IMAGIKA: Entire New Album Available For Streaming

"Portrait Of A Hanged Man", the new album from San Francisco Bay Area power/thrashers IMAGIKA, is available for streaming in its entirety at this location. Due in Europe on March 19 and in the U.S. on May 11 via Metalville, the CD was recorded at Fang Studios in San Mateo, California by IMAGIKA guitarist Steve Rice and was mixed at KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden. In addition to mixing the effort, La Rocque makes a guest appearance on the instrumental "A God No More". Drummer Henry Moreno was once again responsible for designing all the art for the CD (see cover image below),which marks the recording debut of new bassist Jim Pegram.

Commented Moreno: "Well, obviously the [artwork] concept had to be something to do with the CD title so I created the first piece which was a person with a noose around their neck but it didn't have that 'CD cover' feel. Metalville and Steve made some suggestions and one thing they came up with was what if the hanging man was a silhouette. I thought that was a cool idea and ran with that and really just followed the theme of the song, which is about a person seeing the haunting vision of a portrait of man being hanged that comes to life. Metalville and the band really liked the finished product and so the CD cover was born! The original first piece is also included in the CD booklet.

"I really had fun with this project and I believe it's some of the best work I have done so far. I hope the fans enjoy it as much as we do."

"Portrait Of A Hanged Man" track listing:

01. Scared To Death
02. The Hit
03. Keep The Wolves At Bay
04. G.H.B.
05. Portrait Of A Hanged Man
06. Simple Servant
07. One Word
08. My Final Hour
09. A God No More (feat. Andy La Rocque)
10. Halo Of Flies

The first run will be a special digipack with the bonus track "Shadow Of The Cross".

IMAGIKA recently announced the addition of guitarist Robert Kolowitz to the group's ranks. A current member of Bay Area stalwarts HELLHOUND and former member of BLACKSTORM and RAPIDFIRE, Robert "brings years of experience and perseverance to the second-guitar slot," according to a press release. "His former bands have performed with ANTHRAX, DEATH ANGEL, LEGACY (pre-TESTAMENT),FORBIDDEN, MEGADETH, NITRO, VICIOUS RUMORS and SLAYER."

Metalville is the band and label pool launched by the Cologne, Germany-based company Flying Dolphin Entertainment Group UG.

IMAGIKA's last album, "Feast for the Hated" was released in the U.S. on May 20, 2008 via Locomotive Records. The CD was mixed at Sweden's Sonic Train Studio with Andy La Rocque.