ROYAL HUNT Signs European Deal With SCARLET RECORDS

Denmark-based hard rock/progressive metal band ROYAL HUNT has signed a deal with Scarlet Records for the European release of its new album, "X".

ROYAL HUNT decided to revisit its roots and incorporate some of the musical values of the '70s into its songwriting as well as — in order to reinforce that particular atmosphere — employing mostly "retro" means of production (recording in analog format exclusively being one of them) for its tenth studio album. The music has been described as "an interesting mix of what's been tagged as classic rock nowadays (established by KANSAS, GENESIS, ELP's earlier works and DEEP PURPLE, URIAH HEEP's classics from the same era) and ROYAL HUNT's trademark composition/delivery."

Commented keyboardist/main composer André Andersen: "This album came out of our love for the '70s music (tagged as classic rock nowadays) — from KANSAS, GENESIS and ELP to URIAH HEEP and DEEP PURPLE — music which was/is very adventurous while just a tad naïve at the same time (as some might say). We all are notoriously resistant to categorize it in any way, form or shape, but (if hard-pressed) would go as far as saying that it's definitely much more hard rock than metal and if by 'progressive,' you might mean some odd time signatures here and there as well as random key changes — sure, there're tons of them here… as well as really basic, simple stuff — so go figure."

"X" track listing:

01. Episode X (Arrival)
02. End of the Line
03. King for a Day
04. The Well
05. Army of Slaves
06. Shadowman
07. Back to Square One
08. Blood Red Stars
09. The Last Leaf
10. Falling Down
11. Episode X (Departure)

"X" will be released in Europe in June 2010. The CD came out in Japan and Southeast Asia on January 21 via Marquee/Avalon Records.

ROYAL HUNT last year parted ways with bassist Per Schelander and replaced him with Andreas Passmark (NARNIA, ROB ROCK, E-TYPE).

Source: RNR

PHIL COLLINS Discusses The Future Of GENESIS

Phil Collins is putting the finishing touches on a new Motown covers collection despite suffering severe nerve damage to his hands that has made drumming nearly impossible. “The first time I picked up the drum sticks after my neck surgery, they flew across the room because I couldn’t grip them,” he says. “When I play, I’ve had to tape the sticks to my hand. It’s like wearing a condom. It’s very strange. It really cramps your style.”

The nerve damage has made more than just drumming difficult for the 59-year-old musician. “I can’t let go of the spoon or the knife when I eat,” he tells RS. “I can’t open a car door. I won’t get gruesome with you, but there’s a lot of things I can’t do. I’m left handed. I’m having an operation soon and there’s a good chance of it improving over time.”

Chapter & Verse: photos from Genesis’ oral history.

Collins’ medical problem makes another Genesis reunion unlikely. “He has to play the drums and play some quite complicated things,” says Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks. “It’s one of the many reasons it won’t happen.” But Collins says he still hopes to one day perform again with the Peter Gabriel-lead lineup of Genesis. “My hands are way down to picking the order of that possibility,” he says. “Three years ago I didn’t know I’d be in this position and three years from now it may not be like this. I think the main thing is Peter’s schedule and the speed he works anyways.” Banks agrees, noting, “I think if it we were to do The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway there’s always multimedia stuff that makes it possible now. It would be opening a huge can of worms, not just musical but getting out and playing it.”

In the meantime, the band is overjoyed to be one of the few progressive rock bands inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Read our full report from this year’s induction ceremony.) “Whoever is deciding these things, obviously they change,” Collins says. “Now there’s obviously a couple of people there saying ‘Guys we’ve ignored all this other stuff’ which is why you’ve got Abba and the Hollies and us. Very diverse. Jimmy Cliff is somewhere in there. Much more diverse than just rock & roll I think this year. ”

Source: RNR

PHIL COLLINS Discusses The Future Of GENESIS

Phil Collins is putting the finishing touches on a new Motown covers collection despite suffering severe nerve damage to his hands that has made drumming nearly impossible. “The first time I picked up the drum sticks after my neck surgery, they flew across the room because I couldn’t grip them,” he says. “When I play, I’ve had to tape the sticks to my hand. It’s like wearing a condom. It’s very strange. It really cramps your style.”

The nerve damage has made more than just drumming difficult for the 59-year-old musician. “I can’t let go of the spoon or the knife when I eat,” he tells RS. “I can’t open a car door. I won’t get gruesome with you, but there’s a lot of things I can’t do. I’m left handed. I’m having an operation soon and there’s a good chance of it improving over time.”

Chapter & Verse: photos from Genesis’ oral history.

Collins’ medical problem makes another Genesis reunion unlikely. “He has to play the drums and play some quite complicated things,” says Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks. “It’s one of the many reasons it won’t happen.” But Collins says he still hopes to one day perform again with the Peter Gabriel-lead lineup of Genesis. “My hands are way down to picking the order of that possibility,” he says. “Three years ago I didn’t know I’d be in this position and three years from now it may not be like this. I think the main thing is Peter’s schedule and the speed he works anyways.” Banks agrees, noting, “I think if it we were to do The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway there’s always multimedia stuff that makes it possible now. It would be opening a huge can of worms, not just musical but getting out and playing it.”

In the meantime, the band is overjoyed to be one of the few progressive rock bands inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Read our full report from this year’s induction ceremony.) “Whoever is deciding these things, obviously they change,” Collins says. “Now there’s obviously a couple of people there saying ‘Guys we’ve ignored all this other stuff’ which is why you’ve got Abba and the Hollies and us. Very diverse. Jimmy Cliff is somewhere in there. Much more diverse than just rock & roll I think this year. ”

Source: RNR