Mat Sinner, bassist for PRIMAL FEAR and frontman for SINNER, has issued the following announcement:
“Breaking News: ….. but where do we start? ….. maybe at the beginning
When we were younger and new to the music business, we were proud to be part of the Noise Records family and to get the chance to sign a contract with them. Reading this contract so many years later, you can’t but shake your head in disbelief and wonder what must have possessed us. The exclusive rights to the recordings have since been bought and sold numerous times with the effect that none of those who owned them has ever had any relation to either the production itself or to how it was created.
Today, the older Sinner songs still enjoy great popularity within the scene. We continue to play them live even though the CDs aren’t available any longer. It is Universal who owns the albums at the moment – but does not distribute the CDs. Therefore, they’re to be held responsible that CDs from this era can only be purchased at exorbitant prices. Unfortunately, the musicians and songwriters involved have no means of dealing with the matter – our hands are tied. When I offered to do a remix on several songs for a Best Of album, I was told that the original tapes have mysteriously disappeared and were probably burned in an ‘accidental’ fire. That much about the pearls of our past.
AFM Records and I – business partners for many years – came up with the idea to once again record the best songs from this era. The album was supposed to feature several guests and to come with a wicked fan package. Initially, I was sceptical, but recent shows have shown the amount of fun and energy the band would put into these songs. However, I will only put this plan into action under one condition: the whole band has to lock themselves into the studio and record the whole thing together. I’m fed up with the assumption that it works if everyone records their stuff at home or comes cheaper. That’s bullshit – this challenge meets us at exactly the right time and we’ll face it!
So we’re gonna get started asap! Project Mission Impossible: Sinner – Touch Of Sin 2! You better be prepared – Release date: August 30, 2013 on AFM Records!”
Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X, ADRENALINE MOB) & Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR FEAR, SINNER)
Mat Sinner (PRIMAL FEAR FEAR, SINNER) recently announced an as-yet-unnamed project with vocalist Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X, ADRENALINE MOB). He has checked in with the following update:
“We’ve chosen eleven great tracks and these guys will record with me and Russel in the studio:
Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN/guitars, lead guitar), Randy Black (Primal Fear/drums), Alessandro Del Vecchio (keyboards, vocals) and Alexander Beyrodt (Pimal Fear, VOODOO CIRCLE/additional lead guitars). Produced by Mat Sinner and mixed by Achim Koehler, with a release on Frontiers Rec early 2013. Watch out, this will be a huge album!”
Randy Black has also checked in with the following:
“Off to a great start recording the drum tracks for the forthcoming Russell Allen and Mat Sinner project. Killer tracks on this one, keep an eye out for it to be released on Frontiers Records. At the helm in the studio engineering the drum recordings is Nikolai Wurk (DUSKMACHINE). First recording session with the new custom Pearl Masters Premium Legend kit… and it’s sounding spectacular!”
As previously reported, Black has been confirmed as the man behind the kit for the upcoming ROCK MEETS CLASSIC 2013 tour, which will run through Europe in February/March next year. Black joins his Primal Fear bandmates Mat Sinner (bass/master of ceremonies), Alex Beyrodt (guitars) and Ralf Scheepers (backing vocals) as part of THE MAT SINNER BAND.
Guitarist extraordinaire, Alexander Beyodt, embodies all that is great about the guitar gods Yngwie Malmsteen and Ritchie Blackmore. His playing, especially in Voodoo Circle and Primal Fear, puts him in league with the greats. From shred to soulful playing, Alex has it all. It was therefore a pleasure to do this interview with Alex to get some insight into his role in PF and what has brought him to where he is today.
Following the band’s first album under the AFM banner with 2009′s lauded Memorial Roots, German power metal kings BRAINSTORM will set loose their sophomore full-length for the label with the North American release of On The Spur Of The Moment on November 8th. An AFM label priority, the newest product of this fine German export — the band’s ninth full-length release to date — On The Spur Of The Moment is an incredible power metal album, that more than ever emphasizes the exceptional status of BRAINSTORM within the diehard power metal communities of the world. Showcasing the band’s musicianship on all levels, the record takes their majestic power metal energy to greater heights with an incredibly layered ten anthems, recorded by Axel Heckert in Ludwigsburg, Germany’s Studio 22. BRAINSTORM‘s tight-knit lineup of vocalist Andy B. Franck, guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric, bassist Antonio Ieva and drummer Dieter Bernert remains solid.
On The Spur Of The Moment Track Listing:
01. Below The Line
02. In The Blink Of An Eye
03. Temple Of Stone
04. In These Walls
05. Still Insane
06. Dark Life
07. No Saint – No Sinner
08. Where Your Actions Lead You To Live
09. A Life On Hold
10. My Own Hell
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Hard rock kings SINNER, who have been engaging the scene with their blistering tunes since the mid-’80s, are back with a brand new album, and are preparing to unleash One Bullet Left onto North American fans this November 8th. The usual cycle of long gap between SINNER albums is over, as One Bullet Left sees release only three years after their persuasive Crash & Burn album. Coming back hard on this album with a renewed lineup, of course you can expect the SINNER-typical guitar harmonies and a high-quality base of traditional heavy metal and honest, handmade rock, celebrated in a fresh and gutsy way. Band leader, bassist/vocalist Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Voodoo Circle, etc.) has rounded-out the new SINNER lineup with drummer Andre Hilgers (Rage), returning guitarist Alex Beyrodt (Primal Fear, Voodoo Circle, etc.), and two additional guitarists Christof Leim (The New Black) and Alex Scholpp (Tarja, Farmer Boys)… yes, three guitarists this time. Recorded and produced in several studios in Europe by Mat Sinner, mixed and mastered then by Achim Köhler, some might say SINNER are at their very best on One Bullet Left.
One Bullet Left Track Listing:
01. The One You Left Behind
02. Back On Trail
03. Give & Take
04. One Bullet Left
05. 10 2 Death
06. Haunted
07. Atomic Playboys
08. Suicide Mission
09. Wake Me When I´m Sober
10. Mind Over Matter
11. Mend To Be Broken
12. Rolling Away
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The self-titled debut from WOLFPAKK is out now in North America. The brainchild of musicians Michael Voss (ex-Casanova, Mad Max) and Mark Sweeney (ex-Crystal Ball), the goal of WOLFPAKK was not only to feature their respective characteristics and strengths, but also to be joined by guest musicians on the album from all over the hard rock and traditional metal scenes. Within a very short time over thirty musicians from all over the world had contacted the ambitious Sweeney and Voss to take part in the project, and an album was constructed. Simply dubbed Wolfpakk, all ten songs were written by Voss and Sweeney, who also shared in the vocal duties, in addition to handling all production and mixing. Joining Michael Voss and Mark Sweeney on this release was an international cast including Paul Di’Anno (ex-Iron Maiden), Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath), Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Talisman), Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Paul Shortino (ex-Quiet Riot), Tony Franklin (ex-Blue Murder, Robert Plant), Mat Sinner (Primal Fear), Neil Murray (Whitesnake), Igor Gianola (U.D.O.), Marco Wriedt (Axxis) [view full list of guest musicians at this location.
In the end it´s really the quality that counts… proof: the success of VOODOO CIRCLE´s new album “Broken Heart Syndrome”, which was released on February 25th. After the first sales week the album enters the Germany´s official album charts at a sensational #64! This surprising success somehow reflects the very special character and steadily increasing success of Alex Beyrodt´s VOODOO CIRCLE.
Alex Beyrodt:
“It’s one of those days, I’m so grateful to be alive. I always believed in my vision to keep the spirit of the old masters alive – thanks to each and everyone out there who bought the album and made it such a success”!
Mat Sinner adds:
“For me it’s the biggest sensation since the chart-entry of the first Primal Fear album. I always had the feeling that this album is something very special. I’m proud of the band, thx to the fans & our partners”!
VOODOO CIRCLE are now working on a tour, festivals and live shows to bring the music of „Broken Heart Syndrome“ where it belongs: to the stages!
Live photos by Steve Sanders / Promo photos courtesy of Frontiers Records
For many years now, one of my favorite bands is Primal Fear. I finally found the time to squeeze in a long overdue interview with bassist Mat and vocalist Ralf on the eve of the band’s return to North America where they will be playing a number of shows throughout the USA and Canada in May/June (2010). Most of the discussion is about their newest album, the upcoming tour, and the latest news from both Ralf and Mat.
Ralf Scheepers is known for his fantastic voice and its marvelous capacity and above all being the charismatic frontman of Primal Fear. Even though Ralf has gained a lot of attention and respect via Primal Fear, the man has a legacy from the heyday of the 80’s metal. As widely known Scheepers became well known as the frontman for Gamma Ray in the early 90’s. Before teaming up with Kai Hansen to pursue Gamma Ray, Scheepers used to front an obscure trad metal outfit called Tyran’ Pace and released three albums between 1984 and 1986. After quitting the band, he started collaborating more and more with Kai Hansen and working on his new band project after Hansen’s successful Helloween era. The beginning wasn’t that easy for a new band. Through those rough years of Heavy and trad metal, Gamma Ray with Ralf struggled and released three albums having turned out milestones of the whole of of power metal. However INSANITY AND GENIUS was the last album featuring Ralf Scheepers on the mic. New challenges were waiting as Judas Priest showed their interest toward Scheepers. Ralf had sung in a Priest cover band for years. Even though Tim “Ripper” Owens was chosen for the job with Judas Priest, Scheepers teamed up with Matt Sinner to pursue their common interest in Primal Fear. After ten years and seven albums, Primal Fear entered Helsinki as a co-headliner with U.D.O and Ralf sat down with us to talk about several issues. Above all Primal Fear’s new album and new record label were the priority issues of the interview. Of course it was obvious to take a glance at Ralf’s past and ask Randy Black a few questions about Annihilator. Enjoy… Metal Is Forever !!!!!
INTERVIEW AND PICTURES BY MARKO SYRJÄLÄ AND ARTO LEHTINEN
