SPIRITUAL BEGGARS: New Album Artwork Unveiled

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, the Swedish band featuring ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott and bassist Sharlee D'Angelo, along with new vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND),will release its seventh studio album, "Return To Zero", in Europe on August 30 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2005's "Demons" was recorded at Sweetspot Studio with producer Rickard Bengtsson.

Check out the cover artwork below.

"The new SPIRITUAL BEGGARS album is to my ears some of best stuff I've ever done with this band and I'm very much looking forward to releasing the seventh SPIRITUAL BEGGARS studio album, 'Return To Zero', with the help and expertise of the InsideOut team!" stated Amott. "At the end of the day, it was a no-brainer to do a new licensing deal with the InsideOut label, they did a great job on the 'Demons' album and the 'Live Fire!' DVD (2006). Since then, they have merged with the Century Media company whom I have a long and successful history with. I already know a lot of the people that will be involved in this release, and that feels good. I respect InsideOut label boss Thomas Waber for being a true music fan and for his undying enthusiasm and efforts in making this deal happen."

Added InsideOut's Waber: "We had a great experience with the 'Demons' album and are looking forward to working the new one as well. After all the turmoil last year, things are back on top and better than ever and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS will no doubt benefit from this!"

In a recent interview with Japan's Burrn! magazine, Amott stated about the forthcoming CD, "Some of the songs are 'Star Born', 'Lost In Yesterday', 'The Chaos Of Rebirth', 'We Are Free', 'Concrete Horizon' — to name a few! The new album has a lot of the typical SPIRITUAL BEGGARS trademarks — it's heavy rock with a '70s atmosphere — but I also hear a definite progression and a deeper sense of melody in the songwriting and performances. It's exactly the kind of record I wanted to make with SPIRITUAL BEGGARS in 2010!"

Regarding the band's latest addition, vocalist Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND),Amott said, "Apollo's influences are very much rooted in the classic rock and metal of the '70s and '80s. He is the same age as the rest of us in SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, so we instantly shared a lot of common ground musically, and he really connected with the songs and delivered emotional vocals that really impressed us all."

He added, "Apollo does share some similarities with our previous singers — a rough and raw style based in blues and hard rock. He also has influences from the classic metal of the Eighties.

"I was always aware of the fact that he is great singer. However, even I was surprised how well his voice fit SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, in the new and the old songs. Apollo is showing a range and depth on this album that I believe will both surprise and please the SPIRITUAL BEGGARS fans!"

A short sample of new song featuring Apollo Papathanasio on vocals is available now at the SPIRITUAL BEGGARS official MySpace page.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS 2010 is:

Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY, CARCASS) - Guitar
Ludwig Witt (FIREBIRD) - Drums
Per Wiberg (OPETH) - Keyboards
Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE) - Bass
Apollo Papathanasio (FIREWIND) - Vocals

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS has been confirmed for the Loud Park 10 festival, set to take place October 16-17 at Saitama Super Arena, a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Saitama City, Japan.

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS' last album, "Demons", was released in Europe in June 2005 via InsideOut Music. The follow-up to 2002's "On Fire" was recorded at Slaughterhouse Studio with Rickard Bengtsson and was mixed by Fredrik Nordström and Patrik J. Sten at Studio Fredman in Gothenburg, Sweden. Mastering duties were handled by Göran Finnberg. The album cover art was conceived by Niklas Sundin of Cabin Fever Media.