Firewind

Wed
22
Nov

GUS G signs with AFM Records / North American tour with Vinnie Moore

Artist: 
Categories: 
News Feed
Gus G signs with AFM Records / North American tour with Vinnie Moore to kick off on November 28.
Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist and Firewind mastermind Gus G. has signed a worldwide deal with AFM Records; for his solo band GUS G
“I'm very excited & happy to confirm that I've signed a worldwide solo record deal with one of Europe's premier record labels, AFM Records! In my opinion, AFM is one of the few labels today that care for artist development, their team is really passionate about what they do and they have fresh and exciting ideas. We briefly worked together on Firewind's "Immortals" album for the North American territory and now I'm looking forward to the full scale collaboration on my next solo album”, Gus G. states.
A brand new studio album is in the making currently and will be released in April 2018.
But before, GUS G. will play a North American tour with Vinnie Moore, kicking off on November 28th in Derry, New Hampshire – presenting a surprising, brand new power trio line-up for the very first time: Gus will be joined by Dennis Ward on bass / vocals and Richie Monica on drums.
“Metal fans might know Dennis as the bass player from the bands Unisonic and Pink Cream 69”, says Gus. “What people might not know about him is that he's a multi-talented songwriter, producer AND singer. Since me and Dennis have been working on songs for Firewind's latest album release but also now on my upcoming solo record, I only felt it was natural to invite him to play this music with me on stage. So, obviously forming a power trio is a new setup and we're really looking forward to rocking the US crowds this Winter but also with my upcoming album tour cycle.”
AFM A&R Timo Hoffmann: “After releasing Firewind’s latest studio album “Immortals” in North America earlier this year, we are beyond excited that Gus decided to make AFM the new label home for his solo career as well. No words needed to praise the man’s qualities – Gus was a household name and highly acclaimed musician/songwriter long before he joined Ozzy’s band. Ever since its inception, he is the driving force behind Firewind and in addition has established a solo career, delivering outstanding up-to-date hard rock with finesse. Fans can look forward to a fantastic new GUS G. album which will see the light of day in April 2018.”
“Gunslinger” tour dates (w/ Vinnie Moore):
Nov. 28 - Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall 
Nov. 30 - Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland Agora
Dec. 01 - Detroit, MI @ The Token Lounge
Dec. 02 - Joliet. IL @ The Forge 
Dec. 03 - Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
Dec. 06 - Sellersville, PA @ Sellersville Theater
Dec. 07 - Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar 
Dec. 08 - Stanhope, NJ @ The Stanhope House
Dec. 09 - Somerville, MA @ Once Ballroom

 

 
Thu
09
Nov

Bob Katsionis Announces SYMMETRIC RECORDS, Signs TERRA INCOGNITA

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News Feed
 
'Bob Katsionis announces SYMMETRIC RECORDS, signs TERRA INCOGNITA'
 
After 25 years playing music, recording, producing, performing and touring, Bob Katsionis decides to make the next big step in his musical endeavour.
 
As a musician he is best known as a keyboardist/guitarist of FIREWIND, with whose he has been touring the world for the past 14 years, has also released multiple albums with OUTLOUD and SERIOUS BLACK as well as 4 instrumental solo albums, plus he works with KAMELOT as a co-songwriter and has guest performances in more than 50 albums worldwide.
 
As a producer he started SOUND SYMMETRY STUDIO back in 1996 helping his guitar and keyboard students record their demos, later evolved as a recording facility for his main bands and now he is producing a large variety of artists and bands spanning from Pop/Rock to Heavy,Power and Extreme Metal.
 
Also responsible for the image of the artists he worked with, he personally takes care of photoshoots, cover artwork and booklet design and through his own video making company PROGRESSIVE VISION GROUP he has directed more than 120 videoclips since 2002.
 
'Having all this experience in the music making and music business but at the same time being a performing musician myself I always wanted to help the people working with me to achieve their dream. To avoid the common mistakes of a newcomer and make their music heard as much as possible. Recording and finishing an album has become the easiest part of the process. But going out in the 'jungle' of the Music Industry and Media seems to be the hardest one. That's when I decided to found SYMMETRIC RECORDS; to give a helping hand to all of these great people I'm working together in my studio and trust their music on me.'
 
So, newfound SYMMETRIC RECORDS debuts with the release of Heavy Metallers' TERRA INCOGNITA full length album called 'Fragments Of A Ruined Mind'
 
The quintet from Athens led by the charismatic frontman Billy Vass, delivers a solid, straight, simple & pure Heavy Metal album where everything sounds so familiar yet so inspired and powerful. On a musical background which combined the straight metal influences of Iced Earth & Black Sabbath and the lyricism of Sanctuary and Fates Warning , Billy Vass sings the story of the main character of Strahd: a story of betrayal, love, loyalty, death and in the end...the eternal damnation.
 
Terra Incognita's second album is a milestone both for them and SYMMETRIC RECORDS and producer Bob Katsionis states:
 
'I loved their music from the very first note. I met them at a festival where they grabbed my attention with both their heaviness and their sensitivity. It was a very easy and fun to make album and I think it features something that it's missing a lot these days: the ability to play for yourself and not to surprise anyone.Really glad I'm debuting my label with them!'
 
Recorded and Mixed by Bob Katsionis at Sound Symmetry Studio, Athens,GR.
Mastered by Nassos Nomikos at VU Productions
 
Fri
30
Sep

Vocalist APOLLO Breaks Into Solo Territory With 'Waterdevils'

Artist: 
Friday, November 18, 2016
Categories: 
News Feed
 
Escape Music is delighted and pleased to announce the release date for vocalist Apollo (Spiritual Beggars and ex-Firewind) and his new solo album.

Release date: 18th November 2016

Recorded and mixed at GLOBAL MUSIX STUDIO Gothenburg Sweden
Produced by: JALLE WESTERGEN & APOLLO P.
Recorded by: JALLE WESTERGREN, DANIEL ALGONS & APOLLO P.
Mixed and Engineered by: JALLE WESTERGREN, DANIEL ALGON
Mastered by: STAFFAN KARLSSON

Track listening; 1-Revolution for the Brave 3:52 / 2-Liberate Yourself 3:35 / 3-Buried in a Flame 3:51 / 4-Safe and Sound 3:48 / 5-Fallen Endlessly 5:30 /  6-Crossing the Lines 5:10 / 7-Power 3:10 / 8-Rise Up 4:41 / 9-I need Rock n’ Roll 4:27 / 10-Chasing Shadows 4:35 / 11-Through the Fire 4:31 / 12-Stop 5:18

After more than two decades of contributing with his voice and songwriting on studio albums, Finally it is time for APOLLO to deliver his first solo album. And it's has been a long road leading to "Waterdevils".

Apollo career started at the age of 14 when the young Apostolos from Swedish town Borås, inspired by bands like Kiss and Alice Cooper, and he started playing with various bands, as an aspiring guitarist.
“Not many wanted to be Vocalists back in those old days, everybody wanted to play the guitar, nobody wanted to sing. So I just made the decision to become a singer."
Apollo  joined his first bands Blazon and Craze at the age of 17. Craze released a single "Living In Sin" but the band disbanded shortly thereafter when Apollo left to do his military service in 1988. It took another eight years before Apollo recorded his first full album with the band Faith Taboo.

"We started out as a cover band, but I didn't want to waste time just playing other people's songs, so I had everybody get involved in writing songs for our self-financed album "Psycopath" [released in 1996]. The band continued playing local gigs, they eventually called it a day and Apollo joined the band Majestic.

His singing career took off and when he sang with bands and projects in a neverending stream: Time Requiem, Meduza, Sandalinas, and Evil Masquerade to mention but a few. Things about to start to happen in 2006.

Time Requiem were mixing their album in Studio Fredman in Gothenburg in late 2005, when studio owner and producer Fredrik Nordström introduced Apollo to a guitarist GUS G who was also working in his studio.

Fredrik said he wanted me to meet this Greek guy, he thought we would get along, cause we were both Greek. It clicked right away. Gus asked me to join his band Firewind, but I had to turn down the offer because I was studying at the time and didn't have time for another band. He asked again about six months later, and by that time I was done with my studies so we went for it. It was magic, it felt like it was finally the real deal and we were all on the same musical level."

The Firewind-guitarist was Gus G - who in 2009 landed the dream job in Ozzy Osbourne's band, replacing Zakk Wylde.
The years with Firewind definitely and finally put Apollo on the map. He recorded 4 albums with the band and toured with the likes of Y&T, Scorpions, Judas Priest and Whitesnake among others, playing big festivals such as Download, Graspop Metal Meeting, Sweden Rock Festival and more.

Apollo parted company with Firewind in January 2013 and decided to focus on Spiritual Beggars (w. guitarist Michael Amott, Arch Enemy) who he had joined in 2010 and fronted alongside of Firewind, and also started working on his solo debut. The coming two years were spent writing, recording and collaborating with friends from bands like King Diamond, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Arch Enemy, Grand Magus, Metalium, MasterPlan and many more. 

"I originally wanted to release the material under a band name or as a project, but people kept saying it was about time that I go solo and step out as a solo artist. So I decided to take the plunge." "Waterdevils" is the result of Apollo's free musical spirit where he has liberated himself from all rules and just done whatever he wanted to do.

"I wanted to do this because it's fun and exciting, and also because I want to contribute to keeping classic rock alive! Waterdevils is a weather phenomenon. It's a small, weak whirlwind over water that's pretty rare. You never know where you'll see it or if you'll see it again. In a way it's a tribute to all of those who have contributed to this album. They showed up, unexpectedly and they might show up again, or maybe not, you just never know. Like water devils."

www.Escape-Music.com
 
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