„Good & Bad“, released today, is the first single & video by WONDERS, taken from their debut album „The Fragments Of Wonder“ (release Nov. 12th).
The song is characterized by beautiful and amazing vocal melodies and a rhythm section with progressive influences that will make the many fans of Prog Power Metal happy. Listen to this absolute masterpiece – we think fans who like their Power Metal will not regret it!
You have caught a glimpse of it as sort of teaser, now you „only“ have to wait for a little over a week until the release of WONDERS first single / full video of „Good & Bad“ on September 17th. – And if you have not caught it yet, check our latest posts and you will see that it is worth the wait!
„Good & Bad“ was the first song written for this album. From there we followed in the wake towards that melodic Power Metal that we have always loved, from the classics of Stratovarius and Sonata Arctica, to get to an even more modern mood like Beast In Black and Bloodbound. We are sure the fans of the genre will appreciate the speed parts, the choirs and the arrangements we have created“.
Their progressive melodic power metal album „The Fragments Of Wonder“ will be released on November 12th, 2021.
During 2020, the brothers Pietro Paolo and Giorgio Lunesu of Even Flow started a new collaboration with producer and keyboardist Bob Katsionis, resulting in the birth of WONDERS – a new band in the European Melodic Power Metal scene.
WONDERS‘ debut album „The Fragments Of Wonder“, produced by Bob Katsionis (ex-Firewind, ex-Serious Black, ex-Revolution Renaissance, Outloud, Warrior Path), is an absolute masterpiece, where the vocal melodies delivered by Marco Pastorino (Temperance, Cristiano Filippini’s FLAMES OF HEAVEN, Virtual Symmetry, ex-Secret Sphere) and the rhythmic power-/progressive metal perfectly executed by the band intertwine harmoniously, resulting in a fantastic sound experience for the listener.
Finally the artwork by Gustavo Sazes (Amaranthe, Angra, James La Brie, Dynazty, Firewind, Sirenia) adds the finishing touch to the concept of the album.
WONDERS are:
Marco Pastorino – Vocals
Pietro Paolo Lunesu – Guitars
Luca Negro – Bass Guitar
Bob Katsionis – Keys
Giorgio Lunesu – Drums
Today another Metal Masterpiece sees the light of day on LIMB MUSIC: Austin Dixon, guitarist and founding member of US Power Metallers SONIC PROPHECY, fulfills a lifelong dream with PRYDAIN’s debut album ‚The Gates of Aramore‘.
Produced & mixed by Bob Katsionis (Firewind, Serious Black, Wonders, Outloud, Stray Gods, Warrior Path).
Cover artwork by Uwe Jarling (Heavens Gate, Roger Staffelbach, Grave Digger, Stray Gods).
Quote from Austin:
„I’m so proud today for the release of the debut album ‚The Gates of Aramore‘!
The music on this album has been a passion of mine that I’ve been working on for some years and it’s amazing to see it finally in the hands and ears of metal fans all over the world. The reception so far has been great and I’m thankful for the chance to make this contribution to the Power Metal World, a genre that means so much to me. This album has it all, including famous Power Metal guests that you know and love and support from a timeless and important record label, LIMB MUSIC!
If you’re a fan of the Classic Power Metal sound of early bands like Avantasia, Hammerfall, Stratovarius, Edguy, Blind Guardian, etc., please give our album a listen and CRANK IT UP! I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed working on it.
\mm/“
Austin Dixon had been working on the song ideas for PRYDAIN over several years, but the real work began to happen during the Covid pandemic. Since no suitable musicians with the talent and enthusiasm for melodic power metal could be found locally and the Covid lockdown was also having ist effects, Austin started approaching some of his favourite musicians via internet in order to bring his songs to life.
First guy aboard was Pyramaze keyboardist Jonah Weingarten. Austin says „I’ve loved Pyramaze since their wonderful album ‚Legend of the Bone Carver‘. His orchestrations really helped bring the visions of my guitar riffs and structures to life.“
Katagory V mastermind Dustin Mitchell, another local Utah musician, contributed some initial bass tracks, and Firewind’s Bob Katsionis „has been on my radar since he blew me away live in Salt Lake City a few years ago with his dual-shred solos between guitar and keyboard, so I reached out.“
Bob agreed to produce and mix Prydain. He also brought in fellow Greek countryman Mike Livas (Silent Winter, Keepers of Jericho, Timo Tolkki) to sing. Next, Austin dared to approach three of his favourite guitarists to see if they would each contribute a solo: Mikael Dahl (Crystal Eyes), Jimmy Hedlund (Falconer), and Jens Ludwig (Edguy). „To my surprise, they were all up for it right away! This collaboration with so many of my heroes is the coolest aspect.“
Line-Up:
MIKE LIVAS – Vocals (Silent Winter)
AUSTIN DIXON – Lead & Rhythm Guitars (Sonic Prophecy)
JONAH WEINGARTEN – Keyboards & Orchestration (Pyramaze)
BOB KATSIONIS – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bass (ex Firewind, Wonders, Outloud, Stray Gods, Warrior Path)
Honored Guests:
Mikael Dahl (Crystal Eyes) – guitar solo
Jens Ludwig (Edguy) – guitar solo
Jimmy Hedlund (Falconer) – guitar solo
Dustin Mitchell (Katagory V) – bass guitar
John Yelland (Judicator) – additional vocals
David Åkesson (Qantice, Moonlight Agony, Symphonity) – additional vocals
Another metal masterpiece sees the light of day on LIMB MUSIC:
Austin Dixon, guitarist and founding member of US power metallers SONIC PROPHECY, fulfills a lifelong dream with PRYDAIN – „The Gates of Aramore“.
He has always been fascinated by the idea behind artists‘ projects like the albums of AVANTASIA, the AINA rock opera „Days of Rising Doom“ or Arjen Lucassen’s „Star One“.
The studied musician from Farr West, north of Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah, has developed the song ideas for PRYDAIN over several years and now, thanks to the help of the Greek multi-talent Bob Katsionis (ex Firewind, ex Serious Black, Wonders, Outloud, Stray Gods, Warrior Path), he has put them into practice together with strong musicians, resulting in an Epic Power Metal album that contains all the necessary ingredients: Vibrant guitar duels, virtuoso keyboard flights of fancy, pithy vocals, driving grooves, catchy melodies – and a storyline from an ancient kingdom beyond space and time.
