Artist: NIGHTMARE
Album: INSURRECTION (CD)

Year: 2009
Media type: CD

The French Heavy Metal pioneers NIGHTMARE celebrate their 30th anniversary (!) in 2009. But itґs not only to celebrate the past, but present and future too: September 11th sees NIGHTMARE release a brand new studio album, named “Insurrection”. Itґs obvious that the band does not live in the past. The new material is strong, fresh, melodic, heavy and comes around with an up-to-date sound. The sagging „Eternal Winter“ marks a perfect start for the album with its razor-sharp guitar licks; the vicious title track accelerates the speed then while „Legions Of The Rising Sun“ is a more melodic-oriented effort. In addition NIGHTMARE deliver a stunning power track with „Cosa Nostra“, a fine combination of taunting vocals in the chorus and mercilessly driving rhythm.

Vocalist Jo Amore states: “We have come to the album of the maturity, with strong emphasis on heavy guitar riffs in the vein of Arch Enemy and Iced Earth but with the NIGHTMARE heavy metal touch, but at the same time, it's more melodic when it comes to the vocals... We can't wait to play these songs live. We are recording this time in four different studios: drums an arrangements at Savern Studio in France, vocals and bass at Peek studio in France and guitars at u3multimedia studio in Stuttgart (Germany) and mixing at Indiscreet Audio Studio in Ostfildern, Germany."

NIGHTMARE was formed in 1979. They achieved their break through, however, in March 1983 after opening for Def Leppard at the “Pyromania” era in their hometown of Grenoble (France) in front of over 4000 fans. The band quickly signed to Ebony Records the following year to record their debut album, “Waiting For The Twilight”. In preparation for their forthcoming release, the quintet hired vocalist Jean-Marie Boix (ex-Bronx), bringing new momentum to the band with his powerful voice. With this new addition, Jean Strippoli (guitar), Nicolas De Dominicis (guitar), Yves Campion (bass), Jo Amore (drums) entered the studio for the second time to record “Power Of The Universe”.

Jean-Marie Boix was forced to leave the band shortly after due to serious illness. In 1987 Tom Jackson (ex-Praying Mantis, Bernie Marsden' S.O.S., Zenith...), was announced as the bandґs new singer. With only Yves Campion and Nicolas De Dominicis remaining from the original line-up a new band comes to life. Unfortunately musical differences arose among the members of the band, and so NIGHTMARE split, before returning (reformed) in 1999 with the “Astral Deliverance” EP.

Jo Amore meanwhile had traded his drum kit for the microphone and passed the sticks to his brother, David. The record was dedicated to the band’s late frontman J.M. Boix who had died tragically in April of the same year. In 2000 a double live CD entitled “DeLIVErance” was also released to document the band's career and memorable performance at their 30th October 1999 reunion show. In June 2001 NIGHTMARE entered Soundsuite studio with Norwegian producer Terje Refsnes at the helm for the recording of their third album, “Cosmovision”, followed by a tour with Saxon in France and Italy, as well as concerts with Grave Digger. NIGHTMARE opened for Blind Guardian and played major festivals like Rock Machina in Spain, Skeleton Bash in Austria, and Germany’s prestigious Wacken Open Air for the second time. The press praised NIGHTMARE's live performances and with the momentum of sweet success. The Soundsuite also saw NIGHTMARE recording their next two albums “Silent Room” (2003) and “The Dominion Gate”. 2007-2008 were others years of extensive tourings and festivals including a headlining tour in france in the Fall of 2007 with support acts such as Freedom Call (Germany), Hydrogyn (U.S.A) and Kragens (France). The band also appeared in major Summer festivals such as the Hellfest in France for the second time, the Gods Of metal in Italy together with bands such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, the Basinfirefest in Czech Republic with Queensryche and Primal Fear… etc…, the famous “ Hell Over Paradise ”, Metal Camp in Slovenia… among many others… all this to ends-up the promotion of the album, “Genetic Disorder” which gained huge success worldwide…

2009 marks a new step in NIGHTMARE’s career and an important year: celebrating their 30th their anniversary, the arrival of JC Jess on guitar and especially the signing to AFM Records. Also the band is back with their new “Insurrection” album - and back as a creative spearhead for Europeґs Metal scene.

TRACKLIST:

01. Eternal Winter
02. The Gospel Of Judas
03. Insurrection
04. Legions Of The Rising Sun
05. Three Miles Island
06. Mirrors Of Damnation
07. Decameron
08. Target For Revenge
09. Cosa Nostra (Part I: The Light)
10. Angels Of Glass

Bonus track on first edition:
11. Where Dragons Rule

LINE-UP:

Jo Amore - vocals
Franck Milleliri - guitars
JC Jess - guitars
Yves Campion - bass
David Amore - drums