BLACKWELDER, the brand new metal experience featuring some of the top names in power prog metal today, will release its debut album, "Survival Of The Fittest", on April 24 via Germany's GoldenCore Records/ZYX Music. The CD was mixed by Matt Smith (THEOCRACY), mastered by Anfinn Skulevold (ABHOTH, "Access Hollywood") and features artwork by Mario Bouffier (IGGY POP, SACRED REICH).A rough-mix version of the song "The Night Of New Moon", which will appear on BLACKWELDER's debut, can be streamed using the SoundCloud widget below.One of the best singers in all of metal, Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, ex-GAMMA RAY) fronts this extraordinary outfit at the top of his game, alongside guitar virtuoso Andrew Szus (SEVEN SERAPHIM). Bjorn Englen (DIO DISCIPLES, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) and Aquiles Priester (HANGAR, ex-ANGRA) round out this unstoppable team of what quite possibly could be one of the greatest lineups metal has ever seen.BLACKWELDER is:Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR, ex-GAMMA RAY) - VocalsAndrew Szucs (SEVEN SERAPHIM) - GuitarBjorn Englen (DIO DISCIPLES, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN) - BassAquiles Priester (HANGAR, ex-ANGRA) - DrumsBLACKWELDER began as the long-awaited follow up to SEVEN SERAPHIM's "Believe in Angels". Bit by bit, as the songs materialized, it became evident to mainman Andrew Szucs that this music should carry the banner of a new musical entity, emerging from a richer, darker source thus, BLACKWELDER was born.Andrew began this musical journey alone, however, once he completed the framework for all of the songs, the band members began to fall into place like pieces of a puzzle.Bjorn Englen was the first to climb aboard, expertly adding his bass lines to the songs. Bjorn would later go on tour with Tony MacAlpine alongside drummer Aquiles Priester, after which, it seemed only natural to keep this rhythm section in tact for BLACKWELDER.Once Andrew's guitars were recorded, it became evident that a true powerhouse vocalist was needed to carry these songs to completion. Not just any voice would do. BLACKWELDER would need the stratospheric vocal stylings characterized by the rich tradition of European heavy metal, and who better to do that than the voice of PRIMAL FEAR: Ralf Scheepers. Like a dragon with its fire, Ralf's voice and lyrical themes are a natural fit to the songs of BLACKWELDER; blending and contrasting with the Marshall-based guitar tones in perfect harmony.Topping off this powerful lineup is the unparalleled drumming of Aquiles Priester. Andrew and Aquiles agreed to finish the songs with Aquiles' unique pyrotechnic display of progressive metal drumming techniques and what a display it is.BLACKWELDER is a winning formula of raw musical virtuosity that holds the listener's ears right from the start. This act is surely not one to be missed and cannot be denied!
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