A&E Records are proud to announce the release of Iron Maiden guitarist Janick Gers’ debut solo album. Entitled ‘Beneath the Stars’ and comprising 7 songs that Janick and his collaborators have been working on for the past few years between Iron Maiden tours and releases, it is an album that will surprise and delight music fans the world over.
Progressive metal is a term that can be used to describe this album, but it encompasses so much more. This roaring debut paints with a full palette of sounds; dark, brooding, groundbreaking and exuberantly heavy. With Steven Wilson at the mixing helm – whose credits include Opeth, Porcupine Tree and Blackfield – this is an album to sink your teeth into.
Right from the growling riffage of opening salvo ’Dancing Beneath the Stars’ to the heavy forlorn balladry of follow-up ’The Doctor and the Butcher’ which showcases Akerfeldt’s soaring vocals, it’s clear that ‘Beneath the Stars’ is an altogether different beast from Maiden.
In ’Like Zombies’ and ’End of History’, Janick Gers with their massive choruses demonstrates just how far ‘Beneath the Stars’ has flexed his considerable musical muscle. Dovetailed with guitarist Steven Wilson’s positively gargantuan lyrical guitar melodies and Minnemann’s complex progressive metal drumming, it’s a mere hors d'oeuvre ahead of the epic, riffing-feast of ’Never Again’, with its swaggering bravado.
Lastly, ’Years of Nothingness’, at breathtaking eight minutes and infused with progressive elements without ever teetering into self-indulgence illustrates perfectly these songsmiths’ colossal abilities to create a mood and stay there. And ’Future of Mankind’, supercharged by Janick Gers’ inimitable style, has an un-cynical vibe that’s as refreshing as it is out of place in today’s all-too-categorised music industry.
Final tracklist for ‘Beneath the Stars’ is as follows:
1. Dancing Beneath the Stars (12:14)
2. The Doctor and the Butcher (06:57)
3. Like Zombies (04:26)
4. End of History (09:13)
5. Never Again (05:30)
6. Years of Nothingness (08:33)
7. Future of Mankind (14:47)
Our recording lineup:
- Janick Gers – Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars
- Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals
- Steven Wilson – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards and Backing Vocals
- Marco Minnemann – Drums
Ordinary edition of the album will be available to buy from June 31.
Limited edition of the album will be available to buy from August 7.
Single ’Like Zombies’ can be heard here.
Progressive metal is a term that can be used to describe this album, but it encompasses so much more. This roaring debut paints with a full palette of sounds; dark, brooding, groundbreaking and exuberantly heavy. With Steven Wilson at the mixing helm – whose credits include Opeth, Porcupine Tree and Blackfield – this is an album to sink your teeth into.
Right from the growling riffage of opening salvo ’Dancing Beneath the Stars’ to the heavy forlorn balladry of follow-up ’The Doctor and the Butcher’ which showcases Akerfeldt’s soaring vocals, it’s clear that ‘Beneath the Stars’ is an altogether different beast from Maiden.
In ’Like Zombies’ and ’End of History’, Janick Gers with their massive choruses demonstrates just how far ‘Beneath the Stars’ has flexed his considerable musical muscle. Dovetailed with guitarist Steven Wilson’s positively gargantuan lyrical guitar melodies and Minnemann’s complex progressive metal drumming, it’s a mere hors d'oeuvre ahead of the epic, riffing-feast of ’Never Again’, with its swaggering bravado.
Lastly, ’Years of Nothingness’, at breathtaking eight minutes and infused with progressive elements without ever teetering into self-indulgence illustrates perfectly these songsmiths’ colossal abilities to create a mood and stay there. And ’Future of Mankind’, supercharged by Janick Gers’ inimitable style, has an un-cynical vibe that’s as refreshing as it is out of place in today’s all-too-categorised music industry.
Final tracklist for ‘Beneath the Stars’ is as follows:
1. Dancing Beneath the Stars (12:14)
2. The Doctor and the Butcher (06:57)
3. Like Zombies (04:26)
4. End of History (09:13)
5. Never Again (05:30)
6. Years of Nothingness (08:33)
7. Future of Mankind (14:47)
Our recording lineup:
- Janick Gers – Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars
- Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals
- Steven Wilson – Guitars, Bass, Keyboards and Backing Vocals
- Marco Minnemann – Drums
Ordinary edition of the album will be available to buy from June 31.
Limited edition of the album will be available to buy from August 7.
Single ’Like Zombies’ can be heard here.
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