Music) which featured both the American singers Mark Boals (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) and Lance King (ex Nightmare) on vocals. The line-up at the time was completed by Neil Murray (bass, ex Whitesnake, Brian May Band, Black Sabbath etc.), Gerald Klos (drums), Anders Johansson (drums, ex Stratovarius) and Don Airey (keyboards, ex Rainbow, Deep Purple). Rolf Munkes produced „Hypnotica“ himself; the mix was handled by Stefan Kaufmann (ex Accept, ex U.D.O.).
Only one year later, “Trading Souls”, the band’s second album came out on Lion Music. The CD once again was produced by Munkes with the mix being handled by Kaufmann. On this release, singer extraordinare Tony Martin (ex Black Sabbath) replaced King and Martin on the vocal spot.
Tony Martin also sang on the – up until now – most successful CD from EMPIRE, “The Rave Ride”, which was released in 2006 on German label Metal Heaven. Besides of Munkes, who, for the first also produced and mixed this release himself at his own Empire Studios in Bensheim, Germany, Neil Murray took again care of the bass work whilst the drums this time were handled by ex-Rage/ex-Axxis drummer André Hilgers.
In 2007, the so far last album of EMPIRE saw the light of day. “Chasing Shadows” was once again released on Metal Heaven and the first record feat. former Rainbow singer Doogie White in the line-up. Mike Terrana (ex Rage, ex Axel Rudi Pell, Tarja Turunen) joined the group on drums.
In 2017, German label Pride & Joy Music will re-issue all four releases in a revised version. “The Raven Ride” which will be released on August 15th, 2017 with one bonus track.

Web: https://www.facebook.com/rolf.munkes

Line-up: Tony Martin (Vocals, ex Black Sabbath), Rolf Munkes (Guitars, Crematory, ex-Razorback), Neil Murray (Bass, ex-Whitesnake u.v.m.), André Hilgers (Drums, Axxis, ex-Rage)

Discography:

2001 – Hypnotica,
2002 – Trading Souls,
2006 – The Raven Ride,
2007 – Chasing Shadows