CRIMSON GLORY Claims 'In Dark Places' Box Set Is Being Released Without Band's Permission

Florida-based melodic metal veterans CRIMSON GLORY have released the following statement:

"CRIMSON GLORY does not recognize nor sanction the new CD releases or box sets made by Metal Mind Records (Poland). They are producing our CDs illegally and thus have ZERO rights to market, promote, advertise, release, distribute or sell any of our material; therefore they have ZERO rights to make any profit from our image, likeness or music.

"This has been an ongoing battle between CRIMSON GLORY and Metal Mind ever since Roadrunner Records . . . illegally [sold] the rights (which they did not possess) to the Polish record company in 2007. It is a glaring example of what a shambles the music industry has become, and it is crucial to the band that their fans recognize the reality of the situation."

Commented CRIMSON GLORY lead guitarist and founding member Jon Drenning: "We have become disenfranchised from our own music, with everybody making a profit from our efforts but us! As a group of hard-working dedicated musicians who have now given 25 years of our lives and hearts to this band and this music, it is beyond heart-breaking to watch these companies profit from [these] actions. This music is our passion; creating each record has been a labor of love, and what's happening to us and our music right now is frustrating and insulting."

He added, "We wish to make it perfectly clear to our friends and fans out there, all over the world, that these and any other albums or releases are not being produced or distributed with our permission, and that the money they wish to spend on our records is money that we as a band have earned but will never see until this matter is properly resolved.

"In the meantime, CRIMSON GLORY is presently negotiating with other labels regarding the remastering, re-releasing and future distribution of all of our material, and anything to do with the band regarding album releases, tour dates, promotional material, etc., will be shared via official press releases and the CRIMSON GLORYMySpace and Facebook pages ONLY."

CRIMSON GLORY recently announced the addition of singer Todd La Torre to the group's ranks.

La Torre made his first (and as yet only) public appearance with CRIMSON GLORY at ProgPower USA X as one of seventeen guest performers (including Wade Black, vocalist on the "Astronomica" album and subsequent European tour, and David Van Landing, who replaced Midnight briefly for the "Strange and Beautiful" U.S. tour) paying tribute to Midnight, the band's original singer.

Midnight passed away last year due to long-term health complications.

Essentially unknown to the mainstream progressive metal scene, La Torre spent 22 years earning his stripes and solidifying himself as an unquestionable talent behind the drum kit of various hard rock and heavy metal projects in the Tampa Bay, Florida area; however, his vocal aspirations went largely unfulfilled until last year when Matt LaPorte (JON OLIVA'S PAIN),who had only heard La Torre sing on a few occasions, casually mentioned to Drenning that he might make a nice addition to the already stellar lineup of performers the band had accumulated. It was only a short time later that La Torre found himself at the band's rehearsal studio, and the pieces began to fall into place.