GARDENIAN Begin Mixing New Album

Sweden's GARDENIAN have completed the recording sessions for their as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2000's "Sindustries" and are currently mixing the effort at Gothenburg's Studio Fredman for a tentative late 2003 release through an as-yet-undetermined label. "When the mixing is done GARDENIAN will start shopping for a new record deal," the band write on their official web site, www.gardenian.net.

GARDENIAN, who split with Nuclear Blast Records in 2001, have incorporated a more melodic vocal approach into their sound, a development that has received some criticism from the group's die-hard fans looking for the band to continue on a more aggressive musical path. "For you who wonder about growls..." the group write on the site, "[GARDENIAN's] characteristic mixture of growls & clean vocals wont be missed by anyone."

Among the 12 working titles tentatively set to appear on the album are the following:

01. Inhale/Exhale
02. Drowning Empire
03. Remembered
04. Filth
05. Dark Waters
06. Dead To The World

With regards to the group's current musical direction, the band write, "We know that it may sound like a cliché, but [these are] the best songs we have done/recorded so far in our career it feels like all the pieces [have] finally [fallen into place] just perfect [as it relates] to [realizing] our vision."

Joining guitarist Niklas Engelin and drummer Thim Blom in GARDENIAN's latest incarnation are TIME REQUIEM singer Apollo Papathanasio and former GOOSEFLESH bassist Robert Hakemo. Kriss Albertsson, who previously played bass in the group, remains a member of the band, but only as a touring/session guitarist. Meanwhile, longtime guitarist/vocalist Jim Kjell, who played on the group's three full-length albums to date has since left the band, having found "the day job he was searching for," according to the group.