Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based sympho/black/folk/power metallers BLACKGUARD (formerly PROFUGUS MORTIS) have set "Firefight" as the title of their sophomore album, due on March 29 via Victory Records. The cover artwork for the CD can be seen below.

"This is going to be our most dynamic release to date," said vocalist Paul "Ablaze" Zinay. "We're going to have a few slower songs on this album; more headbanging tunes. We're also going to be introducing some new elements to our songs to mix things up a bit. Not to sound too cliché, but we definitely don't want to write the same record over and over again and this record is going to be a great step forward for us."

BLACKGUARD's new album will coincide with the band's participation in the SYMPHONY X North American tour, which is slated to kick off April 21 in Philadelphia.

"It is a dream tour," said Ablaze. "Our band has spent the better part of the last two years on tour to get to this point. We very much look forward to seeing old friends, making new friends and being a part of what will be the supreme springtime event. We want to thank everyone involved for giving us this opportunity and we will not disappoint."

BLACKGUARD recently completed a tour with EPICA, SCAR SYMMETRY and THE AGONIST.

The band announced the departure of keyboardist Jonathan Lefrancois-Leduc and has chosen to remain a five-piece for the foreseeable future.

BLACKGUARD's debut album, "Profugus Mortis", was released in March 2009 in Europe via Nuclear Blast Records and April 2009 in North America through Sumerian Records.

Almost 25 years after the death of legendary Irish rocker Phil Lynott, THIN LIZZY has just hit the road again — this time with THE ALMIGHTY frontman Ricky Warwick at the helm.

Warwick, 44, replaces Lynott in the latest reincarnation, joining THIN LIZZY alumni Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton. Also on board are DEF LEPPARD's Vivian Campbell and former WHITESNAKE bassist Marco Mendoza.

THIN LIZZY 2011 is:

Scott Gorham - Guitar
Brian Downey - Drums
Darren Wharton - Keyboards
Vivian Campbell - Guitar
Marco Mendoza - Bass Guitar
Ricky Warwick - Lead Vocals / Guitar

Former WHITECHAPEL drummer Kevin Lane is reportedly doing session work with the Knoxville, Tennessee-based experimental black/death metal band THE LOOKING GLASS SELF. The group is tentatively scheduled to enter Atomic Audio in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in the spring with another former WHITECHAPEL member, guitarist Brandon Cagle, at the helm to begin recording its debut album. A late 2011 release through an as-yet-undetermined record label is expected.

THE LOOKING GLASS SELF is:

Brant Chastain - Vocals
Keegan Kirby - Guitar
Corey Gale - Guitar
Alvaro Morales - Bass
Kevin Lane (ex-WHITECHAPEL) - Studio Drums

Finnish metallers PAIN CONFESSOR are planning to enter the studio later this month to record demo versions of two brand new songs — "Never" and "Serpent Spine". According to the band, both tracks are "fast, heavy tunes with those kind of choruses that you have grown to expect from us, melodic yet heavy."

PAIN CONFESSOR's forthcoming recordings will be the band's first to feature the group's latest addition, lead guitarist Samuli Federley.

PAIN CONFESSOR 2011 is:

Markku Kivistö - Vocals
Mikko Kivistö - Bass
Tuomas Kuusinen - Guitar
Samuli Federley - Guitar
Pasi Laihanen - Keyboards
Mikko Laihanen - Drums

In a brand new interview with Brazil's Novo Metal, guitarist Andreas Kisser of Brazilian/American thrashers SEPULTURA was asked about the possibility of a reunion of the band's classic lineup, featuring Max Cavalera on guitar/vocals and Max's brother, Igor, on drums. "[It's] not impossible," he replied, "but we cannot do something just for the sake of doing it. We would have to establish a new identity, [and rebuild the] friendship [between us]."

He continued, "Max has been talking a lot about this reunion [in recent interviews], perhaps because his other bands, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and SOULFLY, are not as good as SEPULTURA. But if a reunion was to take place, it would have to be something decent. And only time will tell [if something like that can happen]."

Speaking to MetalSickness.com this past November, Max Cavalera stated about a possible reunion of SEPULTURA's classic lineup, "I've said many times before that I'd like to do it and I don't even need to do it because both of my bands are doing really good — CAVALERA CONSPIRACY and SOULFLY are doing so good that I don't even need a SEPULTURA reunion for my life. But I'd like to do it for the fans because they're asking for it so much. But I think the person that they should ask is mostly Paulo [Xisto Pinto Junior, SEPULTURA bassist], because he's the one that's been telling people that it's not gonna happen. So, I don't know, really. If people want to know, they should ask him. They should ask him straight up, 'Why are you saying it's not gonna happen?' and get an answer from him. Because I can only do so much. I did try already. And, actually, I got my brother convinced to do it — Igor said that he would do it — and I talked to Andreas and Andreas was, actually, like, 'OK, I'll do it. Let's do this reunion.' And then Paulo becomes the problem." He added, " It's kind of ridiculous, actually, 'cause... I mean, in that band right now, there's nobody original. I created that band, I gave the name. I started that band when I was still in school with Igor. Nobody from that time is in that band right now, from when we first started. I don't know... It's kind of weird to have them around carrying the name like it was theirs; they act like it was their band. Really, it's not. That was my and Igor's band in the beginning."

The current lineup of SEPULTURA released a video message last month in which it urged fans not to "listen to fucking rumors anymore." The group added, "We are tired of listening to this fucking bullshit that Max is saying all over the world, that there's gonna be a reunion [of SEPULTURA's classic lineup] and this and that. We're here to say there's no communication, there's no talks about any type of reunion or any show with the Cavaleras. Igor is doing his job, Max is supposed to do his job, and we are doing our job. We are SEPULTURA for 26 years and we celebrating this with a new album, a new deal and a new world tour. And [we] hope this is the end of fucking rumors and fucking lies, OK?!"

A six-minute video trailer for "Death & Legacy", the third album from Austrian symphonic melodic metallers SERENITY, can be viewed below. Due on February 25, 2010 via Napalm Records, the CD was produced by Oliver Philipps, Jan Vacik, Thomas Buchberger and Georg Neuhauser and it features guest appearances by Ailyn (SIRENIA), Amanda Somerville (AVANTASIA, EPICA, KISKE/SOMERVILLE) and Charlotte Wessels (DELAIN). The album was mixed and mastered by Jan Vacik at Dreamsound Studios in Munich, Germany. The artwork was created by Stefan Heilemann (LEAVES' EYES, ATROCITY, SONS OF SEASONS) and it "represents the historical based concept dealing with famous characters such as Galileo Galilei, Sir Francis Drake, Marco Polo and many more," acording to the band. "An angel of of death holding the book of time, symbolizing their legacy."

"Death & Legacy" track listing:

01. Set Sail To… (intro)
02. New Horizons
03. The Chevalier
04. Far From Home
05. Heavenly Mission
06. Prayer (interlude)
07. State Of Siege
08. Changing Fate
09. When Canvas Starts To Burn
10. Serenade Of Flames
11. Youngest Of Widows (limited edition only)
12. Below Eastern Skies (interlude)
13. Beyond Desert Sands
14. To India's Shores (limited edition only)
15. Lament (interlude)
16. My Legacy

According to RollingStone.com, PYROMANIA — a DEF LEPPARD cover band based in Dallas, Texas — is looking for a new drummer with only one arm, just like actual LEPPARD drummer Rick Allen. Their hand-written ad also insists that the prospective percussionist must have "no prosthetics" and should own a "flame-retardant kit and stick."

PYROMANIA claims to be the only tribute band that can simulate the DEF LEPPARD live experience with "true accuracy."

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/pyromaniadefleptribute.

At the height of worldwide fame in 1984, Rick Allen had a car accident that changed his life. Rick lost an arm, but turned personal tragedy into spiritual transformation and continued his musical career.

According to Billboard.com, GERRY RAFFERTY, who had Top 10 success with STEALERS WHEEL's 'Stuck In The Middle' and his own 'Baker Street', died on Tuesday in London from liver failure after a long battle with alcoholism. The Scottish-born singer and songwriter had reportedly been hospitalized during November in Dorset, England, with a grim prognosis. He was taken off life support and showed some improvement until this week. He was 63.

The Guardian says that the Scot was born in Paisley, near Glasgow, and played with BILLY CONNOLLY's folk outfit the HUMBLEBUMS, and co-founded the soft-rock group Stealer's Wheel, before enjoying a successful solo career. Baker Street, released in 1978, was still netting him £80,000 a year more than 30 years later.

Rafferty endured battles with the music industry – once taking three years to disentangle contracts – and a problem with alcohol.

In recent years, he was better known for alcohol-fuelled incidents, apparent disappearances and poor health than for his music. His last album, Another World, was released in 2000.

San Francisco Bay Area power/thrash metallers IMAGIKA have officially called it quits. Lead guitarist/songwriter Steve Rice comments on the band's demise: "All things must come to an end and for IMAGIKA the time is now. After 17 years, seven worldwide releases, two vocalists, five guitarists, three bassists, two drummers, countless performances and tour dates, I've decided to put the band to rest. The reasons are many, but the truth is that it's time for something new and to move forward without being bound to the past. I'm not mourning the end because I'm grateful the band lasted as long as it did. I look forward to building upon the music and legacy of a band I spearheaded for close to two decades with my new project.

"I would personally like to thank all the fans, press, labels, booking agents, promoters, venues, studios, engineers, artist, instrument manufactures and everyone else that had a helping hand in IMAGIKA's career. It could not have happened without you! I will personally still handle and oversea everything IMAGIKA post mortem for the foreseeable future."

He added, "Moving forward, drummer Wayne Devecchi, former ELDRITCH guitarist Roberto Proietti and I have formed a new metal/ thrash project that will take our collective musical ideas to the next level. Fans of our past bands music will not be disappointed as we've put together some great catchy material that is melodic, complex and heavy. A five-song instrumental demo has already been recorded and we are presently seeking a pro vocalist and bassists to complete the project. Interested parties can contact us at burnaltar@gmail.com. Please have reviewable audio or video media."

Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Slash (GUNS N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) and Chester Bennington (LINKIN PARK) are among the guest musicians who will appear on BLINK-182 drummer Travis Barker's debut solo album, "Give The Drummer Some". Due on February 22, the CD was produced by The Neptunes, DJ Khalil and Barker and features contributions from members of Travis' side-project TRANSPLANTS.

Speaking about his upcoming solo CD, Barker told AOL's Spinner last February, "I just love music. The more I can be around it the better, so with my album it's no one genre. It goes from everything from punk rock to hip-hop to some electro stuff on there to a metal song with Corey Taylor from SLIPKNOT. It's been really fun and interesting up 'till now."

Songtitles set to appear on "Give The Drummer Some":

* Jump Down
* Carry It (featuring Tom Morello)
* Devil's Got a Hold Of Me
* Right Away
* Saturday Night (featuring Slash)
* If You Want
* On My Own (featuring Corey Taylor)
* Can A Drummer Get Some

'80s rock group TAKASHI has announced a return after 30 years. The band, which was originally formed in 1981, will reunite in 2011 to release classic, remastered and new material.

In 1983 Mongol Horde Records released albums from TAKASHI, ALIEN, THOR and VIRGIN STEELE. TAKASHI's "Kamikaze Killers" release received great press from such noted magazines as Kerrang!, Hit Parader and more. TAKASHI supported METALLICA on the "Kill 'Em All" tour, TWISTED SISTER, ANTHRAX, JOE PERRY and more.

All the members of TAKASHI have remained active in the music business.

Today, TAKASHI frontman Danny Stanton is president of Coallier Entertainment in New York City, which handles and/or works with artists such as TWISTED SISTER, Ace Frehley, Lita Ford, Sebastian Bach, Steve Augeri and many more. Danny is also owner of Diamond Drop Recording Studios and Evolution Sound Stage in New York.

Craig Cory (then Khoury) still writes and records while rocking the Las Vegas music scene with his band and company CK Productions.

Bob "Space" Simonson has worked with PUBLIC ENEMY, TERMINATOR X, ADVANCED IDEA MECHANIXX and continues to produce and record.

Tom Cangemi owns a production company for artist development in Colorado and continues to produce, write and engineer. Some of Tommy's credits include Mandy Moore, Willa Ford, LFO, as well as jingles and commercials for Budweiser, 20th Century Fox, Gap, the TV series "Charmed" and more.

TAKASHI had two drummers in the '80s — Chuck Khoury, a founding member who was on the "Kamikaze Killers" release in 1983, and Mike Harr. Khoury owns the special FX company Explosive Personality in Las Vegas which does production on the "Phantom Of The Opera", Criss Angel's show and many more. Mike Harr, who toured in the later years with TAKASHI, owns Pure Ink Ltd. in New York City and has done a lot of session work for artists worldwide. Both drummers are scheduled to participate on the new release, with Mike Harr doing the majority of the recording and any live performing at this time.

When asked why they decided to reunite now after 30 years, the response from the TAKASHI bandmembers was, "Why not? We have the material, we all stayed in touch and it will be fun. Plus we all still look good after all this time."

France's BLOODY SIGN has decided to split up after 15 years of devotion to death metal.

Following bass/vocalist Hagend's departure from the band in early December, BLOODY SIGN founding members Ilmar and Kalevi made the decision to put the group to rest rather than seek out a replacement frontman.

Commented the band: "BLOODY SIGN eternally thanks all the people who supported our sounds and dedication to extreme music. But from the burning remains of the band should rise a new dark sound propagation with both founder members and…

"See you in strange new aeons!"

Danish death metallers THE CLEANSING will release their second album, "Feeding The Inevitable", in the spring via the U.S. label Deepsend Records. The nine-song CD was mixed at CB studios in Denmark with producer Christian Bonde. The mastering duties were handled by Bjørn Engelmann (BEHEMOTH, BLOODBATH) at the Cutting Room in Sweden. Remy C. from Headsplit Design created the artwork/cover and the band states, "[He] really did a great work delivering some really cool and brutal illustrations."

"Feeding The Inevitable" track listing:

01. The Promethean Promise
02. Third Eye Starring
03. Your Flesh, Your Curse
04. A Cheating Progression
05. Hour Of Decadence
06. Processed For Contamination
07. Law Of Reciprocity
08. Two Days
09. Crossroads

Drummer Will Hunt (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, EVANESCENCE) has joined EYE EMPIRE, the new band featuring former/current members of DARK NEW DAY, STUCK MOJO, SWITCHED and SUBMERSED. The group's recently completed debut album, "Moment Of Impact", was recorded with the help of SEVENDUST drummer Morgan Rose and is scheduled for release later in the year. Will told U.K.'s Rhythm magazine, "I'm working with a new band called EYE EMPIRE and there's a debut CD coming out for that. It's a kick-ass band. It's a side thing for me now but we'll see where it goes."

EYE EMPIRE is:

Corey Lowery - Bass
B.C. Kochmit - Guitar
Donald Carpenter - Vocals
Will Hunt - Drums

BEFORE THE DAWN schaffen es, wie keine andere Band, die Heaviness des Death Metal, die Düsternis des Dark Metal und die eisige Kälte finnischer Winter mit wunderschönen Melodien und epischer Hymnik zu verbinden! Das brandneue Album "Deathstar Rising" erscheint am 25. Februar 2011 über das neue Label Nuclear Blast Records!




"Deathstar Rising" Track List:

01. The First Snow
02. Winter Within
03. Deathstar
04. Remembrance
05. Unbroken
06. Judgement
07. The Wake
08. Sanctuary
09. Butterfly Effect
10. Wraith
11. Infinity (Bonus track from 1st demo 1998) ***
12. My Room (Acoustic) (Bonus track) ***
13. Unbreakable (Live) (Bonus track) ***
14. The Black (Live) (Bonus track) ***

*** Only on European Version

The cover artwork for "Blunt Force Trauma", the sophomore album from CAVALERA CONSPIRACY — the project featuring former SEPULTURA members Max (guitar, vocals) and Igor Cavalera (drums) — can be seen below.

"Blunt Force Trauma" will be released on March 29 via Roadrunner Records. The CD was once again tracked with Logan Mader (ex-MACHINE HEAD/SOULFLY guitarist), who co-produced the LP with Max. Logan also mixed the follow-up to the band's debut album, "Inflikted", which has sold less than 50,000 copies in the United States since its March 2008 release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The brothers Cavalera co-founded SEPULTURA, the Brazilian metal band that redefined and established the genre outside of the U.S. and Europe. After Max exited the band, there was a rift between himself and his brother, one that was eventually repaired through the redemptive power of music. Some time had passed and Max and Igor were unable to resist the musical pull in their magnetic fields and their musical collaboration was renewed. The duo are back for round two with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's lineup is filled out by guitarist Marc Rizzo, who plays with Max in SOULFLY, and bassist Johnny Chow.

"Blunt Force Trauma" track listing:

01. Warlord
02. Torture
03. Lynch Mob
04. Killing Inside
05. Thrasher
06. I Speak Hate
07. Target
08. Genghis Khan
09. Burn Waco
10. Rasputin
11. Blunt Force Trauma

Münster, Germany-based melodic death metal/rock act MOURNING CARESS have issued the following update:

"On December 29th, 2010 our friend and longtime guitarist Benedikt Bjarnason died.

He stepped out of the band in January, 2009 due to many obligations, mainly work-related. In spring 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. But in spite of his positive attitude, distinctive humour, courage and immense will to defeat the disease, he lost this battle.

We will never forget you.

Rest In Peace, brother. See you on the other side!"

Drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, TRANSATLANTIC), guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, DIXIE DREGS), multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (TRANSATLANTIC, SPOCK'S BEARD), bassist Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS) and vocalist Casey McPherson (ALPHA REV, ENDOCHINE) have joined forces in a brand new project. The as-yet-unnamed band has just entered the studio to begin work on a new album, due later in the year.

Regarding how the new project came together, Neal Morse said, "Last April I got together with Steve Morse to do some writing and to see what would happen with a collaboration between the two of us and how I went down to his house in Florida and spent some days with him, getting to know him and writing some music and we had a really good time. So we've been talking about doing a project together for a while."

As for the musical direction of the new project, Neal said, "We're all going to get together and work from scratch with no pre-prepared material and see what comes out.

"I'd like to do something different. Something to make it very different from like my solo stuff or TRANSATLANTIC.

"There are some demos and some things that Steve and I did in April that we've worked on and so we'll have some things to start with, but I think the plan is to get together and see what happens and write in the room."

He added, "We're all excited about the project, but it is a bit of a mystery as to what will come. The vision is to do something a little more song-oriented and not quite so riffy, as one might expect. But still, of course, having the musical elements that people like Steve Morse, Dave LaRou, Mike Portnoy, and myself can provide."

Although Neal is hoping to release the album this year, he was quick to point out that there is no firm timetable set for the completion of the new project's debut.

"We've mapped out about 10 days [in the studio for the project's first session]," he said. "We'll see what happens and see how much we can get done, if we can't get the basics down enough for an album then we'll have to continue on later.

"Everyone's schedules are a bit in flux and their very busy people so I don't know how long it will take us to actually finish and release the record."

Guitarist/vocalist Dave Meniketti of long-running California rockers Y&T has released the following statement:

"It is with profound sadness and disbelief that I tell you that my best buddy for 37 years, [Y&T bassist Phil Kennemore], passed away this morning, January 7, 2011 at 1 a.m. at Stanford Hospital. Bravely and steadfastly battling the horrible spectacle of lung cancer, at the end he was surrounded by his family members, and the Y&T family up until his final breath.

"All the beautiful things that I could say about my buddy Phil could never be summed up in a short sentence or two, and I promise that I will be back to say so much more about how I feel about him and his talents in due time. But for now, at 3 a.m., after just having returned home from his passing, let me at least put this out there.

"Phil Kennemore was not only a sweet and passionate man with his life, friends and family, but as an artist, he also had that rare ability to say what was on his mind with the most eloquent, clever, and to-the-point lyrics, yet could turn it on its head in a second with some other viewpoint on reality and nail the point dead center. He was able to do what very few can — say the things that others have been thinking, but could never quite seem to put into words. He has always had a keen knack for doing that.

"As a musician, with those huge fingers, his bass playing was always loud, strong, and deep, filling the largest or smallest of stages equally.

"He had an amazingly strong life force that has influenced everyone who ever had the opportunity to be called a friend of his. I am forever grateful for our lifelong friendship, that was always in place throughout the worst and best of times. I will miss his sense of humor, his amazing wit, but most of all I will always miss not seeing him to my left on the stages I will play from this moment forward.

"Yes, he was one of the class guys on this planet, and in this business, and I will always do what I can to spread the legacy of Phil Kennemore across the globe on every stage that I land on.

"You know how much I love you, Phil, and you knew how much your fans and fellow musicians loved and respected you. There was nothing left unsaid. You had a rich and wonderful life and I can only tell you that I was happy to have been alongside you every step of the glorious way.

"Cheers to you, Phil.

"Your friend forever, Dave."

Phil Kennemore was 57 years old.

METALLICA is one of the top-selling artists since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking album sales in May 1991, with cumulative U.S. sales of nearly 53 million copies. The band's 1991 self-titled fifth album, commonly known as "the black album," in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era. To date, the black album has sold 15,620,000 copies, eclipsing "Come On Over"'s total of 15,499,000.

The Nielsen SoundScan system began compiling sales electronically more than 18 years ago on a weekly basis, providing more accurate sales figures that form the basis for the Billboard music charts.

Although METALLICA had scored their first radio and video airplay with their previous effort, 1988's "...And Justice For All", the black album was the band's biggest commercial breakthrough, producing five singles and making them into one of the most popular rock bands in the world.

Top Ten Selling Artists Of SoundScan Era (based on album sales from 1991 to January 2, 2011)

01. GARTH BROOKS (68,513,000)
02. THE BEATLES (62,066,000)
03. MARIAH CAREY (53,185,000)
04. METALLICA (52,672,000)
05. CELINE DION (51,162,000)
06. GEORGE STRAIT (42,396,000)
07. EMINEM (39,643,000)
08. TIM MCGRAW (39,396,000)
09. ALAN JACKSON (38,275,000)
10. PINK FLOYD (36,429,000)

Top Ten Selling Albums Of SoundScan Era (1991 - January 2, 2011):

01. "Metallica" - METALLICA (15,620,000)
02. "Come On Over" - SHANIA TWAIN (15,499,000)
03. "Jagged Little Pill" - ALANIS MORISSETTE (14,673,000)
04. "Millennium" - BACKSTREET BOYS (12,115,000)
05. "Bodyguard" soundtrack - Various Artists (11,823,000)
06. "Supernatural" - SANTANA (11,709,000)
07. "Beatles 1" - THE BEATLES (11,703,000)
08. "Human Clay" - CREED (11,563,000)
09. "No Strings Attached" - 'N SYNC (11,117,000)
10." Falling Into You" - CELINE DION (10,785,000)

Top Ten Vinyl Artists Of 2010 (based on vinyl album sales from January 4, 2010 to January 2, 2011)

01. THE BEATLES (36,700)
02. BLACK KEYS (36,000)
03. RADIOHEAD (30,500)
04. ARCADE FIRE (28,600)
05. JIMI HENDRIX (26,400)
06. NATIONAL (24,600)
07. PAVEMENT (24,200)
08. VAMPIRE WEEKEND (21,900)
09. METALLICA (20,000)
10. BOB DYLAN (17,000)

The debut album from Portugal's CATACOMBE, entitled Kinetic, uniquely combines modern metal and post rock. Developing the ideas of their first EP, Memoirs, the band makes a pronouncing step of their way of creating memorable sound.

The music features fine guitar passages, heavy riffs and complex melodic constructions. The album was recorded in January - March, 2010 at Soundvision Studios. Mastering by James Plotkin (ISIS, KHANATE, PELICAN, EARTH).

The CD comes in a noble cardboard (mini-LP) sleeve via by Slow Burn Records.

A full album download is available at this location.

Tracklist:

'Grundsatz'
'Supernova'
'Anna-Liisa'
'Memoirs' (extended)
'Cavalgada Epica'
'Mockba'
'Sequoia'

You can buy a physical copy via the Slow Burn Records store - $12 / 9€ + shipping costs or by contacting catacombe.band@gmail.com.

SYMFONIA, the new melodic metal project featuring former members of HELLOWEEN, STRATOVARIUS, ANGRA and SONATA ARCTICA, entered Studiomega in Varberg, Sweden on November 25, 2010 to begin recording 12 songs for its debut album, which is tentatively scheduled for a March 25, 2011 release.

In a posting on the band's official blog, SYMFONIA guitarist Timo Tolkki writes, "Me and André [Matos, vocals] have been here in the middle of a Swedish forest for a week recording vocals.

"We rented a cabin which is at a top of a hill with an amazing view.

"If the drumming studio was in the middle of nowhere, then this one is in the middle of that nowhere.

"Things are going smooth; we got a great vocal sound.

"Had to put some blankets on the wall to treat the place acoustically a bit.

"The cabin is slightly haunted; the owner told us that a man named Hans died here 80 years ago and can sometimes be seen around. So far we haven't seen him.

"Things got off to a bit difficult start because André has been singing with a certain piece of art right next to him since he left ANGRA. It is a famous painting by Salvador Dali called 'Madonna of Port Lligat'. So we had to FedEx that from Sao Paulo [Brazil] for him and that took some time.

"André is a massive Dali fan, so I understand this completely. Also he wants two cactuses and two other any kind of plants on the floor next to him where he is singing.

"Days are filled with writing and rewriting lyrics and recording vocals in a very nice atmosphere. Listening to Beethoven and analyzing it. We both are big fans.

"The album is taking shape in a very nice way."

Check out photos from the studio at this location.

SYMFONIA has signed a four-album deal with the biggest Japanese metal and rock label Marquee Avalon for the territory of the entire Asian region, including China. Negotiations for the other territories are still in progress.

A press release reads as follows: "They are all legends among the melodic metal community. By sheer coincidence, they all found themselves living on the same continent, in Scandinavia. They decided to join forces and express their talents in the form of a new melodic metal project: SYMFONIA.

"Honoring the heritage of their previous bands STRATOVARIUS, HELLOWEEN, ANGRA and SONATA ARCTICA, SYMFONIA continues their superb melodic metal tradition with an incredible musicianship that is a match made in heaven. This is a force that no serious melodic metal fan will be able to ignore."

SYMFONIA is:

* Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE) - Guitar
* André Matos (ANGRA, SHAAMAN, VIPER) - Vocals
* Jari Kainulainen (STRATOVARIUS, EVERGREY) - Bass
* Mikko Härkin (SONATA ARCTICA, KOTIPELTO) - Keyboards
* Uli Kusch (MASTERPLAN, HELLOWEEN) - Drums

SYMFONIA will make its live debut on February 18, 2011 at the Finnish Metal Expo (part of the Helsinki Metal Meeting) in Helsinki, Finland.