Mighty Music has announced the signing of the legendary NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) band BLITZKRIEG. The group is currently writing material for a new album which is tentatively scheduled to be recorded in late summer. The first single is expected to be released in late 2017, with the full-length effort to follow in early 2018.
Founding member and singer Brian Ross comments: “We can’t wait to get started on our new album, which we should be doing towards the end of the year. This is a new, fresh start for the band in many ways.”
Added Michael H. Andersen, CEO of Mighty Music/Target Group: “It means a lot to me and Mighty Music to be able to sign bands I loved since I was a kid and one of them is BLITZKRIEG. We will be working hard on getting this band up in the major leagues of heavy metal again where they deserve to be.”
2015 marked the 35th anniversary of BLITZKRIEG, which came into existence in 1980. Although their debut single, “Buried Alive” b/w “Blitzkrieg” (on Neat Records) was released in 1981, it was not till 1985 that the band recorded its debut album, as Ross was involved with his other group, SATAN, recording and touring their debut opus, “Court In The Act”.
BLITZKRIEG‘s “A Time Of Changes” included the band’s self-titled song “Blitzkrieg”, which was covered by METALLICA on the “Creeping Death” EP. METALLICA‘s drummer, Lars Ulrich, commented that BLITZKRIEG was one of his band’s main musical inspirations, along with DIAMOND HEAD.
Brian, the only remaining founding member of BLITZKRIEG, said: “Lars Ulrich phoned me up and asked if they could cover the song.
“METALLICA were, and still are, big fans of the band. We have met up with them a few times over the years and I am really pleased that they still play ‘Blitzkrieg’ at gigs.”
Brian said that he tried to give the then-unknown METALLICA a helping hand in the early 1980s.
“They sent me their demo when they were still unsigned, asking for my help to get them on our label,” he said. “But the label turned them down, saying they’d never go anywhere.
“I met up with the guy who made that call a few years ago and he says it is the biggest mistake of his life.”
BLITZKRIEG‘s latest album, “Back From Hell”, was released in 2013.
BLITZKRIEG 2017 is:
Brian Ross – vocals
Ken Johnson – guitars
Alan Ross – guitars
Huw Holding – bass
Matt Graham – drums
Fonte: Blabbermouth.net