TURISAS' Olli Vänskä Discusses Frank Sinatra, NEW Album 'Guards Of Glory' & Current Lineup!

Finnish "Battle Metal" pioneers TURISAS have kicked off 2013 with the pedal to the Metal. Not only is the band in midst of a massive world tour, but the band has also completed the recording sessions for their fourth studio album 'Guards Of Glory' (scheduled to be released in May via Century Media Records). So it is obvious that the band will be busy for the next 2+ years.

Recently, TURISAS wrapped up their North American tour with the awesome Firewind and Stolen Babies. On Wednesday, February 6th the tour arrived to New York's Gramercy Theatre. Prior to the bands warmup ritual, violin Metal master Olli Vänskä told us what visiting and performing New York City means to him as an artist. Believe it or not, Olli has a deep connection with Frank Sinatra. We also discussed the bands upcoming album 'Guards Of Glory' and he told us all about TURISAS' NEW lineup. Olli also talked about the stature of the Finnish Metal scene. Watch this interview now!



The band is currently touring all over Latin and South America (agenda available below). In addition to previewing material from their upcoming release, TURISAS will be touring in support of their latest release, 'Stand Up And Fight;, which is available for purchase at CM Distro HERE and at iTunes HERE.  

Related links:
Official Site of Turisas
Turisas on MySpace
Turisas on Facebook
Turisas on Twitter

FIREWIND's GUS G On Touring With Other Types Of Bands, Performing With OZZY & The Music Business!

Last year, FIREWIND unleashed their seventh studio album 'Few Against Many' via Century Media Records and they did not disappoint their global audience. The band's leader Gus G definitely brought with him to the recording sessions a full bag of tricks that he learned from OZZY and his "big brother" Zakk Wylde.

Right now, FIREWIND are trekking all over North American tour with the awesome Turisas and Stolen Babies. On Wednesday, February 6th the tour arrived to New York's Gramercy Theatre. Prior to the bands warmup ritual, Gus G sat down with us to talk about 'Few Against Many' and how influential working with OZZY has been to his overall career. Gus also talked about the rise of the Greek Metal scene and even shared with some music business tips. This is a must watch, so hit the PLAY button now!



Remaining tour dates:

- Fri/Mar-01: San Antonio, TX at White Rabbit*
- Sat/Mar-02: Houston, TX at Warehouse Live
- Mon/Mar-04: Orlando, FL at The Social*
- Tue/Mar-05: Ft. Lauderdale, FL at Culture Room*
- Wed/Mar-06: Tampa, FL at State Theatre*

*=TURISAS and FIREWIND only

Related links:
Firewind's Official Siteiteit''>
Firewind on Facebook on Facebook
Firewind on MySpace
Firewind on Twitter> 

FIREWIND Are Working On A Live Album In Anticipation Of Their Tour With TURISAS!

Melodic Metallers FIREWIND have successfully wrapped up the calendar year 2012 with 4 packed club-shows in their native Greece (Two nights in Thessaloniki and 2 nights in Athens), commencing the celebration of the band’s 10th Anniversary of existence.

Additionally, and right before the end of the year festivities, FIREWIND also entered studios in order to mix recordings from their “Few Against Many” live-campaign last year for an upcoming live-album, scheduled to be released before the summer of 2013. Look out for more details soon…

Expanding FIREWIND’s live agenda for 2013, the band is next headed out on a North American tour with Turisas and Stolen Babies and has most recently also confirmed appearances at this year’s editions of Summer Breeze festival (Germany), PPM Fest (Belgium) and Rock In Den Ruinen festival (Germany). More shows will be announced soon. Here is a list of all next FIREWIND live-dates revealed so far:

- Sat/Feb-02: Jacksonville, FL at Roc Bar
- Sun/Feb-03: Atlanta, GA at The Masquerade - Downstairs
- Tue/Feb-05: Richmond, VA at Empire
- Wed/Feb-06: New York, NY at Gramercy Theatre
- Thu/Feb-07: Worcester, MA at The Palladium - Upstairs
- Fri/Feb-08: Montreal, QC at Les Foufounes Électriques
- Sat/Feb-09: Toronto, ON at The Mod Club
- Sun/Feb-10: Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge
- Mon/Feb-11: Cleveland, OH at Peabody's Downunder
- Wed/Feb-13: Minneapolis, MN at Mill City Nights
- Fri/Feb-15: Denver, CO at Marquis Theatre
- Sat/Feb-16: Salt Lake City, UT at In the Venue
- Mon/Feb-18: Seattle, WA at Studio Seven
- Tue/Feb-19: Vancouver, BC at Biltmore Cabaret
- Wed/Feb-20: Portland, OR at Branx
- Thu/Feb-21: Oakland, CA at Oakland Metro OperaHouse
- Fri/Feb-22: West Hollywood, CA at Key Club*
- Sat/Feb-23: Santa Ana, CA at The Constellation Room*
- Mon/Feb-25: Tempe, AZ at 910 Live*
- Thu/Feb-28: Dallas, TX at Door*
- Fri/Mar-01: San Antonio, TX at White Rabbit*
- Sat/Mar-02: Houston, TX at Warehouse Live
- Mon/Mar-04: Orlando, FL at The Social*
- Tue/Mar-05: Ft. Lauderdale, FL at Culture Room*
- Wed/Mar-06: Tampa, FL at State Theatre*

*=TURISAS and FIREWIND only

Related links:
Firewind's Official Siteiteit''>
Firewind on Facebook on Facebook
Firewind on MySpace
Firewind on Twitter> 

TURISAS Begin Recording NEW Album & Announce Lineup Changes - Statement Available!

Finland's TURISAS have started tracking their fourth studio album. The recording sessions for the drum parts are taking place at Atomic Spa studio in Helsinki, Finland, and will continue recording in different locations until the end of January. The follow-up to 'Stand Up And Fight' (2011) is scheduled to be out in May of 2013 via Century Media Records.

There is more TURISAS news. The band has announced a few lineup changes. Tuomas "Tude" Lehtonen (original drummer) is departing the band and will be replaced by Jaakko Jakku. Also departing is Jukka-Pekka Miettinen (bassist), who will focus on his own musical projects.

Lehtonen had the following to say regarding his decision: "I can't tell you how hard it feels to step away from the path we've been walking together for the last 15 years — and to start a new era in my life without the band.

"There are many reasons for me to quit the band. The stress from the years spent on the road and different artistic visions have lead to a mutual decision for me to step back and hand over the drumsticks to the next guy.

"In any case, it has been a great experience and all the memories from being on the road are something that I will always cherish. The biggest thanks go to all of the past and present members of the band, not to forget all the technicians and fellow drummers I've met on shows and on tour — and, of course, especially to all the fans that have allowed us to grow to the level that TURISAS are at today.

"Good luck and lots of success to all my bandmates — I feel that I will never be straying too far away from the band. I shall always be proudly carrying the heart of TURISAS wherever I go. The man can leave the band but the band will never really leave the man."

As previously announces, TURISAS will once again return to the States in February/March 2013 for a headlining tour featuring FIREWIND and STOLEN BABIES as special guests! In regards to the trek, the band comments: "Back to America straight out of the studio! We've spent the last six months off the road writing some NEW killer tunes and are just about to start recording them as we speak. The great memories from our previous tour last spring is making us even more excited to hit the road again after this long break. We're coming up with NEW cool and crazy ideas for this tour, and who knows, maybe we'll even try out and premiere some completely unreleased NEW material. One thing is certain, after 9 months off the road there will be some serious energy to be released on stage! Serve us your weakest piss-light beer! We'll take it! America here we come!" 

Tour dates and details are available HERE!

Fans can also see TURISAS before their "Guards of Glory - North American Tour 2013" on the heavy metal cruise, 70,000 Tons Of Metal, which kicks off on January 28th in Florida. For more information about 70,000 Tons Of Metal, please visit: http://70000tons.com/

In addition to previewing material from their upcoming release, TURISAS will be touring in support of their latest release, Stand Up And Fight, which is available for purchase at CM Distro HERE and at iTunes HERE.  

Via Turisas.com

Related links:
Official Site of Turisas
Turisas on MySpace
Turisas on Facebook
Turisas on Twitter

TURISAS: North American Tour With FIREWIND & STOLEN BABIES Announced - Full Itinerary Available!

After successfully headlining the North American "PaganFest" tour this past Spring, battle Metallers TURISAS will once again return to the States in February/March 2013 for a headlining tour featuring FIREWIND and STOLEN BABIES as special guests! In regards to the trek, the band comments: "Back to America straight out of the studio! We've spent the last six months off the road writing some NEW killer tunes and are just about to start recording them as we speak. The great memories from our previous tour last spring is making us even more excited to hit the road again after this long break. We're coming up with NEW cool and crazy ideas for this tour, and who knows, maybe we'll even try out and premiere some completely unreleased NEW material. One thing is certain, after 9 months off the road there will be some serious energy to be released on stage! Serve us your weakest piss-light beer! We'll take it! America here we come!" 

Hailing from Finland, TURISAS is currently finishing work on their latest studio album, which they are looking to release in summer 2013. See below for a list of tour dates (with more to be announced soon!).

"Guards of Glory - North American Tour 2013" feat. TURISAS with special guests FIREWIND, STOLEN BABIES (presented by REVOLVER):

- Sat/Feb-02: Jacksonville, FL at Roc Bar
- Sun/Feb-03: Atlanta, GA at The Masquerade - Downstairs
- Tue/Feb-05: Richmond, VA at Empire
- Wed/Feb-06: New York, NY at Gramercy Theatre
- Thu/Feb-07: Worcester, MA at The Palladium - Upstairs
- Fri/Feb-08: Montreal, QC at Les Foufounes Électriques
- Sat/Feb-09: Toronto, ON at The Mod Club
- Sun/Feb-10: Chicago, IL at Bottom Lounge
- Mon/Feb-11: Cleveland, OH at Peabody's Downunder
- Wed/Feb-13: Minneapolis, MN at Mill City Nights
- Fri/Feb-15: Denver, CO at Marquis Theatre
- Sat/Feb-16: Salt Lake City, UT at In the Venue
- Mon/Feb-18: Seattle, WA at Studio Seven
- Tue/Feb-19: Vancouver, BC at Biltmore Cabaret
- Wed/Feb-20: Portland, OR at Branx
- Thu/Feb-21: Oakland, CA at Oakland Metro OperaHouse
- Fri/Feb-22: West Hollywood, CA at Key Club*
- Sat/Feb-23: Santa Ana, CA at The Constellation Room*
- Mon/Feb-25: Tempe, AZ at 910 Live*
- Thu/Feb-28: Dallas, TX at Door*
- Fri/Mar-01: San Antonio, TX at White Rabbit*
- Sat/Mar-02: Houston, TX at Warehouse Live
- Mon/Mar-04: Orlando, FL at The Social*
- Tue/Mar-05: Ft. Lauderdale, FL at Culture Room*
- Wed/Mar-06: Tampa, FL at State Theatre*

*=TURISAS and FIREWIND only

A special VIP Meet & Greet package is available for all the shows. For full details, please see http://turisas.myshopify.com/

Fans can also see TURISAS before their "Guards of Glory - North American Tour 2013" on the heavy metal cruise, 70,000 Tons Of Metal, which kicks off on January 28th in Florida. For more information about 70,000 Tons Of Metal, please visit: http://70000tons.com/

In addition to previewing material from their upcoming release, TURISAS will be touring in support of their latest release, Stand Up And Fight, which is available for purchase at CM Distro HERE and at iTunes HERE.  

Related links:
Official Site of Turisas
Turisas on MySpace
Turisas on Facebook
Turisas on Twitter