Finest Power Metal from Finland

Formed in Helsinki in late 2017, METAL DE FACTO features Esa Orjatsalo (ex-DREAMTALE), Sami Hinkka (ENSIFERUM), and Atte Marttinen (Kivimetsän Druidi). The band’s motto, “Make Power Metal Great Again”, reflects their dedication to bringing back the classic spirit of power metal. Their debut album, Imperium Romanum (2019), set the stage for a band committed to high-speed precision, epic melodies, and thrilling performances. Their follow-up, Land Of The Rising Sun, Pt. 1 (2024), continued to solidify their place in the Finnish and European metal scene.

Sonata Arctica frontman Tony Kakko

There is great power in secrecy. Detached from the world, brewed under a strict code of confidentiality, a new lifeform came into existence. Led by none other than Sonata Arctica frontman Tony Kakko, this new beast of his gained momentum in the massive shadow of his wildly successful power metal superheroes, slowly, steadily, biding its time, waiting for the right moment.

 This moment is now.

With his self-titled debut, Tony Kakko opens the curtains into this strange new world of his just enough to take a first peek – and instantly hunger for more. A master story teller and a wizard of conjuring musical emotions, Himmelkraft stages Kakkos trademark talents in a wholly new, unexpected and thrilling way. “I don’t think it would make any sense releasing Sonata-type music through another band,” he says. “People would just assume the album is full of Sonata outtakes or leftovers. I don’t operate that way.”

Heavy Metal From Japan

Four years after the world-wide released and critically acclaimed album “Nucleus” in 2019 (a re-recording of their classic hits with English lyrics), leading Japanese Heavy Metal band, ANTHEM have used the pandemic downtime wisely and are now ready to unleash their brand new studio album called “Crimson & Jet Black”. All songs are once again performed in English, and the album will see a global release.

After finishing not one, but two anniversary tours in 2021 (= the band’s 35th anniversary tour, which had been postponed due to the pandemic restrictions, as well the 20th anniversary of their reunion tour entitled “ANTHEM vs ANTHEM 2001”), ANTHEM pursued this new album to jumpstart their next chapter. Originally scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 2022, the band’s leader Naoto Shibata, being the perfectionist that he is, decided to enrich the songs’ quality even more and pushed back the recording schedule to Summer / Autumn, so that pure brilliance may unfold. Just like on past albums, Naoto is the main producer of the album, but this time renowned Swedish producer Jens Bogren, (known for his work with the likes of Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Dimmu Borgir and Opeth, to name but a few) who had previously mixed and mastered “Nucleus”, is credited as a co-producer.

Topping each of their past works has been ANTHEM’s goal for the 21st century, and they’ve outdone themselves yet again with this album! “Crimson & Jet Black” is unmistakably “ANTHEM”, yet it sounds fresh at the same time. The band has proven yet again that they are one of the world’s most competitive Heavy Metal bands, and a force to be reckoned with. Don’t miss their new chapter that has only just begun!!!

The Roots of Summer Breeze

Founded in 1995 in the Ostalbkreis district of southern Germany, VOODOO KISS quickly made a name for themselves in their homeland and became a local cult band. After several line-up changes, VOODOO KISS were buried in 2000. As part of the 25th anniversary of the SUMMER BREEZE Open Air, VOODOO KISS have now reunited as the former initial spark and headliner of the first edition of the festival and will play their official reunion show in Dinkelsbühl in August 2022. Three members of the original line-up will be taking part: Martin Beuther (guitar), Klaus Wieland (bass) and Achim Ostertag (drums). VOODOO KISS have brought in Gerrit Mutz (Sacred Steel, Dawn Of Winter) as vocalist, a well-known original from the German metal scene. For their debut, which will be released during SUMMER BREEZE 2022, a committed label was found right away with Reaper Entertainment. 

A storm is brewing in the VOODOO KISS camp.

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