Swedish Heavy Metal commando Lancer have completed the recordings on their fourth, new studio album “Tempest” and signed a new record deal with the new German label Fireflash Records (Mezzrow, Tailgunner, Holy Moses and others), who will release the album worldwide in August 2023.
“Tempest” was recorded by the band and Anders Backelin (Lord Belial a.o.) at “Armageddon Recordings Studio”, who also mixed and mastered the album along with guitarist Per-Owe Solvelius, who was the main producer of “Tempest”. “It is heavy, it is dramatic and it is a new direction for Lancer”, reveals new vocalist Jack L. Stroem.
“We are absolutely stoked to once again be working with Markus Wosgien, one of the best in the entire business! We are deeply honored to be one of the first few bands to sign on to his newly established label Fireflash Records. This was truly the collaboration we were aiming for with our upcoming new album”, says Lancer guitarist and founding member Fredrik Kelemen.
“I was following the band since their amazing ‘Second Storm’ album, which was a perfect mix of 90s Euro metal bands like Edguy, Strastovarius and Hammerfall. I was able to sign them to Nuclear Blast and work on the ‘Mastery’ album with them and became friends. When they got in touch with the amazing songs of their upcoming record ‘Tempest’ it was clear, that we have to work together again and release this metal jewel together”, adds Markus Wosgien of Fireflash Records.
Lancer invaded the metal scene in the spring of 2012 with their debut EP “Purple Sky”. The EP got a warm welcome from all around the world and gave the band a record deal with the Swedish label Doolittle Group AB, owned by the famous metal vocalist Christian Liljegren (Narnia), and they also signed a deal with Japanese label King Records at this time.
In early 2013, Lancer’s self-titled debut album was released worldwide. Produced by Tommy Johansson (Sabaton, Majestica) and Ronny Milianowicz (Shadowquest, ex-Dionysus), “Lancer” received great reviews from all around the world, including “Sweden Rock Magazine”, naming the band “a new hope for European power metal”.
Lancer’s sophomore album “Second Storm” was a lesson in melodic metal and followed a long tradition of outstanding Swedish metal bands, like Hammerfall, Morgnana Lefay, Dream Evil, Tad Morose and many more. The album was recorded in the famous “Leon Music Studios” with producer Gustav Ydenius (Enforcer, Sister Sin a.o.). Being released on Despotz Records in April 2015, ”Second Storm” earned amazing reviews from metal press all over the world, naming the band “future successors to the throne of melodic metal”. During the fall of 2015 Lancer joined German power metal band Freedom Call as support act on tour and received a fantastic reception from the fans!
When Lancer announced that they would start the recordings of their third album in summer 2016, the renowned German metal label Nuclear Blast Records reached out to the band, and a new record deal was signed. Lancer entered “Leon Music Studios” once more with producer Gustav Ydenius. This time the band chose to let the world famous mastering engineer Miro Rodenberg (Avantasia, Rhapsody, Kamelot) of “Gate Studio” in Wolfsburg, Germany, master the album. Following the signing to Nuclear Blast, Lancer went to Japan for the first time and performed at a sold-out show at the “Astro Hall” in Tokyo. The third album “Mastery” was released worldwide in January 2017, and the band immediately embarked on a European tour supporting Hammerfall and Gloryhammer. Back home, Lancer made their debut at renowned “Sabaton Open Air” festival, before singer Isak Stenvall and drummer Sebastian Pedernera announced their departures from the band.
After recruiting singer Jack L. Stroem (Vandor) and drummer Pontus Andrén Lancer’s line-up is yet again complete and stronger than ever! “Finding both Jack and Pontus seems like a one-in-a-million hit! Jack with his powerful and diverse voice, and Pontus’ technical brilliance and groove made them a perfect fit for the band”, comments Fredrik about the new members. “Words cannot describe how excited I am to unveil the music on the new album, my Lancer brethren have pushed my abilities as a singer tenfold and I am so happy with the end result”, says Jack and his new bandmate Pontus sums it up: “It feels great to be part of this next chapter for Lancer. ‘Tempest’ is an exciting new direction for the band, while it still keeps some of the elements of the old material which I love”.
“Tempest” will be released in August 2023, be prepared for a powerful metal strike – made in Sweden!
Live Shows 2023:
04.03. SE Trollhättan – Backstage Rockbar
25.03. SE Karlstadt – Nöjesfabriken w/HammerFall
Line-up:
Jack L. Stroem – Vocals
Per-Owe “Ewo” Solvelius – Guitar
Fredrik Kelemen – Guitar
Emil Öberg – Bass
Pontus Andrén – Drums
Weblinks:
www.facebook.com/lancermetal
twitter.com/lancermetal
