SONIC SYNDICATE: Newcastle Footage Available

Fan-filmed video footage of Swedish/British modern metallers SONIC SYNDICATE performing on November 30, 2010 at the Academy in Newcastle, England can be viewed below.

In a recent interview with Sonic Shocks, SONIC SYNDICATE's British singer Nathan Biggs stated about former co-vocalist Richard Sjunnesson's claim that he left the band due to "their inability to play decent music," "The way I look at is there's two sides to every story. I've still got some respect for Richard even though he's been pretty harsh to SONIC since leaving. So I'm not gonna trash-talk, but I will say there's two sides to every story, and I don't agree with a lot of things he says — I consider a lot of it lies. That's all I'm gonna say. I don't wanna be one of these people that trash-talk and fight and I don't wanna cause any bad memories. So I'm just gonna let him get on with what he wants to do and we're really happy and the Europe tour has already proven that [SONIC SYNDICATE's new album] 'We Rule The Night' is a success, and the fans are loving it, and we're loving it, and we're just going out there and making an energetic show and that's what SONIC's all about."

Regarding SONIC SYNDICATE's current touring co-vocalist Christoffer Andersson, Nathan said, "At the moment, Chris is not the new member of SONIC. He's the touring vocalist for this, but he's absolutely amazing at what he does. He's got a sick screaming voice; I think it's insane what he does. He's really brutal with his screaming voice; I love it. He's not the new member, but SONIC SYNDICATE have known him for a very long time, he's from the same town as the rest of the band, and he was actually the vocalist in our drummer John's [Bengtsson] old band. So we knew he was cool and we knew he's got the ability to do it, so we'll see what happens."

In a lengthy and rambling message posted on his newly launched official blog, Richard stated that his departure from SONIC SYNDICATE was caused by his "being locked up in a band where there is no room to express one's creativity because it's simply not the right format for the band anymore. Being artistically crippled because heavy music is the wrong forum for a 'metal band,' and having to turn the other cheek pretending to like something that I think is garbage will simply not fly for this crow. There are only so many arguments of the 'scary' screaming vocals to be or not to be in various songs I'm willing to take. Seeing how there was even demands to the band (behind my back) of songs without screaming vocals and how they were later obvious downplayed in the mix might very well have been the deathblow to my emotional attachment of the band. On the other hand, that made this decision very easy for me. It allowed me to go on in life with stuff that feels more important, things that actually manage to stir my heart."

Richard's brother Roger Sjunnesson plays guitar in SONIC SYNDICATE and has no intention of leaving the band, according to Richard. However, the two brothers plan on forming a new project together with "an old friend who most of you are pretty familiar with."

SONIC SYNDICATE's latest album, "We Rule The Night", was released in Europe on August 27 via Nuclear Blast Records. The CD was recorded at Bohus Sound studios in Kungälv, Sweden with producer Toby Wright, who has previously worked with KORN, SLAYER, MÖTLEY CRÜE, KISS, FEAR FACTORY, IN FLAMES, STONE SOUR and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others.