Crystallion
Germany based Heavy Metal band CRYSTALLION was founded in 2003 by bassist Steve Hall and drummer Martin Herzinger. On their first two album releases, „A Dark Enchanted Crystal Night“ and „Hattin“, they offered a bombastic Metal sound with obvious influences from which came from groups like Rhapsody, Helloween or Dragonforce. Powerful riffs and hooks here met with elaborated songwriting and stirring melodies. Both releases were very well received by their permanently growing fanbase. Numerous live gigs and festival appearances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic with bands such as Bonfire and Running Wild amongst others followed. With the release of the album “Hundred Days” (2009), CRYSTALLION moved away from their double-bass orientated songwriting over to rather Heavy & Hard Rock colored songs – without losing their own roots. In 2012, the Bavarians played the Metal-Fest at the prestigious Lorely venue together with other artists like Megadeth, Powerwolf & Edguy. The group’s fourth studio album “Killer” saw the light of day in the beginning of 2013 and continued to follow the Heavy & Hard Rock paths. A demo with four brand new tracks was sent to Pride & Joy Music in July 2018 and resulted in a new record deal for the band with this German Metal label. Unfortunately, singer Thomas Strübler soon afterwards, in May 2019, decided to leave the band after being a member for 15 years. His successor was found in female singer Kristina Berchtold. In Summer 2019, some festival appearances with Berchtold as frontwoman followed and included the Free & Easy Festival in Munich (with Queensryche and Rose Tattoo) and the „Trveheim“ Festival in Munich with Riot V & Stormwitch. After a long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, CRYSTALLION returned onto stage in October 2020 at the Rockokfest in Landshut, Germany. With Munich powerhouse singer Bertchold on the micro, the quartet now has managed to leave all Power Metal clichés behind and to start the work on their new album “Heads Or Tails” with fresh breath. This release will lead the way for CRYSTALLION and be finally available in stores from February 19th, 2020. Since July 2019, the experienced and versatile guitar player Werner Hießl from Linz, Austria is part of the line-up. The album „Heads Or Tails” was produced by CRYSTALLION, engineered & mixed by Mario Lochert @ SeriousBlack Studios and mastered by Jan Vacik @ Dreamsound Studios. The artwork comes from Martin Herzinger @ Venusworksmedia. Pride & Joy Music releases: – Heads Or Tails (19.02.2021)
Natural Born Machine
NATURAL BORN MACHINE is a new international Melodic Heavy Rock band founded in 2019 by bassist & composer Alberto Rigoni (solo, BAD As, Vivaldi Metal Project etc.) which features Pink Cream 69 singer David Readman, guitarist Alessio “Lex” Tricarico (BAD AS) and drummer Denis „Denzy“ Novello (Ardityon) in the line-up. The album was recorded and mixed at AR Studio in Treviso, Italy and mixed and mastered by Alberto Rigoni. A lyric video for the track “New Future” and a full video for “Moonchild” will be released upfront to the album; both tracks will be available as singles and instant grats as well. The artwork was designed by Andreas Ballnus (Disorderly Design). Pride & Joy Music releases: – Human (19.02.2021)
Schwarz, Siggi
The German Guitar Legend Siggi Schwarz proudly presents 15 original and powerful Rock Songs on his new 11th Album. These songs are straightforward, melodic, raw and basically badass American! With nothing but Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Dums he takes us back to the roots of ROCK! For the true and strong feeling of live-rock with a fantastic groove the basic tracks were recorded together live in the studio. The new Songs from Schwarz are fresh and a new awakening of the legendary late 70s and 80s Rock era. All “The Fire Inside“ songs were co-written and co-produced by native New Yorker and U.S. Army Veteran, Dave Schaefer who was stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany where ELVIS also just so happened to be stationed. His native american (Cherokee) blood and temperament can be felt and heard through his strong and expressive Vocals as well as with his clever lyrics and catchy, sing-along Hooklines. With his Guitar, Siggi Schwarz delivers an enormous spectrum of his undeniable talent. During his exceptional Music career he has teamed up in the studio and on stage with notorious Guitar Heroes such as Michael Schenker (ex Scorpions, UFO), Steve Lukather (TOTO), Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake) , Geoff Whitehorn (Roger Chapman, Procol Harum), Leslie West (Mountain) and Billy Gibbons (ZZ TOP). In 2011 Schwarz released a phenomenal Tribute Album for legendary guitarist Gary Moore, who had passed away the same year, with the participation of ex Gary Moore and Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray, as well as Toto’s Steve Lukather. In addition to this Siggi Schwarz also produced the “Michael Schenker Group” albums “In the Midst of Beauty” in 2008 and “Tales of Rock n’Roll” in 2005, which reached global charts. For several years, Siggi Schwarz was a congenial guitar partner of Michael Schenker where they joined forces for several concerts and three additional albums. Thoughout his long and notable Rock n‘Roll journey Siggi Schwarz has regularly been the opening act for rock legends such as Bryan Adams, Santana, The Who, Foreigner, The Scorpions or ZZ TOP. “THE FIRE INSIDE” rocks from the first to the last track – Siggi Schwarz and his band let the inner fire of passion burn and flare up in every note and every chord. Pride & Joy Music releases: – The Fire Inside (19.02.2021)
Tragedian
Tragedian is a multicultural Metal band from Hamburg with a range of influences from Heavy Metal to Speed and Melodic Power Metal, taking their favorite elements from each genre and making their own interpretation. Formed in 2002 by guitarist, songwriter and producer Gabriele Palermo, they have shared the stage with bands such as Mob Rules, Paragon, Pagan’s Mind, Dark Sky, The Unity, Burning Point and Cryonic Temple, including a support tour with the latter bands through Sweden and Finland in 2009.Tragedian also played at the 2019 edition of the Hamburg Metal Dayz. The five-piece has released three albums with several collaborations from artists such as Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray, Unisonic) and Bob Katsionis (Firewind, Serious Black, Outloud), and their fourth album “Seven Dimensions” with a new line-up which takes them to a different direction of Melodic Metal. It features 9 new heavy power speed anthems 3 previously released tracks newly reworked. “Para Siempre” is a reworked Spanish version or “Forever” originally released in 2013 on the second release ‘Decimation’. “Seven Dimensions” was produced by Palermo and post-produced & mixed by Eike Freese (DEEP PURPLE, GAMMA RAY) at Chameleon Studios, Hamburg, This release showcases some guests performances including Wade Black (ex Crimson Glory & Leatherwolf) on “Bringer Of Dreams”, Zak Stevens (ex Savatage & Circle II Circle) on “Forces Of The Light” and Dan Palmer (Zebra Head, Death By Stereo) on “Out Of The Dark”. The front cover was designed by Cover artwork by Piotr Szafraniec. The CD version includes the two bonus tracks “Crying In The Rain” (duet version) and “Forces Of The Light” (Radio Edit). Releases on Pride & Joy Music: – Seven Dimensions (2021)
Foreign
Foreign is a metal/rock opera from another time, like a real journey inside time and space, more gazed on melodies which can provoke dreams on you, as if you were deep inside the millennial quest of Ahasverus, the poor Jewish man cursed by Jesus Christ, condemned to immortality to have refused him a glass of water, when he was climbing the mount for the crucifixion… Still under control of author/composer/ singer/keyboardist Ivan Jacquin (Psychanoïa, Amonya, Magnesis…), the wandering jew is following his own quest, after the time when we left him at the end of the first album. Now’s the time of Holy Crusades back in Jerusalem and Ahasverus, alias Omar Kyan for a little while, he will meet terrible Salah ad-Dîn, for a strange and short alliance… The story of this second album will bring us until the dawn of industrial revolution, passing by Vikings lands, Cristoforo Colombo and his historical mistake, Francois the 1st and his dream of alchemy, Nostradamus’ prophecies, the Shakespeare enigma, Mozart and his genius art, and it will end with several revolutions, in 1789 in France and in the beginning of the 19th century for rising industry and mechanical inventions. When seeing the success and interest about Part I in 2014, some guests, singers and musicians from the whole world and well-known in rock, progressive and metal universe have accepted to be part of the second record of this amazing trilogy. This includes the massive talents of Leo Margarit (Pain of Salvation, Epysode) on drums, Mike Lepond (Symphony X, Silent Assassins) on bass, the vocalists Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle, Savatage, TSO), Andy Kuntz (Vanden Plas) and Tom S. Englund (Evergrey), as well as Amanda Lehmann (Steve Hackett Band) on vocals and lead guitars. Most of the musicians playing in part I will be back in this adventure and some characters will remain in their being to perpetuate the quest… Foreign II welcomes lots of characters, female and male singers, the mixed choir named « The sirens of time » and about twenty metal and rock musicians and other instrumentalists more « exotic » and rare (hammered dulcimer, oboe, cello, duduk, harp, hurdy-gurdy…); forty artists in total. “The symphony of the wandering Jew Part I” is still available on the following links via the band camp site of the project at this link: http://www.foreignrockopera.bandcamp.com Part II was mixed in Markus Teske’s Bazement Studio (Vanden Plas, Red Circuit, Mob Rules…) in Germany and will be released on December 4th, 2020 via Pride & Joy Music. The fantastic human and musical adventure will continue to make you travel and dream through times of our own History…
Lazarus Dream
With an artistry and groove that is never less than inspiring and absorbing, 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, which used to top the German Amazon Download charts in late 2010. 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 was mastered by Markus Teske at Bazement Studios (VANDEN PLAS, SAGA, MOB RULES,…) Highlights on „Alive“ range from undoubtedly immensely catchy chorusses and stunningly melodic twin guitar solos in songs like „Wings Of An Eagle“ and „Hotel Overload“ to progressive arrangements in extra-long tracks like „Dawn Of Time“ and „Fleshburn“, which also surprises the listener with an Arabian flute intro (and guaranteed goose bumps, by the way). Groovy guitar riffing gets combined with massive vocal arrangements and reflective lyrics especially in songs like „The Healing Echoes“, „House Of Cards“, „Desert Mind“ and „Can’t Take My Soul Away“. All in all, LAZARUS DREAM brings a fresh, vivid and eager breath to melodic hard rock and classic progressive metal without the need for indulgence and spurious tricks and charms… Pfeffer and Schulz build a strong songwriting duo and thus the foundation for the album and deliver inspired, melodic hard rock bliss which should appeal to fans of bands such as QUEENSRYCHE and DOKKEN.
Shadow Tribe
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. Pukkila comments: „After a few years of studio absence, we are finally here with our debut album entitled ‚Reality Unveiled‘. Feels great to announce the deal with Pride & Joy Music! The music is melodic, but also in-your-face and kick-ass rock. Cool riffs, good melodies and tasteful arrangements. I’m very happy with how the album came out. It’s a great collection of hard-hitting-yet-melodic commercial rock tracks, which I hope you all enjoy.” “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. Releases on Pride & Joy Music: – Reality Unveiled (2020)
Hellsmoke
HELLSMOKE releases its debut album, “2020”, with the Rev-counter well in to the red! Hellsmoke’s gasoline infused Hardrock/ Metal combination was born when guitar player Christofer Dahlman (ex Alyson Avenue, Bai Bang) and songwriter Torbjörn Månsson got together with their long-time friend and drummer Roger Landin (ex Cloudscape). This explosive mix started to iron out what HELLSMOKE should be all about. Heavy guitars, pounding drums and rough, but refined, melodies form the backbone of the music. The group tested the waters live by doing a few gigs, the most mentionable as support for Pretty Maids in Denmark. When it was time to record the album Rimbert Vahlström (ex Syron Vanes), joined the crew as the group’s new singer and with his unmistakable voice that was perfect for the band – he took the songs to the next level! Anders Hahne was used as a co-producer on the album. The band’s latest additions, Jörgen Löfberg on bass (Darkane) and Michael Åkesson (Alicate) on guitars, provide that extra edge that separates HELLSMOKE from other bands! Releases on Pride & Joy Music: – 2020 (2020)
Winter’s Verge
Winter’s Verge is one of Cyprus’ most successful metal bands. Since its formation in 2005, the band has released four studio albums and three EPs, and built a strong reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in Cyprus, with a powerful blend of epic, melodic and symphonic metal. The band is made up of the most experienced and respected musicians in the Cypriot rock and metal scene – George Charalambous (v), Deniel Pavlovsky and Savvas Parperi (g), Stavry Michael (keys), Miguel Trapezaris (b) and Danny Georgiou (d). Winter’s Verge’s music is highly conceptual and takes place within a mythological realm called Tiberon – all songs and lyrics allowing fans to explore the themes, characters and locations for their own interpretation. Their discography covers the albums “Eternal Damnation” (LMP Records, 2008) which was produced by RD Liapakis (MYSTIC PROPHECY). The band then released 2010’s “Tales of Tragedy”, this time on Massacre Records. The album was highly regarded by the metal press and developed the band’s sound further, with fan favorites like ‘The Captain’s Log’ or ‘Reflections of the Past’. The release of the album coincided with a European tour with power metal legends Stratovarius, which won the band thousands of new fans. 2012 brought “Beyond Vengeance”. This album was also critically acclaimed and was followed by extensive live performances, where tracks like ‘Unto the Darkness’ or ‘Dying’ becoming staples of the live setlist. After a brief hiatus and line-up changes, Winter’s Verge got back to business, recording the band’s 4th album, ‘IV’, as independent release in 2015. It was supported by Winter’s Verge’s second European tour in 2016 winning new fans in e.g. countries like Greece, Romania and Bulgaria with an appearance at the Metalhead Meeting festival in Romania. After a short break Winter’s Verge got back to the business of writing and recording. An EP entitled “Wolves of Tiberon” released in 2016. Its concept further explored the world of Tiberon that exists as a setting for Winter’s Verge mythology, giving more details, characters and stories for the deep mythology. Now in 2020, after three years in the making, Winter’s Verge are ready to release one of their most ambitious projects to date, “The Ballad of James Tig”. With a concept and lyrics by renowned local author and playwright Frixos Masouras, the new album is another concept storyline with a huge sounding scope and symphonic sound. It’s the story of James Tig, a man who lost his family at sea when he was a young boy, and had set his life-long dream to find the legendary Killagorak a sea monster, who he believes was what killed his family when he was very young, seeking revenge. Teodora Stoyanova Freya (MAGIC OF THE NORTH) provided vocals – playing the part of Nina in the story. The drums were recorded at Panasound Studio, with the rest of the album recorded and mixed at Winter’s Verge Studios between mid 2018 and the end of 2019. George Charalambous (v) mixed & produced the album; the mastering was handled by George Eracleous (Oneirism Studios). The artwork was designed by George Vasiliou. Releases on Pride & Joy Music: – The Ballad Of James Tig (2020)
Season Of Dreams
SEASON OF DREAMS was founded by Jean-Michel Volz, the main composer in the band A TASTE OF FREEDOM. He wanted to create a Heavy/Power band with Power Metal influences. Volz was looking for a singer with powerful vocals and first asked his friend Pasi Humppi (FRETERNIA) but due to a busy schedule, Humppi was not able to provide the vocals and introduced Volz to Johannes Nyberg (ZONATA, vocals & keyboards). A good chemistry was there from the beginning, and the duo started to write songs for their debut album “My Shelter“. Nyberg’s brother John joined the project on some songs after listening to the first recordings. Four months later, the album was written, recorded, mixed and mastered. Jean-Michel Volz handled the music parts at the MindMirror Studios; the cover artwork was created by Stan W. Decker (RAGE, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, MASTERPLAN). Releases on Pride & Joy Music: – My Shelter (2020) – Heroes (2021)