New Lyriel Sample

I don't know if anyone else out there is excited about the new Lyriel CD, Leverage, slated for release Feb. 24, but I sure am.  Today, the band released a sample for one of their new songs, and it's called "White Lily."

You can listen here.

I like it!

Xandria's New Sample

Here is a three-minute clip of Xandria's upcoming song, "Valentine", from their upcoming album Neverworld's End, that will be released in Europe Feb 27.

WOW!  This is so different from the Xandria I was used to!  Manuella kicks some serious ass and the composition reveals the new character of this band!

Check it!

2012 Releases

The spring of 2012 is going to be so excellent for me because a lot of my favourite bands are coming out with new stuff.  I thought I'd compile a list.  If you have any others you'd like to add, just leave a comment!

Nightwish - Imaginaerum (well, sort of: the North American release date is Jan. 10 but I think a lot of fans have already heard it)
Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline: Jan. 23 (I just hope it's decent...)
Xandria - Neverworld's End: Feb. 27
Amberian Dawn - Circus Black: Feb. 29
Epica - Requiem for the Indifferent: March 9

Announced but no dates as of yet:

Delain - We Are the Others (I'm assuming this is coming out in March-ish since they embark on a headlining tour in April)
Lyriel - something to be released in February
Sabaton - Carolus Rex
Liv Krisine - Libertine


Rumoured and/or teasing fans on Facebook:

Dawn of Destiny
Satyrian
Where Angels Fall
Elis
Unshine
Akoma

Others I'm not overly interested in but have dates others might be interested in:

Eluveitie - February 10

Visions of Atlantis Update

Excellent! Austrian symphonic metal outfit, Visions of Atlantis, with their new Greek vocalist Maxi Nil, have announced a release date and album information at last. Their new CD, entitled Delta, is to be released February 25, 2011. You can read more details here.

Very much looking forward to this one!

Looking Forward to 2011 and Release Updates

Not all the CDs I was looking forward to coming out this fall have materialized, which is rather disappointing. Looks like some of the big ones I was anticipating are not slated for early 2011 release. Well, better late than never.

These include:

Within Temptation: I cannot seem to find anything official on their website, but I have heard other places Feb - March 2011. Speaking of their web site, I quite like it; it's very organized and well-designed.

Delain: Their Facebook updates say they are recording and their web site says the new album will come out in spring 2011, to be followed shortly thereafer by a tour.

Crimfall: their second album is also due out in spring 2011, according to their web site. The band has also been signed to Spinefarm records, which is excellent news indeed. I cannot wait for this CD to come out!

Borealis, my favourite Canadian metal band: the good news is that they are playing lots of shows and getting some good exposure. Their Facebook page says they are hoping to release their second CD in the spring.

Evanescence: well, they have not made an announcement on their web site since last spring, which said the next album was slated for a late 2010 release. Well, it's getting late in 2010, and I have seen or heard nothing yet about the release actually being released. So, not exactly sure what's going on here. However, a new single, "Together Again" is availble for download on iTunes, though there is no official video for it as of yet. But here it is:



I like it.

Other bands I'm a fan of coming out with new stuff in 2011:

Leaves' Eyes. I've been following them on Facebook, too, and they are in the studio! Woo-hoo! Expected release is...wait for it...sometime in spring 2011. In the meantime, they are playing a concert in Goa, India, which is very exciting for them.

Midnattsol: They have recorded all the music and released the title, which is The Metamorphosis Melody. Here is a nice little video featuring Carmen talking about the title, complete with some samples. At the end it indicates that a release date will be announced soon. Not soon enough! I love this band and I was really happy with what samples I did hear on the video, so I am really, really looking forward to The Metamorphosis Melody!



Imperia: I really liked Imperia's Queen of Light album a lot, and I was happy to see on Blabbermouth that the band is going back into the studio to record a follow up. Who knows when it'll be released, though.

Visions of Atlantis: The most recent news about their new album on their MySpace page, from October 11, says that the recording is finished and they are in the process of mixing & mastering. Their Facebook page shows that they are touring in early 2011 with Rhapsody of Fire. So hopefully the new album, with their new singer, Maxi Nil, will be out soon.

If you like Lunatica, which I do, it looks like they have something in the works, though not much is said on their web site about it other than the new album will feature a re-recorded version of a song from Atlantis.

Lacuna Coil, whom I used to like but was pretty upset with their Shallow Life release (ugh) appears to be in songwriting mode, according to their Facebook page. I do hope they come out with something reminiscent of the LC I used to know & love.

And then of course, there is Nightwish, whose follow up to DPP is slated for a late 2011 release - in other words, a year from now. :(

And that is it for now. If anyone has any others they'd like to mention, please leave a comment!

Edit November 16: Sirenia just issued an update, seen here on Blabbermouth. So, a new album from them at the end of January, and lo an behold, it contains more than 9 tracks this time (unlike their previous CD). I was disappointed with The 13th Floor, so we'll have to see what this one sounds like.

Tarja's single "Falling Awake" now streaming on Youtube (video avaliable)

For those who have been waiting, Tarja's first single "Falling Awake" from her new album What Lies Beneath is out now and can be heard on Youtube:



Enjoy and rock on! \m/

Upcoming Attractions

2010 is shaping up to be a year with a lot of great bands releasing new material. Here is a list of what I'm looking forward to.

1. Tarja's What Lies Beneath. Release date for North America: August, apparently.

2. Sabaton's Coat of Arms. North American release date: June 29, according to Amazon.ca. I have pre-ordered it!

3. Crimfall, title unknown. This CD is slated to be released in the fall, and I can't wait.

4. Visions of Atlantis, title unknown. Their web site is down & I can't find any recent news, but I have heard that they are in the studio recording and that something might be released this year.

5. Evanescence, title unknown. North American release date: sometime in the fall.

6. Amberian Dawn, title unknown. In an interview published May 19, the band said the new album was in the mixing stage. The band's site doesn't mention anything about a release date, though, but I hope it's soon!

7. Within Temptation & Delain are apparently releasing new material this year, but I can't find anything on either of their sites about this.

8. Borealis, previously posted about here. Title unknown, North American release date: early fall.

9. Liv Kristine, Skintight. North American Release date: August 31! Woo-hoo!

10. Midnattsol, title unknown. Release date unknown, but they are recording this summer. Really looking forward to this CD, too!