Recorded live at Wacken Open Air Festival 2016 this is a unique snapshot in time as it was the first and will be the only performance of the songs from Kai Hansen’s 2016 solo debut “XXX – Three Decades In Metal”. For this special occasion Hansen gathered a unique line-up of friends from the metal genre around him to give the thousands of spectators a unique and memorable evening with an outstanding show

Hansen was joined on stage by Alex Dietz on bass (Heaven Shall Burn), Eike Freese (Dark Age) on guitar, Michael Ehré (Gamma Ray) on drums, Corvin Bahn (Crystal Breed) on keys, Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis) and Frank Beck (Gamma Ray) on backing vocals and as a special treat Michael Kiske (Helloween, Unisonic) entered the stage to perform some Helloween classics

The product will be available on DVD+CD, Digital as well as on gatefold 2LP (45 Rpm/180 gram)

 

 

A video with wishes from fans all around the world!

Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the release of the brand new PLACE VENDOME album, “Close to the Sun” on February 24th, 2017

You can pre-order it here: http://radi.al/ClosetotheSun
– Amazon: http://radi.al/ClosetotheSunAmazon
– iTunes: http://radi.al/ClosetotheSuniTunes
– Google Play: http://radi.al/ClosetotheSunGoogleP

 

 

“Close to the Sun” tracklisting:

1. Close To The Sun
2. Welcome To The Edge
3. Hereafter
4. Strong
5. Across The Times
6. Riding The Ghost
7. Light Before The Dark
8. Falling Star
9. Breathing
10. Yesterday Is Gone
11. Helen
12. Distant Skies

 

Produced by Dennis Ward
– Lead Vocals – Michael Kiske
– Backing vocals – Dennis Ward, Michael Kiske // Additional Choirs on “Strong” by Alessandro Del Vecchio
– Bass – Dennis Ward
– Keyboards – Günter Werno
– Drums – Dirk Bruinenberg
– All Rhythm Guitars by Dennis Ward, except: “Welcome To The Edge”, “Across The Times”, “Close To The Sun”, “Hearafter” – Rhythm Guitars by Uwe Reitenauer

 

– Guitar solo by Michael Klein on “Yesterday Is Gone”, “Distant Skies”, “Strong”, “Breathing”.
– Guitar solo by Uwe Reitenauer on “Close To the Sun”
– Guitar solo by Alfred Koffler on “Welcome To The Edge”
– Guitar solo by Magnus Karlsson on “Falling Star”
– Guitar solo by Gus G on “Light Beyond The Dark”
– Guitar solo by Simone Mularoni on “Hearafter”
– Guitar solo by Mandy Meyer on “Helen”
– Guitar solo by Kai Hansen on “Riding The Ghost” and “Across The Times”

 
 

Comments about “Close To The Sun”:

 

Of the album, Dennis Ward said, “[u]pon receiving the demos for the new songs intended for the new Place Vendome record I was a bit concerned because a few vocal styles seemed to go against what Michael Kiske is known for vocally. After talking together we agreed to just let the melodies come out naturally, without trying to imitate or “reproduce” the demos. Michael really stood up to this on the new album. He did “his” thing, with no compromises. He managed to make the songs his own and brought all the songs to another level. I have a lot of respect for him because of this and now the album is much more than just another AOR album. That being said I have to pay high respects to the other musicians on the album: Dirk Bruineberg proved again that he is a multi-talented drummer that can literally pull of any groove, any style of any era with the highest of expectations. Günter Werno is also a gem amongst a pile of stones. He really shines on this album and holds all the songs together, true to the Place Vendome sound. Uwe Reitenauer is also a master of his instrument taking over duties that were critical and complicated to say the least. He has the perfect AOR tone and can implement it no matter what type of song you throw at him. The rest of the “guests” that helped out made this album into a truly interesting compilation and also making this a milestone for Place Vendome. That being said, it’s the first Place Vendome album where I feel that we have achieved our trademark sound. This is how we want to be heard and this is how we imagine ourselves to sound.”

Speaking of other album guests, once again, Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear) was one of the first to answer the call to participate and offered the awesome song, “Falling Star” to the project. Jani Liimatainen (Cain’s Offering Official, ex Sonata Arctica) was the next contributor with the epic “Welcome to the Edge”, the album’s tour de force. Following Labyrinth’s reunion, guitarist Olaf Thorsen sat with Eternal Idol, Angra, and former RHAPSODY singer Fabio Lione and offered “Helen” and “Riding the Ghost”. Frontiers’ President Serafino Perugino then proposed that his favourite DGM song, “Hereafter” be included. This brought DGM’s main composer, Simone Mularoni into the picture and he wrote the album’s title track and “Across the Times”. Alessandro Del Vecchio also offered two new songs, “Strong” and “Yesterday Is Gone”, while Secret Sphere’s guitarist Aldo LoNobile wrote “Distant Skies” and “Breathing”. The full picture was finally completed with a new song written by Swedish melodic rock artist Michael Palace (Palace, Skylander), “Light Before the Dark”.

Kiske and Ward wanted to make the album a little bit special, so besides the “usual suspects” (including drummer Dirk Bruinenberg, Vanden Plas Official’s ivory tinkler Gunter Werno and Pink Cream 69’s Uwe Reineauer on guitars), some guitar heavyweights appear on the recordings. The list includes Alfred Koffler and (of course) Uwe Reineauer of Pink Cream 69, Magnus Karlsson, Michael Klein, Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind), Simone Mularoni, and Unisonic guitarists Kai Hansen and Mandy Meyer among the others.

Kiske comments: “The production with my buddy Dennis was great, as always, but what I especially like about this album – beside the new microphone I used that Dennis has built me – is the various styles of the songs. It is all a still very AOR-produced album, but we also have progressive or ”wilder” elements here and there. It was (again) interesting to see how much the songs change until you finally reach the mixing stage.”

 

AVANTASIA’s outstanding 7th album, »Ghostlights«, will be released worldwide on January 29th, 2016 via Nuclear Blast and Avalon Marquee (Asia). Today, Tobias proudly presents the cover and announces the tracklists as well as the various formats, in which the upcoming record will be available.

The opus features guest appearances of Dee Snider, Geoff Tate, Marco Hietala, Sharon Den Adel, Michael Kiske, Ronnie Atkins, Bob Catley, Jorn Lande, Bruce Kulick, Robert Mason, Herbie Langhans, Oliver Hartmann and Sascha Paeth.

                      
The instrumentalists on »Ghostlights« are the following:

Sascha Paeth – rhythm guitars, lead guitars, bass, additional keys
Michael Rodenberg – orchestration, keys
Tobias Sammet – additional keys and bass
Bruce Kulick – lead guitars
Oliver Hartmann – lead guitars
Felix Bohnke – drums

The record contains twelve songs and was produced by Tobias and Sascha Paeth in Gatestudio Wolfsburg, Germany. Paeth is responsible for engineering and mixing »Ghostlights«, too. Mastering was done by Michael Rodenberg.

Tracklist:

CD
01 – Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
Lead vocals: Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

02 – Let The Storm Descend Upon You
Lead vocals: Tobias Sammet, Jorn Lande, Ronnie Atkins, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Oliver Hartmann

03 – The Haunting
Lead vocals: Dee Snider, Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

04 – Seduction Of Decay
Lead vocals: Geoff Tate, Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

05 – Ghostlights
Lead vocals: Michael Kiske, Tobias Sammet, Jorn Lande
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

06 – Draconian Love
Lead vocals: Herbie Langhans, Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

07 – Master Of The Pendulum
Lead vocals: Marco Hietala, Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth

08 – Isle Of Evermore
Lead vocals: Sharon Den Adel, Tobias Sammet

09 – Babylon Vampyres
Lead vocals: Tobias Sammet, Robert Mason
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick, Oliver Hartmann, Sascha Paeth

10 – Lucifer
Lead vocals: Jorn Lande, Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

11 – Unchain The Light
Lead vocals: Tobias Sammet, Ronnie Atkins, Michael Kiske
Lead guitar: Sascha Paeth, Oliver Hartmann

12 – A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
Lead vocals: Bob Catley, Tobias Sammet
Lead guitar: Bruce Kulick

 

—
DIGIBOOK
CD 1
01 – Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
02 – Let The Storm Descend Upon You
03 – The Haunting
04 – Seduction Of Decay
05 – Ghostlights
06 – Draconian Love
07 – Master Of The Pendulum
08 – Isle Of Evermore
09 – Babylon Vampyres
10 – Lucifer
11 – Unchain The Light
12 – A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies
13 – Wake Up To The Moon (Bonus Track)

CD 2 (Bonus Disc – AVANTASIA live)
01 – Spectres
02 – Invoke The Machine
03 – The Story Ain’t Over
04 – Prelude
05 – Reach Out For The Light (feat. Michael Kiske)
06 – Avantasia (feat. Michael Kiske)
07 – Whats Left Of Me
08 – Dying For An Angel
09 – Twisted Mind
10 – The Watchmakers’ Dream
11 – Another Angel Down

—
DELUXE EDITION BOOK
(incl. 68page photobook ca. 28,5×28,5cm + CD 3 Karaoke Version of CD 1 without the bonus track)

01 – Mystery Of A Blood Red Rose
02 – Let The Storm Descend Upon You
03 – The Haunting
04 – Seduction Of Decay
05 – Ghostlights
06 – Draconian Love
07 – Master Of The Pendulum
08 – Isle Of Evermore
09 – Babylon Vampyres
10 – Lucifer
11 – Unchain The Light
12 – A Restless Heart And Obsidian Skies

 

 

Michael Kiske sings on: ‘Ghostlights’ (with Tobias Sammet and Jorn Lande) and ‘Unchain The Light’ (with Tobias Sammet and Ronnie Atkins)
In March an all-star ensemble will set off on the GHOSTLIGHTS WORLD TOUR.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

MICHAEL will not only appear on the album, he will also join AVANTASIA on the GHOSTLIGHTS WORLD TOUR 2016 (check upcoming-concerts for tourdates)

 

 

Frontiers Music Srl will release the new album from KISKE/SOMERVILLE, titled “City Of Heroes”, on April 17 in Europe and April 21 in North America

The video for the song “Walk On Water” can be seen below

The new album “City Of Heroes” will be released in CD, deluxe edition with a bonus DVD and two-LP vinyl gatefold sleeve

Five years of waiting for KISKE / SOMERVILLE new masterpiece album “City of Heroes” to be released worldwide on April 17th in Europe and April 21st in North America

KISKE / SOMERVILLE is the musical collaboration between vocalists Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic, Place Vendome) and Amanda Somerville (Trillium, Avantasia) and this new recording is certainly going to be one of the highlights of the season in Rock music. Kiske’s soaring overtones seem to blend perfectly with the ethereal quality and diverse range of Amanda’s voice and this time the results are truly over the top.

The first KISKE / SOMERVILLE self-titled album instantly aroused enthusiasm in the rock and metal community. The two videos off the album –“If I Had a Wish” and “Silence” – amassed a total of approximately 3,000,000 plays to date, which means that these songs can legitimately be considered as nowadays Rock classics!

This brilliant new album sees Mat Sinner (Primal Fear, Sinner) and Magnus Karlsson (Starbreaker, Primal Fear) handling most of the songwriting (with a song contribution “Breaking Neptune” from Sander Gommans formerly of After Forever and Amanda Somerville herself) and with Sinner overseeing the production in various recording studios in Europe. Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Primal Fear, Pretty Maids, Doro etc.) then took care of the mix of the album ensuring a sonic quality second to none

Considered a Metal Diva in the European symphonic metal scene, Amanda Somerville is an American singer-songwriter from Flint, Michigan whose catalogue of projects, guest appearances and live shows garnered to date is an impressive body of work. Since 1999, she has divided her time between the US and Europe, primarily Germany and the Netherlands. She co-wrote the metal opera “AINA”, and has also been a vocalist, songwriter, producer and / or vocal coach for many bands like AVANTASIA, EPICA and KAMELOT, giving her more credibility in metal circles than she ever bargained for. Some of her most recent endeavors include working with renowned artists Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, Ian Gillan (DEEP PURPLE) and many others

Hamburg-born singer Michael Kiske is best known as the former lead vocalist for the German Metal Gods HELLOWEEN. After his departure from the band, Kiske recorded four solo albums, participated on various metal and rock related projects, such as PLACE VENDOME and he also performed with numerous bands as a guest vocalist. In late 2009, he formed the hard rock/heavy metal band UNISONIC, together with his former Helloween bandmate Kai Hansen and began touring again after 17 years

 

“City of Heroes” will be released in CD, Deluxe edition with a bonus DVD and 2Lp vinyl gatefold sleeve

 
 

An album trailer can be enjoyed following this link:

 
 

Tracklist:

City of Heroes
Walk on Water
Rising Up; Salvation
Lights Out
Breaking Neptune
Ocean of Tears
Open Your Eyes
Last Goodbye
After The Night Is Over
Run With a Dream
Right Now

DVD includes: City of Heroes (video), Walk on Water (video), “Making of” documentary

 

Musicians
Lead & Backing Vocals: Michael Kiske & Amanda Somerville
Guitars & Keyboards: Magnus Karlsson
Bass & Backing Vocals: Mat Sinner
Drums: Veronika Lukesova

Breaking Xmas News: for the first time in the history of Rock Meets Classic, we will play an Open Air show. This place is holy ground and of course the Wacken Open Air. It is a huge pleasure to announce that Michael Kiske (Ex-Helloween, Unisonic, Kiske/Somerville) will join the Mat Sinner Band & the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague for a crushing show of excitement & hits

 

Announcent from Wacken Open Air:

We like to present you a very special and unique rock project at W:O:A 2015. Legendary heavy metal singers are singing their biggest hits – supported by the Mat Sinner Band and the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra Prague. One of the singers is none other than Dee Snider – the legendary Twisted Sister singer finally returns to Wacken! The other singer we can present right now is the peerless Michael Kiske – singer of Helloween, Place Vendome and Unisonic and guest musician at projects like Avantasia, Gamma Ray, Masterplan or Edguy!
Together with some special guests, the two singers and the other musicians will present a full load of heavy metal hits!
Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

Wolfpakk is a heavy/rock all star project managed by Mark Sweeney (ex-Crystal Ball) and Michael Voss (Mad Max, Casanova). They continue their musical journey on February 27th when WOLFPAKK’s third album “Rise Of The Animal” will be released. For the follower to „Wolfpakk“ (2011) and „Cry Wolf“ (2013) again many high-class musicians contributed to make this a very special album once again.

Guest vocalists and musicians are a.o.:

Vocals:

Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween, Unisonic, Place Vendome, Kiske/Somerville)
Marc Storace (Krokus)
Don Dokken (Dokken)
Andi Deris (ex- Pink Cream 69, Helloween)
Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Rainbow)
Rick Altzi (Masterplan)

Guitars:

Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio)
John Norum (Europe)
Axel Rudi Pell

Bass:

Al Barrow (Magnum)
Bob Daisley (ex-Black Sabbath)

Drums:

Chris Slade (ex-AC/DC)
Simon Philips (ex-Toto)

 

 

 

Tracklist:

01. Riders Of The Storm
02. Sock It To Me
03. Monkey On Your Back
04. Highlands
05. Black Wolf
06. Somewhere Beyond
07. Running Out Of Time
08. Grizzly Man
09. High Roller
10. Rise Of The Animal
11. Universe

 

Here is the statement about Michael Kiske collaboration (taken from their FaceBook page):
Smashing Sunday News: Mighty MICHAEL KISKE will sing a part with honor in the title track “Rise Of The Animal” from the upcoming Wolfpakk Album! Yesss! We are more than proud to have one of the best Hardrock/Metal singer in our PAKK!!!