Metal Hall of Fame inductee Blaze Bayley (Iron Maiden singer 1994-1999) releases the first single & video 'Circle of Stone', confirming his forthcoming new album of the same name, whilst also revealing Niklas Stalvind of Swedish metallers Wolf, as guest vocalist.
The single is available now for pre-save & streaming on digital platforms, whilst options for Vinyl LP & CD (including a special Limited Edition bundle) are live now at www.blazebayleyshop.com . Official album release date is 23rd February 2024.
Fans will discover that the new album features some of Blaze's best ever vocal performances, & the combination of vocals with Niklas Stalvind is nothing short of a revelation. The video, produced by Lion Island Media (Chelmsford, UK), is also superbly executed.
Recent times have been a roller-coaster ride for Blaze. Following on from the successful 'Infinite Entanglement' trilogy (2016-2018), around which interest in his career was clearly elevated, he then moved further forward with the critically-acclaimed 'War Within Me' album (2021), whilst touring worldwide. However, he then suffered a severe heart attack early in 2023, requiring life-saving quadruple bypass surgery. Recovery was slow but 6 UK shows towards the end of 2023 felt like a real triumph, quickly followed by a tour with his original (pre-Iron Maiden) band Wolfsbane.
Thankfully, the recording of the new album had been completed just 2 days before the heart attack & the record was put on the 'backburner' whilst health matters & recovery progressed. Blaze's regular team recorded the album with Christopher Appleton (of UK band Absolva) engineering, mixing & co-producing with Blaze (split between their home studios in Manchester & Birmingham respectively), & Ade Emsley mastering. Christopher Appleton also played lead guitar alongside his brother Luke Appleton on power guitar, Martin Mcnee on drums & Karl Schramm on bass.
The artistic talent of Akirant Illustration has again been justifiably trusted for the excellent coverart & layouts.
Meantime fans should expect a second single, video & a little more information soon.
Circle of Stone track listing…
1. Mind Reader
2. Tears in Rain
3. Rage
4. The Year Beyond This Year
5. Ghost in the Bottle
6. The Broken Man
7. The Call of the Ancestors
8. Circle of Stone
9. Absence
10. A Day of Reckoning
11. The Path of the Righteous Man
12. Until We Meet Again
Additionally in 2024, Blaze proudly celebrates the 30th anniversary of when he first joined Iron Maiden and so, touring this year will weave between the Circle of Stone album tour & 30th Anniversary shows with a Maiden-heavy setlist...
* 30th Anniversary shows
** Circle Of Stone Tour
JANUARY
24 ES Barcelona, Club Wolf *
25 ES Pamplona, Club Totem *
26 ES Gijon, Club Acapulco *
27 ES Vigo, Club Rouge *
28 ES Madrid, Club Moby Dick *
FEBRUARY
3 NI Warrenpoint, Skylite Room *
4 NI Omagh, Bogan's *
7 NI Belfast, Voodoo *
8 IE Dublin, Whelan's *
9 IE Limerick, Dolan's *
10 IE Cork, Fred Zeppelins *
11 IE Cork, Fred Zeppelins *
29 FR Lille, Black Lab **
MARCH
1 BE Verviers, Spirit of 66 **
3 FR Lyon, Rock n Eat **
6 FR La Rochelle, Crossroad **
8 FR Aubiere, Chorus **
9 FR Marseille, Jas Rod **
10 IT Genova, Crazy Bull **
12 AT Kufstein, Kultur Quartier ** (opening for U.D.O.)
13 DE Cham, LA **
14 AT Vienna, Viper Room **
15 CZ Brno, Nova Melodka **
16 CZ Pilsen, Serikovka **
17 DE Erfurt, From Hell **
APRIL
6 FR Mametz, Mametz Festival *
7 BE Diest, Hell *
10 SE Malmo, Plan B *
11 SE Motala, Bomber Bar *
12 SE Sala, Rockland *
13 SE Huskvarna, Metal Fest *
14 SE Gothenburg, The Abyss *
17 DE Hamburg, Bambi Galore *
18 DE Siegen, Vortex *
20 FR Chatel-Guyon, Vulcan Hot Road Festival *
MAY
9 BE Bilzen, South of Heaven **
10 DE Kassel, Goldgrube **
11 DE Mannheim, 7er Club **
12 DE Munich, Backstage **
JUNE
29 SE Kiruna, Kiruna Festival *
JULY
19 UK Maidstone, Made of Stone Festival *
27 NO Harstad, Rockholm Festival *
AUGUST
10 CH Manried, Mannried Open Air *
31 CZ Prostejov, Rock for Your Shock Fest *
SEPTEMBER
6 DE Bochum, Rockpalast *
7 DE Willanzheim, Maiden Mania Festival *
8 DE Osnabruck, BC *
18 UK Glasgow, Ivory Blacks **
19 UK Newcastle, Trillians **
20 UK Manchester, Club Academy **
21 UK London, Underworld **
22 UK Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill **
OCTOBER
5 FR Fismes, British Steel Festival *
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