PRYDAIN – album out today!

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/“

Order album: here  or  here

PRYDAIN – The Gates Of Aramore

Release date: June 2, 2023

Austin Dixon, former guitarist and founding member of US power metallers Sonic Prophecy, is fulfilling a lifelong dream with Prydain. He has always been fascinated by the idea of artist projects such as the albums by Avantasia, the Aina rock opera „Days of Rising Doom“ or Arjen Lucassen’s „Star One“. Thanks to the support of Greek multi-talent Bob Katsionis, Austin’s compositions were put into practice with great musicians.

The music teacher hailing from Farr West, north of Salt Lake City in the state of Utah, has developed the song ideas for Prydain over several years. The path he has taken is amazing because in his part of the world, it has never been easy to find like-minded power metal lovers.

„The Gates of Aramore“ is an epitome of Epic Power Metal: vibrating guitar duels, virtuoso keyboard parts, awesome vocals, driving grooves, catchy melodies – and a storyline consisting of an ancient kingdom beyond space and time.

With „The Gates of Aramore“, Austin Dixon and his comrades-in-arms have succeeded in creating some work that once again puts Utah on the map of epic power metal, certainly not for the last time …

Click HERE for audio samples, videos and online stores.

PRYDAIN – new single & video out now!

The second single from the upcoming album is called ‚Quest of the Fallen‘. This song is about an exiled warrior, seeking redemption by fighting back against the meddlesome gods who have been terrorizing the kingdom. The lyrical themes were partly inspired by Fred Saberhagen’s ‚Sword‘ series of books from the 80s and 90s.

Quote from Austin (guitars):
„I’d had the ideas for the main musical themes for a while, and when the opportunity arose to have Jens Ludwig from Edguy as a guest, it was easy to figure out which direction to take it from there.
This one was polished off with a little help from the amazing Marius Danielsen, of ‚Valley Doom‘ fame, and can be a seen as a tribute to epic power metal in general. I hope you like it!! 🤘🏼“

➡️ Order single now ⬅️

➡️ Audio samples, videos & online stores ⬅️

The album ‚The Gates of Aramore‘ will be released on June 2, 2023.

PRYDAIN – The Gates of Aramore is coming June 2, 2023!

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

➡️ Audio samples, videos and online stores ⬅️

➡️ YouTube Video ⬅️

PRYDAIN first single & video out now!

The first digital single and video from the album is the title track „The Gates of Aramore“. This was the first full song written for the album and helped to set the tone for the thematic elements that would come to define the PRYDAIN sound.
This song is a straightforward Power Metal anthem and features guest vocals by David Åkesson (Qantice, Moonlight Agony, Symphonity) and Stefani Keogh, thundering bass from Utah’s own Dustin Mitchell (Katagory V), as well as a blistering guitar solo from Mikael Dahl of the fantastic band CRYSTAL EYES.
We hope you enjoy this first taste of PRYDAIN!

The album „The Gates of Aramore“ will be released on June 2, 2023.

For fans of: Avantasia, Edguy, Staratovarius, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian

Pre-order now

PRYDAIN announces first single & video!

PRYDAIN announces their first single and video entitled „The Gates of Aramore“! Both will be released on April 22 via your favorite streaming platforms and on YouTube.

The wait to get some music into the hands of the fans has been a long one and we are so excited for you to hear this first sample of the album to come! Check out the video teaser.

The album „The Gates of Aramore“ will be released on June 2, 2023.

For fans of: Avantasia, Edguy, Staratovarius, Hammerfall, Blind Guardian

Pre-order now

YouTube Video Premiere

PRYDAIN release artwork and tracklisting!

Following up our last weeks’ announcement, PRYDAIN’s debut album „The Gates of Aramore“ will be released on June 2, 2023.

You can expect ten Epic Power Metal songs with vibrating guitar duels, virtuoso keyboard parts, awesome vocals, driving grooves, catchy melodies – and a storyline consisting of an ancient kingdom beyond space and time.

Outstanding cover design by renowned artwork wizard Uwe Jarling (Heavens Gate, Roger Staffelbach, Grave Digger, Stray Dogs).

Guitarist and songwriter Austin Dixon says:
„I first discovered Uwe from the amazing cover art he did for the new Grave Digger album. I reached out to him to discuss ideas and he had this amazing piece he was working on with these knights battling and an epic dragon and it just seemed perfect for the feel I was going for with PRYDAIN.
I immediately began writing a song inspired by this cover art, which became the penultimate track on the album, ’Kingdom Fury‘. This song turned out so cool and tells the story of the cover art, so check that out if you’re interested!“.

Here’s the tracklisting:
01. Sword & Sorcery
02. The Gates of Aramore
03. Lands Beyond
04. Sail the Seas
05. Quest of the Fallen
06. Way of the Forest
07. Ancient Whispers
08. Blessed & Divine
09. Kingdom Fury
10. Magic & Mystery

The CD version will include an exclusive bonus track.

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