TRISTANIA Issues Studio Update

Guitarist/vocalist Anders Høyvik Hidle of Norwegian gothic metallers TRISTANIA has issued the following update:

"You have waited patiently for news from the studio, and it's about time we reveal some more details regarding the upcoming album.

"These are hectic times and we are working around the clock to keep up with the time schedule, but we are extremely happy with the process this far, and the final result shows promise to be great. One by one the bricks are falling into place, and the album is becoming more complete every day.

"Right now we're in the middle of the third week of recording. Drums have been recorded in Tanken Studio near Oslo, and for the moment we're doing bass and guitars in Stavanger. Østen [Bergøy; clean vocals] took a break from the diapers and milk bottles to record his vocals last week. He did a terrific job, and his vocals sound great.

"We have now just finished recording all bass and main guitars, and will spend the next days recording additional acoustic and electric guitars plus my vocal parts. We're going back to Oslo next week to start the vocal sessions with Mariangela [Demurtas, vocals], Kjetil [Nordhus, vocals] and Ole [Vistnes, bass] in a different studio.

"Now let's move to the proper news...

"There will be big classical choirs with Latin lyrics included in all the songs on the new album! No, sorry — it won't. However, we are proud to announce that we just had a very special guest in studio who you might already know: The one and only Pete Johansen will once again appear on a TRISTANIA album with his fantastic violin playing.

"During the writing process of this album we figured that Pete's violin would fit perfectly on some of the new tracks. Only a couple of weeks ago I sent the tracks to Pete and asked him if he would be interested in doing something together again. Luckily, he was.

"Pete, Ole and myself had a great time in studio last weekend, and it turned out really well. We worked with Pete for two long days, recording both acoustic and electric/distorted violins, and the result sounds truly amazing.

"We will probably release some musical teasers whenever we can find the time to this.

"I've had the pleasure to work with many great musicians after I joined TRISTANIA nearly 14 years ago. Still, Pete is probably the one I admire most of them all.

"This is the fourth album where Pete contributes, and each time I've been mindblown during his studio sessions.

"Pete is a rare musician; full of ideas and with a very distinct signature to his violin playing.

"It was fantastic to work with him again — exactly ten years after our last studio collaboration when we recorded 'World of Glass' in Mariseille, France.

"During the following weeks and months, we plan to put stories and news, photos and videos from the studio on the website. Those of you who are curious about the new album should also check out our MySpace site once in a while — plus Twitter, where Ole is posting news and comments from studio on an almost daily basis."

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

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

The band played a couple of shows last summer with guest vocalist Kjetil Nordhus (ex-GREEN CARNATION, TRAIL OF TEARS) filling in for Østen Bergøy, including last 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 last 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.).

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