THE HAUNTED To Release New Studio Album This Year

Swedish metallers THE HAUNTED have commenced the songwriting process for the follow-up to 2014's "Exit Wounds" album. Guitarist Patrik Jensen states: "Not known as a band that likes to rest on our laurels, we're pushing ahead with the follow-up to last year's 'Exit Wounds' album! We have most of the stuff written already, [and are] looking to record in August/September and to have it released before the end of this year."

He adds: "We're very excited about the new material and can't wait to give you the chance to hear it! Better nail down the roof in good time… and reserve the top spot on your X-mas wish list for this upcoming aural bad boy!"

In the meantime, THE HAUNTED is continuing to promote "Exit Wounds", which was released last August via Century Media Records. The band next travels starting this weekend take the group to China, Japan as well as to Australia, where they team up with Century Media labelmates INSOMNIUM for a string of shows. Furthermore, the band will appear at several European summer festivals, including Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium); Hellfest (France),Nord Open Air (Germany),Rock Harz (Germany),Brutal Assault (Czech Republic) and Metal Hammer Paradise (Germany).

Asked if going back to the old-school THE HAUNTED sound on "Exit Wounds" was a conscious decision, Jensen told EMP Rock Invasion: "The thing with THE HAUNTED is that we have always been five guys that have written music together; we were all like five generals. I mean, Marco's [Aro, vocals] from FACE DOWN, I had SÉANCE, the [Björler] twins had AT THE GATES, and so on. Every album has been written without us knowing what will happen. So we put our riffs in, and then everyone contributes, and we discover what the outcome will be. This is the same with 'Unseen'; we didn't know it was gonna sound like this. It was what happened. Same with 'Exit Wounds'. We didn't know what was gonna happen. We have never sat down and said that we have to make this kind of album. It's kind of logical that this album sounds the way it does, because we have the drummer from the first album, we have the singer from albums two and three, and me and Jonas have been in the band forever."

"Exit Wounds" was once again recorded with the group's longtime producer Tue Madsen at Denmark's Antfarm Studio (DARK TRANQUILLITY, HEAVEN SHALL BURN, SICK OF IT ALL) and features THE HAUNTED's revamped lineup: founding members Jonas Björler (bass) and Patrik Jensen (guitar) along with with returning members Adrian Erlandsson (drums) and Marco Aro (vocals),and the band's latest addition, guitarist Ola Englund.

"Exit Wounds" features two special guests appearing on the song "Trend Killer": Jed Simon (SCAR THE MARTYR, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD) on lead guitar and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT) on vocals.