KING DIAMOND's LA ROCQUE To Guest On New DARZAMAT Album

KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque will make a guest appearance on "Solfernus' Path", the new album from Polish extreme metallers DARZAMAT. La Rocque, who has previously appeared on albums from such artsts as AT THE GATES, EVERGREY and DIMMU BORGIR, recorded a guest guitar solo for the track "The King of the Burning Anthems" at his own Sonic Train studios in Varberg, Sweden

Commented DARZAMAT: "We met Andy during the work on our previous album, 'Transkarpatia'. He was responsible for the production of this album. Andy appeared to be not only the great musician and producer but also a wonderful and open man. Since that session, we've still been in touch and as soon as the cooperation possibility occured, we did not hesitate at all. The solo part played by him on the DARZAMAT's album, was one of our dreams come true. It was amazing when he agreed to take part in this undertaking. For us it's the most important album in our band's history, on which we've been working truly hard. We've put a lot of emotions in it and additionally the presence of Andy La Rocque on 'Solfernus' Path' makes us very proud."

As previously reported, DARZAMAT has tapped Jonas Kljellgren (SCAR SYMMETRY guitarist) of Black Lounge Studios in Avesta, Sweden to mix "Solfernus' Path" for an early 2009 release. The new album will be recorded in Poland under the supervision of Jaroslaw Toifl, with whom the band had previously worked on 2005's "Transkarpatia" (Metal Mind Productions in Europe, MVD in the USA). The drums and guitars will be laid down at HH Poland studio in Gliwice, while the vocals will be tracked at Maq studio. The keyboard parts will be recorded at Spectre's (DARZAMAT keyboard player) home studio.

"Solfernus' Path" will include the following songs:

01. False Sleepwalker
02. Vote for Heresy
03. Final Conjuration
04. Pain Collector
05. Gloria Inferni
06. Solfernus' Path
07. Lunar Silhouette
08. King of Burning Anthems
09. Chimera
10. A Mesmeric Séance

DARZAMAT vocalist Flauros previously stated about the upcoming CD: "For the first time in our band's history, we've decided to create a concept album. It is a certain sort of novelty for us, yet we've had such an idea in our minds for a long time now. The coherent story, which is to be told by both the lyrics and the music, is a hell of a greater challenge than composing ten pieces in the similar stylistics. As the action proceeds, the music must 'react' accordingly and suitably. It is as if a screenplay, which is to attract the viewer in an interesting way."

He continued, "The story contained on the record takes place in a mysthical set, indeed, which is created by the mansion of countess Josephine von Kuchmeister, the inspiration for which was the Villa Caro in Gliwice and the palace in Plawniowice. The action of 'Solfernus' Path' takes place at the beginning of XXth century. The main character is a medicine student who undergoes a spiritual transformation. He goes beyond the carnal world and he notices the 'other side.' Everything is dressed in fairy-like climate, full of the occult 'keys.' Nothing is obvious, nothing here is predictable.

"The title Solfernus is of course not the main character of the story, but it's eminence grise. The character of Solfernus derives from the play 'Dalliance with Devil' written by the Czech dramatist Jan Drda. It is only a tiny inspiration, an impuls where one should not seek any similarities. Drda's play is grotesque and humorous, while our story is of a completely different character, much closer to Stefan Grabinski's horror short stories than to the ones of the Czech playwright."

DARZAMAT released its first-ever live DVD, entitled "Live Profanity (Visiting the Graves of Heretics)", in North America in August 2007 via Metal Mind Productions (the DVD was released in Europe a month earleir). The disc was recorded at the 21st edition of the Metalmania Festival, which took place on March 24, 2007 in Katowice, Poland, and contains material comprised mostly of songs from the band's latest album, "Transkarpatia". Also included is the group's surprise performance of the song "Diabelski Dom" by the cult Polish metal band KAT, featuring a guest appearance by KAT leader Roman Kostrzewski. The DVD also includes additional footage from the Winternachtstraum Festival, which took place in February 2007 in Arnsberg, Germany, two unreleased tracks, video clips, and an interview with Flauros and Nera.

"Labyrinth of Anxiety" (taken from "Live Profanity (Visiting the Graves of Heretics)" DVD):