TRISTANIA Bassist Issues New Album Update

Bassist Ole Vistnes of Norwegian metallers TRISTANIA has issued the following update:

"We have been awfully quiet the last few months, I know, but we've not been lazy. I still can't reveal any more details on when the new album is coming out, but I can tell you a little about where we stand right now.

"We have now written all the songs that are going to appear on the album. Me and Anders [Høyvik Hidle; guitar/vocals] sat down this entire weekend and worked through every detail, turning every stone. There are still a few minor changes to be made, but all in all the songs are done.

"It's going to be diverse and varied like before, and both me and Anders agree that it still sounds unmistakably like TRISTANIA. I don't feel like blowing up expectations too much, but there are a couple of tracks that are really going to treat the fans of large, powerful, melancholic metal.

"We have not started the studio sessions yet, but the preparations are going strong. We are going to record the album in a couple of different studios in Norway this time, and have our producer/mixer mix it in a studio of his choice. I have visited several studios in the Oslo area to check out their availability, and if I feel like it is the right place to record our songs. I must say that especially the studio that we intend to record the drums in really impressed me. They have hi-end real vintage gear, and an amazing room that should really be able to catch the atmosphere and make it really heavy. We also have a very special surprise that we are working on. I can't say anything concrete, but it is not a new thing.

"Like I said before, I can't say yet when the album is coming out, but I can promise you that we will start recording very soon."

Songtitles set to appear on the new TRISTANIA CD include "Patriot Games", "Year of the Rat", "The Emerald Piper" and "Sirens".

Professionally filmed video footage of TRISTANIA performing the new song "The Emerald Piper" at this year's Wacken Open Air festival can be viewed below.

TRISTANIA recently announced the addition of guitarist Gyri Losnegård to the group's ranks.

The band played a couple of shows this past summer with guest vocalist Kjetil Nordhus (ex-GREEN CARNATION, TRAIL OF TEARS) filling in for Østen Bergøy, including this year's Wacken Open Air festival, which was held July 30 - August 1, 2009 in Wacken, Germany

TRISTANIA in 2007 announced the addition of Italian singer Mariangela "Mary" Demurtas to the group's ranks.

The band's latest album, "Illumination", was released in January 2007 via SPV. The CD was recorded at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT, GRIP INC.).