M.A.N Claims To Be First Metal Band Ever To Incorporate 'Full Scale Quarter Tone System'

M.A.N — the group formed out of the ashes of Sweden's TRANSPORT LEAGUE (featuring former MNEMIC frontman Tony Jelencovich) — has tapped Ulrich Wild (WHITE ZOMBIE, STAIND, STATIC-X, DEFTONES, PANTERA, LIMP BIZKIT) to mix the band's third album, "Massive, Audio, Nerve". The band will enter Grand Recordings in Gothenburg, Sweden on September 18 with engineer Svein Jensen to begin laying down 14 songs for the CD, which will be produced by Jensen and M.A.N.

Commented the group: "From past to present time, different kinds of expressions within the 'music worlds' have evolved and been combined with each other. This has given us exciting musical transformations in classic music, art music, folk music, popular music etc, as well as development of the 'tools' of making music; music instruments, tone systems, tuning systems, composition techniques etc.
"One issue that is continuing to be 'separated' in a distinguished way, is the ideology and practice of using quarter/microtone semi tones, and how it is used in a traditional way, which appears to be very different from say like; Middle Eastern 'raj'/popular music , Indian music, compared to folk music from Sweden, Norway, Macedonia, Bulgaria, etc.

"However, in western music cultures there has been some experimentation with alternative tone systems; in classical/ modernism music, for example, Charles Ives and Miklos Maros. Even in rock/art rock music, there has been occasions of achievement towards this, Steve Vai and Jeff Beck, for example, although in these cases it should be considered as a momentary and solistic element in their music creativity as a whole... It should also be mentioned that bands like LED ZEPPELIN and THE BEATLES only used the sound of 'exotic' instruments in their songs, not the practice of alternative tone systems in itself.

"Summary: regarding western popular music [pop, rock, punk, metal, hard rock, electronica, goth etc] no stringent and consistent use of quarter semi tones has been used by any artist or band so far.

"...Until now!!!!!!

"M.A.N is very proud to declare to be the very first metal band ever to have incorporated what we call the 'Full Scale Quarter Tone System' into our music — and metal music genre on the whole, resulting in the upcoming album 'Massive, Audio, Nerve' by M.A.N. 'Full Scale Quarter Tone Systems' [our own term] means that there are 24 quarter semi tones, instead of 12 'ordinary' semi tones, within reach of an octave [1200 cent]. This has led to new kinds of expressions and possibilities that have never been heard before, especially when this concept — cultivated and formed by M.A.N — is featured by more than just a solistic issue in order of solo instrumentalist matter or a solo part, but covered by the string instrument section in whole songs, with state of equilibrium with the ordinary semi tone system."

Tentative songtitles set to appear on "Massive, Audio, Nerve" are as follows:

* Dead Set
* Don't Wake Up
* Logocide
* Last Light Drains
* Vivid Heart
* Identical Abuse
* Song # 3 "The Redemption"
* False Memory Syndrome Pt. 1 & 2
* Slave Program
* Mock at my Motion
* Loveless
* Zero Status Zero
* Nothing

An audio file containing snippets of pre-production versions of some of the band's new songs can be streamed using the audio player below.

"Blood Vanish", the latest video from M.A.N, can be viewed below. The song comes off M.A.N's sophomore album, "Peacenemy", which was released in Europe in March 2008 (April in North America) via Tief Druck Musik. The CD was recorded at Grand Recordings in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer/engineer Svein Jensen and was mastered by Göran Finnberg at Mastering Room. It features a guest appearance by Burton C. Bell of FEAR FACTORY and ACENSION OF THE WATCHERS on the track "My Own Sickness".

For audio samples, visit www.myspace.com/manmusic.