SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2010

Sweden’s SPIRITUAL BEGGARS – featuring guitarist Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo (Arch Enemy, WITCHERY) – started working with Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) as a new singer after parting ways with JB (GRAND MAGUS) and finished the recordings of their 7th studio-album at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson, who already produced the On Fire (2002) and Demons (2005) albums, and is also known for his work with Arch Enemy, OPETH, etc.

“The new Spiritual Beggars album is to my ears some of best stuff I’ve ever done with this band and I’m very much looking forward to releasing the seventh Spiritual Beggars studio album, Return To Zero, with the help and expertise of the InsideOut team! At the end of the day it was a no-brainer to do a new licensing deal with the InsideOut label, they did a great job on the Demons album and the Live Fire! DVD (2006). Since then, they have merged with the Century Media company whom I have a long and successful history with. I already know a lot of the people that will be involved in this release, and that feels good.” says founding member Michael Amott. “I respect InsideOut label boss Thomas Waber for being a true music fan and for his undying enthusiasm and efforts in making this deal happen.”

Also Thomas Waber (IOM) is really happy about re-signing a deal with Spiritual Beggars and welcomes the band again to the InsideOut roster. “We had a great experience with the Demons album and are looking forward to working the new one as well. After all the turmoil last year, things are back on top and better than ever and Spiritual Beggars will no doubt benefit from this!”

The new album, Return To Zero, will be released on August 30th in Europe. In an interview with the Japanese Burrn! Magazine Michael Amott talks about the new singer Apollo and the new album and gives a short impression of how the album sounds like “Apollo’s influences are very much rooted in the classic rock and metal of the 70s and 80s. He is the same age as the rest of us in Spiritual Beggars so we instantly shared a lot of common ground musically, and he really connected with the songs and delivered emotional vocals that really impressed us all. I was always aware of the fact that he is great singer. However, even I was surprised how well his voice fit Spiritual Beggars, in the new and the old songs. Apollo is showing a range and depth on this album that I believe will both surprise and please the Spiritual Beggars fans! The new album has a lot of the typical Spiritual Beggars trademarks, it’s heavy rock with a 70s atmosphere – but I also hear a definite progression and a deeper sense of melody in the songwriting and performances. It’s exactly the kind of record I wanted to make with Spiritual Beggars in 2010!”

On the Spiritual Beggars official MySpace page, the band uploaded a short audio sample of the new album as a pre-listening.

Spiritual Beggars lineup:

Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass) – Guitars
Ludwig Witt (Firebird) – Drums
Per Wiberg (Opeth) – Keyboards
Sharlee D’Angelo (Arch Enemy, Witchery) – Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (Firewind) – Vocals

Evil Masquerade – headline act

Live 2010

Urban Primate – support act

The Rock

Copenhagen

Denmark

12/3-2010

Reviewed and live pictures by: Anders Sandvall

Guest contributor: Ulrika Henriksson

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Firewind’s Gus G.

Interviewed by EvilG

Transcription by Murphy / Live Photos by Hanntu

On the day of Firewind’s Chicago show of the TYRANNY AND BLOODSHRED tour 2008 I got to speak with guitar whiz Gus G. He was running a bit late, but such is the case with a travelling band dealing with tight time schedules, setups, sound checks, and interviews. I spoke with Gus about touring in North America, guitar playing, song writing, etc.

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KAMELOT

with FIREWIND and FOREVER SLAVE

Islington Academy, London

4th April 2008

All live pics and review by HannTu 

One of the front-runners of US Power Metal, Kamelot kicked off their second European tour in support of THE GHOST OPERA here in London. Billed as the Rule The World Tour 2008, this time they bring along guitar virtuoso Gus G and his band Firewind, who are perennial favourites here in London, and are always guaranteed a good reception. Opening for them are Forever Slave, a Spanish goth metal band, who stepped in to replace Visions of Atlantis at the last minute. Incidentally, the last time Kamelot were in London, Sean Tibbetts, standing in for regular bassist Glenn Barry, dislocated his knee. It gives a new meaning to the theatrical community’s phrase “Break a leg!”, so I’ll go for a simple “Good luck” tonight. And so, ladies and gentlemen and people at the front, welcome all to curtain call!

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Winter NAMM 2008

ANAHEIM, California, USA

January 17-20, 2008

Article & Pictures by Robert Williams 

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Firewind
with Grand Magus & Crowning Glory
The Underworld, Camden
London, England
24th April 2007

Review & Pics by Hanntu

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Interviewed by Anders Sandvall

Thanks to Jenny Walroth at Century Media Sweden for setting up the interview and Century Media for the promo pictures

Now it’s time to once again talk to Gus G from Firewind and check out what he’s been up to since our last talk. Firewind has recently released their new studio album ALLEGIANCE. Well let’s hear what Gus G has to say…
 

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Firewind Guitarist Gus G.

Interviewed by Anders Sandvall

Thanks to Jenny Walroth at Century Media Sweden for help with the interview
Thanks to Century Media for Promo pictures of the band

Gus G., guitar player and leader of Firewind, who recently released their third album FORGED BY FIRE had the kindness to answer my questions about Firewind, their new album, his appearances in Nightrage, and his previous band Dream Evil. Nightrage is about to release their follow up to their brilliant debut “SWEET VENGEANCE”.

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