PROGPOWER USA IV: The Official Press Release

Finland's NIGHTWISH and Germany's RAGE have been confirmed to make their American debuts as headliners of ProgPower USA IV, which returns to Atlanta's Earthlink Live on September 5 and 6.

"It is always exciting for us as a band to take on new areas and see how our stuff goes down there," said NIGHTWISH bassist Marco Hietala. "This time it's also quite flattering because we know that the USA and Great Britain are very hard places to win when you come from out of their native language areas, and to play as a headliner for our first time ever in the US... Wow, we'll do our best!”

After two decades together, RAGE will make their long overdue first appearance on U.S. soil. “It's great that RAGE will play the ProgPower festival this year,” said Peavy Wagner. “Finally, after all these years, we can rock the U.S. metalheads. It's gonna be fantastic.”

Joining NIGHTWISH and RAGE, which will both perform exclusively at ProgPower USA IV, are New Jersey's SYMPHONY X, Sweden's EVERGREY, Florida's CIRCLE II CIRCLE, Germany's VANDEN PLAS, Italy's SECRET SPHERE, Denmark's MERCENARY, Norway's PAGAN'S MIND, and California's REDEMPTION, which now features vocalist Corey Brown, formerly of PSYCO DRAMA and currently in MAGNITUDE NINE.

ProgPower IV will be the U.S. debuts for VANDEN PLAS, SECRET SPHERE, MERCENARY, and PAGAN'S MIND.

"I'm very excited about performing at the ProgPower festival this year," said former SAVATAGE vocalist Zack Stevens, who currently fronts CIRCLE II CIRCLE. "It's well known as one of the best metal festivals — even Ozzfest doesn't showcase the 'best metal bands' from America and Europe!”

Tickets for ProgPower IV go on sale May 5 at 10 a.m. EST via all Ticketmaster outlets. Advance "Gold Badge" tickets are already sold out. Only 800 tickets will be made available to the public.

Last year's festival — which featured BLIND GUARDIAN, GAMMA RAY, ANGRA, EDGUY, THRESHOLD, PAIN OF SALVATION, DEVIN TOWNSEND, SILENT FORCE, ZERO HOUR, and READING ZERO — sold out in just six days, four months in advance of the show. Tickets were sold to 36 States and 18 countries as far away as Japan.

ProgPower USA is an affiliate of the ProgPower Europe Festival.

Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities are available via the ProgPower USA website and official program. A free CD sampler will be distributed to attendees. Interested bands should contact ProgPower USA.

Visit www.progpowerusa.com for complete event information.