Jaakko Silvast vieraili Studio Audiolla kyselemässä kuulumisia uuden levyn tiimoilta. Raportin kuvien kera voi tsekata TÄÄLTÄ.

Read about the making of the 3rd album. Studio diary can be read here.

Scandinavianrock.com interviewed Pekka Heino and you can listen the audio of that interview (mp3) HERE.

----------

Scandinavianradio.com haastatteli Pekka Heinoa. Kuuntele haastattelu englanniksi (mp3) TÄÄLTÄ.

Jyväskylän Red Neckin 1.5. cover-keikka joudutaan valitettavasti perumaan sairaustapauksen vuoksi. Suuret pahoittelumme tästä!

Hi!

Sorry for the recent lack of updates here.

We've been busting our butts writing and rehearsing new material, it's going
great. As soon as we'll get the actual recordings of our third album going,
scheduled for late May, we'll start a studio diary here.

Meanwhile, rock on!

Leverage esiintyy Kesäkuun 12. Jyväskylän Sataman Yö-festareilla!

http://www.satamanyo.fi/esiintyjat.php

LEVERAGE SIGNS WITH SPINEFARM RECORDS

Leverage is thrilled to announce their signing with the metal powerhouse Spinefarm Records (the home of artists such as Nightwish, Children of Bodom, Sonata Arctica and Swallow The Sun etc.).

LEVERAGE is a Finnish melodic metal band that came out of nowhere in 2006 causing quite a stir with their debut album "Tides" and continuing to impress with their sophomore, "Blind Fire" ,in 2008. The group's blend of modern metal sound and old-school, melody-based songwriting earned rave reviews from the media and created a fanbase both in Finland and throughout the rock community in many countries, as far as in the USA and Japan.

Leverage's main songwriter on the first two albums, guitarist Tuomas Heikkinen, says: "Actually, this is Leverage's first real artist deal with a record company. Before, we've had distribution and licensing agreements. Personally, I have no complaints about anything in Leverage's last couple of years, but I'm very pleased that we're now with a very well recognized heavy music label, and that we now get to make our next album concentrating solely on just that. We're in full steam writing new songs, and the overall feeling is great! In addition, our bass player Pekka is now rapidly recovering from a serious disease, which really is the best news of the moment
for this band."

The band's new A&R, Mr. Hannu Lehtonen, comments: "I am happy to star working with Leverage and I look forward to hearing their new material. With a strong new album, like both their previous ones have been, I am certain that we can take Leverage into the right direction, step by step. There's tons of work to do for Leverage to conquer the world, but '09 will hopefully be a good kick off for that!"

Leverage will now concentrate on writing new material for the next album, due to be recorded and released via Spinefarm Records during the fall of 2009.

Leverage are:

Pekka Heino, vocals
Tuomas Heikkinen, guitar
Torsti Spoof, guitar
Pekka Lampinen, bass
Marko Niskala, keyboards
Valtteri Revonkorpi, drums

More info:
www.leverageband.com
www.myspace.com/leverageband
www.spinefarm.fi

Leverage is thrilled to announce their signing with the metal powerhouse
Spinefarm Records.

The band's third album is due to be released in the fall of '09.

Stay tuned for more detailed news on the subject in the near future.

----------

LEVERAGE ON KIINNITETTY SPINEFARMILLE.

Leveragen kolmas albumi julkaistaan Spinefarm Recordsin kautta
syksyllä 2009.
Aiheesta laajemmin lähipäivinä.

A HUGE THANKS to the promoters, organization and all the other bands of
last weekend´s "Kaveria ei jätetä"-charity concerts for the fun and successful events! We'd like to especially thank Mr. Timo Kotipelto and Mr. Jens Johansson and all the wonderful people in the audience at Tampere and Helsinki! Also we would like to express our gratitude to our good friend Sami Norrbacka for filling in bass player-duties temporarily. We also wish success to the fundraising for the very important cause (http://www.kaveria-ei-jateta.org/info.php). Some videofootage from Tampere and Helsinki will be available on Leverage´s youtube-channel in the near future (http://www.youtube.com/leverageofficial).

Good luck also to our Pekka Heino for his upcoming European tour with Brother Firetribe! Stay pink & fluffy!

Leverage will now concentrate on writing new material for the next album, due to be recorded and released within 2009. Stay tuned for more news on a new label, schedules etc.

Before the release of the next album Leverage will not play too much live,
some dates are planned, and will be confirmed later.

Rock on!

-Leverage-

----------

Kiitoksia ja lähitulevaisuuden suunnitelmia.

Suuret kiitokset menneen viikonlopun "Kaveria ei jätetä"-keikkojen
järjestäjille sekä muille osallistuneille bändeille onnistuneista ja
hienoista tapahtumista! Erityisesti haluamme kiittää Timo Kotipeltoa,
Jens Johanssonia ja todella hienoa yleisöä sekä Tampereella että
Helsingissä! Haluamme myös ilmaista suuret kiitoksemme hyvälle ystävällemme, Sami Norrbackalle, joka tuurasi Pekka Lampista bassossa ko. keikoilla. Toivotamme menestystä hyvän asian puolesta alkaneelle keräykselle (http://www.kaveria-ei-jateta.org/info.php). Kuvamateriaalia kyseisiltä keikoilta tulee nähtäville Leveragen youtube-kanavalle lähitulevaisuudessa (http://www.youtube.com/leverageofficial).

Hyvää ja onnistunutta Euroopan kiertuetta Heinon
Pekalle Brother Firetriben kanssa! Stay pink & fluffy!

Leverage keskittyy nyt kirjoittamaan seuraavaa levyä. Kolmas levy saadaan
mahdollisesti ulos vielä tänä vuonna. Tarkempaa uutisointia uuteen levyyn,
uuteen levy-yhtiöön, aikatauluihin jne. liittyen ilmestyy lähitulevaisuudessa.

Keikkarintamalla on lähikuukaudet kaikesta edellä mainitusta johtuen hiljaista. Joitain keikkoja on kuitenkin suunnitteilla, joista infotaan sitten
lähempänä tarkemmin.

Rock on!

-Leverage-

It´s the time of the year to thank all the good people we have met, worked
with and played to. Thanks to every magazine, journalist and webzine etc. for
all the support! A very special humble thanks to all YOU who purchased the
album BLIND FIRE and came to our shows during 2008! We had a blast!

See you in 2009! Rock on!

-Leverage

Bassomaestro Pekka Lampinen toipuu paraikaa vaikeasta sairaudesta ja tästä johtuen häntä tuuraa basson varressa tulevilla tammikuun Tampereen ja Helsingin keikoilla bändin vanha tuttu Sami Norrbacka. Pekka palaa takaisin basson varteen 110% innolla maaliskuussa. Toivotamme Pekalle pikaista toipumista!

Valtteri Revonkorpi (rummut) menee vieraaksi Radio Jyväskylän iltapäivään maanantaina 15.12. Luvassa jutustelua ja hyvää musiikkia alkaen klo 15.

Virittäydy kanavalle, ja jos radio ei ole kuuluvuusalueella, voit kuunnella lähetystä netissä: www.radiojkl.fi

Leverage esiintyy hyväntekeväisyyskonserteissa heti alkuvuodesta 2009:

Tukikonsertti nuorten mielenterveyskuntoutumisen edistämiseksi.
STAM1NA
TIMO KOTIPELTO
TIMO RAUTIAINEN,
LEVERAGE
MEDICATED
+yllätysnimiä ja hyväntekeväisyyshuutokauppa

Tampereella Pakkahuoneella 2.1. ja Helsingissä kulttuuriareena Gloriassa 3.1. järjestettävien konserttien tuotot käytetään lyhentämättöminä vapaaehtoiseen nuorison päihde- ja mielenterveystyöhön.

Lisätietoja: toimjoht@mielenterveys-taimi.fi/TAIMI.ry

PÄIVITYS 26.11.
Tapahtumien kotisivut: http://www.kaveria-ei-jateta.org/

Liput tapahtumiin Tiketistä.

Some pics from the video shoot of Mister Universe added to photo section. Check them out here.
----------
Kuvia Mister Universe -biisin videokuvauksista nähtävissä täällä.

Satu from Rockunited.com met the guys earlier this year before the show. Check out this nice interview HERE!
----------
Satu rockunited.comista tapasi jannut haastattelun merkeissä ennen keikkaa aikaisemmin tänä vuonna. Lopputuloksen voit lukea (englanniksi) TÄÄLTÄ!

While waiting for the schedule of the forthcoming fall and winter, here´s some live-videoclips for you to enjoy. Filmed at the Qstock-festival, June 26th 2008 at Oulu, Finland:

Dreamworld
Twilight Symphony
Fifteen Years
----------
Tulevan syksyn ja talven aikatauluja odotellessa, voit katsastaa muutaman livevideopätkän. Klipit on kuvattu Oulun Qstock-festivaaleilla 26.7.2008:

Dreamworld
Twilight Symphony
Fifteen Years

Leverage´s latest album "BLIND FIRE" will be released in USA, October 21st, 2008 via BLISTERING RECORDS USA, INC./RYKO DISTRIBUTION.

Blistering Records USA, INC distributes/promotes other artists such as Glenn Hughes, Jorn Lande, Michael Kiske, House of Lords and Revolution Renaissance.

More info:
Blisteringrecords
Ryko Distribution
----------
"Blind Fire" julkaistaan USA:ssa

Leveragen uusin albumi "BLIND FIRE" julkaistaan USA:ssa 21.10.2008 BLISTERING RECORDS USA,INC / RYKO DISTRIBUTIONin toimesta.

Blistering Recordsin muita artisteja ovat mm. Glenn Hughes, Jorn Lande, Michael Kiske, House Of Lords ja Revolution Renaissance.

Lisäinfoa:
Blisteringrecords
Ryko Distribution

Biisi "Stormchild" on mukana uudella Suomimetallia 2-kokoelmalevyllä (Edel records).

Tracklist:
1. Diablo – Icaros
2. Turisas – Rasputin
3. Mokoma – Marras
4. Stam1na - Voima vastaan viha
5. Teräsbetoni – Ukkoshevonen
6. Turmion kätilöt - Minä määrään
7. Sturm und drang – Broken
8. Ruoska - Ei koskaan
9. Amberian Dawn - River of tuoni
10. Kilpi - Sisäinen vihollinen
11. Tracedawn - Without walls
12. Black Bile – Valerian
13. The Chant - Green waters
14. Tarot – Tides
15. Leverage – Stormchild
16. Poisonblack – Rush
17. Ancara – Snowflower
18. 51 Koodia – Odotus

The gigs in Katse, Jyväskylä, were a blast.Thanks to everyone involved! Check the forum for more.

Leverage vetäisee kaksi keikkaa peräjälkeen Jyväskylän Pub Katseessa kesäkuun lopussa. Ensimmäisenä iltana haetaan vauhtia spesiaalisetillä mikä koostuu pelkästään legendaarisista coverbiiseistä. Leverage siis lauteilla.

Toisena iltana kuullaan sitten niitä omia biisejä. Eli, jos missasit Lutakon vedon maaliskuussa, nyt kannattaa tulla paikalle!
Paikka: Pub Katse, JKL
Aika: pe-la 27.-28.6.

-----
Leverage will be playing two nights in a row in Jyväskylä. First show is a special evening with band playing all those great heavy metal covers. Second evening is all about Leverage's own songs. So, if you missed that show at Lutakko last March be sure to check this one out!
Venue: Pub Katse, Jyväskylä
Time: Fri-Sat 27.-28.06.

Pekka´s interview will be available to hear on June 15 at the radioshow "Beth's Pleasure Room" on KWTF worldwide. The show will air between 9 PM and 1 AM GMT -5 (4 - 8 AM Finnish time), and will be rebroadcast on Monday, June 16 at 8 PM Finnish time.
----------
Pekka Heinon haastattelu on kuultavissa kesäkuun 16. päivä KWTF worldwide-kanavan ohjelmassa "Beth's Pleasure Room". Ohjelma on kuultavissa su-ma välisenä aamuyönä klo 04-08 ja tulee uusintana ma 16.6. klo 20 Suomen aikaa.

LEVERAGE is confimed to perform at Qstock-festival, Oulu, Finland 25.-26.7.2008. (w/ Manic Street Preachers, Within Temptation, Amorphis etc.) For more info about the festival and other bands there, go to www.qstock.org!
----------
LEVERAGE esiintyy Qstock-festareilla Oulussa 25.-26.7.2008. Muita esiintyjiä festareilla ovat mm. Manic Street Preachers, Within Temptation, Amorphis. Lisätietoja festareista ja siellä esiintyvistä bändeistä, www.qstock.org!

Interview of Tuomas available at Metal-Temple.com.
----------
Tuomaksen haastattelu Metal-Temple.com-sivustolla.

The brand new video of "Mister Universe" can be viewed HERE! Video was directed by PETRI SIIKANEN and the song is taken from Leverage´s new album BLIND FIRE.
----------
Uunituore "Mister Universe"-video on nyt nähtävissä TÄÄLLÄ! Videon on ohjannut PETRI SIIKANEN ja biisi on Leveragen uudelta "BLIND FIRE"-albumilta.

Finnish premiere of Leverage´s new promovideo "Mister Universe" (directed by Petri Siikanen) is tonight at Finnish YLE TV2 channel´s Musiikki-TV. The show will air at 00.40 tonight, but for the people who cannot wait, you can see the whole show already online at Yle Areena. Includes the interview of Tuomas & Pekka in Finnish (14:38 of the show) and of course, the brand new video! (19:00->). THE SHOW IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FINNISH VIEWERS ONLY. The promotional video will be online at Leverage´s Youtube-channel very shortly!
----------
Leveragen uuden videon "Mister Universe" (ohjaus: Petri Siikanen) Suomen ensi-ilta tänään Yle TV2 kanavalla Musiikki TV-ohjelmassa. Ohjelma tulee ulos tänä yönä klo 00:40, mutta niille, jotka eivät jaksa odottaa sinne asti, ko. lähetys on nähtävissä jo nyt Yle Areenassa. Ohjelmassa siis Tuomaksen ja Pekan haastattelu (alkaa kohdasta 14:38->) sekä uunituore video (kohdasta 19:00->). Video tulee piakkoin nähtäville myös Leveragen Youtube-kanavalle.

Leverage´s official youtube-channel has now been opened.

Check it out by clicking HERE!

We will be adding some videos from live shows every now & then to the channel, so be sure to check them out. The first video uploaded is "Heart of Darkness" from a recent show from Lutakko, Jyväskylä... Stay tuned!
----------
Leveragen youtube-kanava on nyt avattu.

Tsekkaa kanava TÄÄLTÄ!

Kanavalle tullaan lisäilemään videomateriaalia tasaisin väliajoin, joten pysy kanavalla! Ensimmäinen video linjoilla on "Heart of Darkness" äskettäiseltä Jyväskylän Lutakon keikalta.

Herrat Heino ja Heikkinen kävivät Yle:n Musiikki-TV:n haastattelussa. Ohjelma nähtävissä Yle TV2-kanavalla ensi maanantain ja tiistain (21.-22.4) välisenä yönä (KLO 00.40).

Ohjelman kotisivut täällä.

From metalexpressradio.com:

"Friday guest DJ Hour
New episodes return this week beginning with PEKKA HEINO, vocalist of Finland's Hard Rock act LEVERAGE! Tune in as he unleashes some of his favorite tracks. Pekka's favorite beverages include Sandels' Lager Beer, Russian Vodka, and Dr. Pepper! Tune in at 15:00 & 21:00 CET (9am & 3pm EST) on Friday to see if his musical tastes match his palate!!! Also, after Pekka leaves the studio we'll spin a few tracks off Leverage's latest release Blind Fire!

Tune into The Friday GUEST DJ Hour at:

15:00 and 21:00 CET (Europe)
9:00am and 3:00pm EST (North America)"

more info at http://www.metalexpressradio.com/menu.php?main=radio#guest

Leverage is confirmed to perform at Finland´s biggest Midsummer festival, RMJ 2008 in Pori 19.-21.6.2008. At the festival, Leverage will perform on June 21st on Battery Power Stage. For more info about the festival and the other bands there, click here. (in Finnish only)
----------
Leverage esiintyy Suomen suurimmilla juhannusfestivaaleilla, RMJ 2008:ssa. Festari pidetään Porissa 19.-21.6.2008 välisenä aikana ja Leverage esiintyy 21.6.2008 Battery Power Stagella. Lisää infoa festivaalista ja sen muista esiintyjistä saat klikkaamalla tästä.

You can now listen two previously unreleased live tracks at Leverage´s bandpage at Facebook, here. Tracks are "Superstition" and "Twilight Symphony". Recorded at Tavastia, Helsinki Feb. 15th 2007
----------
Kaksi ennenjulkaisematonta liveaudioraitaa on nyt kuultavissa Leveragen bändisivuilla Facebookissa täällä. Biisit ovat "Superstition" ja "Twilight Symphony" ja ne äänitettiin Tavastialla Helsingissä 15.2.2007.

Interview of Tuomas at Lords Of Metal e-zine can be read here.
----------
Tuomaksen haastattelu Lords Of Metal-sivustolla luettavissa täältä.

Leverage-group at Facebook here.

Leverage band-page at Facebook here. Log in and become a fan!
----------
Leverage-group Facebookissa täällä.

Leveragen bändisivut Facebookissa täällä. Nyt jos koskaan, loggaudu sisään ja liity faniksi!

ROCK THE BONES

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release on March 14th of “ROCK THE BONES vol. VI”, the new volume of the sampler CD, which proved to be a very important promo tool and very popular among the fans! Available in mid price, includes amazing premieres of ASIA, GLENN HUGHES, DOKKEN, JORN, JIMI JAMISON, KIP WINGER songs taken from their up and coming albums plus all the new 2008 hits on Frontiers Records !!!

For more info and tracklist, CLICK HERE.

Melodicrock.com has posted a new interview with Pekka H. They talk about Leverage as well as Pekka's other band, Brother Firetribe.

Read the interview here.

Getinthepit (www.getinthepit.fi) sat down with Pekka and Tuomas in Tampere to discuss Leverage's brand new album Blind Fire.

Watch the interview here:
Part I
Part II

Blind Fire was 25th on official finnish album list (3rd week on the list) and 6th on official Rumba album list.

Blind Fire sijoittui julkaisuviikollaan virallisella albumilistalla sijalle 24. ÄKT:n päätöksen mukaan listalla oli huomioitu myös Tammikuun levyalen alennuslevyt.
www.yle.fi/lista
--------
On release week Blind Fire was 24th on official album chart. Albums included in January's discount campaign were also on the chart.
www.yle.fi/lista

"Blind Fire" on Rumban virallisella listalla 1/2008 sijalla 8.
http://www.como.fi/rumbalista.asp?lid=Rumba
------
"Blind Fire" is nr. 8 on official Rumba record sales list.
http://www.como.fi/rumbalista.asp?lid=Rumba

Leveragen haastattelu uudessa Infernossa (ilm. 25.1.)
http://www.imperiumi.net/inferno/inf_issue_2.php?id=56

----

Interview in new Inferno magazine issue (25.1.)
http://www.imperiumi.net/inferno/inf_issue_2.php?id=56

New interview at Noise.fi.
Read it here (in finnish only)
------------
Uusi haastattelu Noise.fi -sivuilla.
Lue täältä.

New album BLIND FIRE will be hitting stores today Wednesday 16th in Finland. Get your own copy from a shop near you or order it online:
www.aironmusiikki.fi
www.cdon.com
www.levykauppax.fi
www.epes.fi
www.swampmusic.com

The album will be release in the rest of the Europe and Japan next week
(January 25th).

Voit ostaa Blind Fire -levyn myös digitaalisesti hyvälaatuisina mp3-tiedostoina Levykauppa X:n nettikaupasta hintaan 11,90. Maksu tapahtuu luotettavasti Levykauppa X:n sivuilla ja maksamiseen käy luottokortti tai pankkikortti.
Klikkaa oikealla olevaa banneria ja astu kauppaan!

--------
You can buy Blind Fire album digitally on high quality mp3-files for 11,90e from Record Shop X's webstore. Payment is handled confidentially on Record Shop X's website and you can pay by credit card or debit card. The service is in finnish only.
Click banner on right and step into the store!

New album "Blind Fire" is getting a massive critical response from the specialized Hard Rock and Metal press. MelodicRock.com gave the album 93% saying " the band has taken the blueprint of the debut and reproduced it again here". Read the review here

Some of the other comments gathered for Blind Fire:
Rock Hard (Italy): Dynamit 8/10
Metal Maniac (Italy): Maniac Album 8/10
Metal Hammer (Italy): Top Album of the Month 8/10
Flash (Italy): Top Album of the Month 90/100
Rafabasa (Spain): 8/10
Strutter (Holland): 9.2/10
Hardhearderheavy (Germany) 5.5/7

Blind Fire will be released on January 16th in Finland and on January 25th for the rest of the Europe and Japan. Order your copy here.

HCSanomat.fi haastatteli Tuomasta.
Lue haastattelu täältä
-------
HCSanomat.fi interviewed Tuomas.
Read the interview here ( in finnish ).

Gig on Friday 1.2. at Tampere had to be changed to Saturday 26.1. Check out all the live dates here

On Wednesday morning (9.1.) at 8.30am Torsti will be interviewed on Radio Keski-Suomi. Tune in on 99,3.

Interview can be heard on their website later on.
---------
Keskiviikkoaamuna (9.1.) klo 8.30 Torstin haastattelu Radio Keski-Suomessa. Taajuus 99,3.

Haastattelu on myöhemmin kuunneltavissa radion nettisivuilla.

Blind Fire on YleX:n viikon levy. Heikkinen ja Heino haastattelussa maanantaina 7.1. klo 11.20 sekä uusintana klo 20.10. Levy julkaistaan ke 16.1.

Lue lisää: YleX

-----
Blind Fire is album of the week on YleX. Heikkinen and Heino are interviewed on Monday 7.1. at 11.20 and is heard in re-run at 20.10. The album will be released January 16th.

Read more: YleX

Tilaa levy julkaisupäiväksi kotiisi Levykauppa X:stä!

Preorder new album "Blind Fire" from Record Shop X. Record shop X supports Paypal and credit card payments, fast deliveries only 2,50 worldwide!

Leverage's second album entitled Blind Fire will be released in Finland January 16th 2008. The album will be distributed by Playground Music Scandinavia.

For the rest of Europe as well as for Japan the release date is one week later: January 25th.

Leverage will set off on tour early next year. Tour dates will be announced later.

Sentenced, the first radio single has been added on band's myspace site.

>> www.myspace.com/leverageband

Frontiers Records has announced the details of LEVERAGE's highly anticipated second album, entitled "Blind Fire".

LEVERAGE is a Finnish melodic metal band which came out of nowhere in 2006, causing a stir with the release of its debut album, "Tides". The group's blend of modern metal sound and old-school melody-based songwriting earned rave reviews from the media and created a fanbase both in Finland and throughout the rock community in many countries.

"The warm welcome for 'Tides' was a pleasant surprise for us," says the band’s guitar player and main composer Tuomas Heikkinen. "We got good radio airplay in Finland, even climbed to the charts, all before our very first gig with our own material! Since then, we’ve played throughout Finland at clubs and festivals. Our music has been described as melodic metal or melodic heavy rock, which is fine by us."

He continues, "We wanted to plan the second album and the second step of our career carefully. The songs were all written between the release of 'Tides' and entering the studio in July 2007. Right from the first demos we knew that the second album will be a great step forward for LEVERAGE. Here's why: we're tighter as a band, we know what our own style is and what we might be capable of, and we're busting our butts to make as solid music as we ever can. We recorded and mixed (Torsti Spoof and Jari Mikkola) the album at Studio Audio, Jyväskylä, Finland between the beginning of July and halfway of September. It was mastered at Chartmakers, Helsinki."

"Blind Fire" will be released in Europe (excluding Finland) on Frontiers Records on January 25, 2007. Frontiers will also release a new version of "Tides" which will include two exclusive bonus tracks: "Superstition" (live) and "Twilight Symphony" (live).

"Blind Fire" track listing:

01. Shadow In The Rain
02. King Of The Night
03. Stormchild
04. Sentenced
05. Hellhorn
06. Mister Universe
07. Don’t Touch The Sun
08. Run Down The Hill
09. Heart Of Darkness
10. Learn To Live

Source: www.blabbermouth.net

MEDIATIEDOTE 23.10.2007

JULKAISUVAPAA HETI


LEVERAGE JULKAISEE TOISEN PITKÄSOITTONSA TAMMIKUUSSA, RADIOSINGLE LOKAKUUN LOPULLA

Tyylikkäästi uudelle vuosituhannelle päivitettyä vanhan koulukunnan melodista heviä soittava Leverage julkaisi vuonna 2006 "Tides" debyyttinsä ja kriitikkoryhmä sekä fanit löivät kilvan taaloja likoon kyseessä olevan vuoden kovin metallilevy. Albumi keräsi kerska-arviot musiikkimediassa, sinkkubiisit "Fifteen Years", "Superstition" ja "Dreamworld" soivat radioissa ja bändi tahkosi keikkoja ympäri Suomen. Debyytti julkaistiin kotimaan lisäksi myös Ruotsissa, Saksassa, Benelux-maissa sekä Kauko-Idässä - Leverage oli tehnyt näyttävän sisääntulon kotimaan hard rock -kentälle.

Leveragen toinen vielä nimeämätön albumi julkaistaan tammikuussa 2008 ja tekijäryhmä on pysynyt muuttumattona. Biisien sävellyksistä vastaa edelleen pääosin kitaristi Tuomas Heikkinen, toisena säveltäjänä kitaristi Torsti Spoof, joka on toiminut myös miksaajana ja tuottajana levylle. Tuomas Heikkinen, joka on sanoittanut albumin kaikki kappaleet, kommentoi tulevaa levyä " tiukempi, raskaampi mutta myös tunteikkaampi. Melodista raskasta rokkia se on edelleen. Meininki on räyhäkkäämpi kuin Tidesilla. Tämä johtunee kaiketi siitä, että bändi on hitsautunut ja oma "staili" on kirkastunut." Omiksi tämän hetkisiksi biisisuosikeikseen tulevalta albumilta Heikkinen nimeää "Mr.Universe" ja "Learn to Live" raidat.

Kokoonpanon laulajan pestissä on alusta alkaen seissyt Brother Firetribenkin mikin ääreltä tuttu mies Pekka Heino, jonka ääni on kuin luotu melodiseen rokkiin. Pekka kuvailee fiiliksiään levyn teosta ja sen synnystä "Vaikka Tidesin erittäin lämpimän vastaanoton jälkeen olisi voinut luulla, että paineet kakkoslevyn tekemiseen ovat huikeat, ei ollut hetkenkään epäilystä, etteikö homma toimisi, kun kuuli biisit demottuina. Oli helppoa lähtea tekemään, kun tiesi, ettei ainakaan materiaalin puolesta tarvitse huolehtia. Piti vaan huolehtia, että biisit saadaan soundipuolella toimimaan niin ettei mitään kysyttävää pitäisi jäädä. Nyt sekin huoli on poissa kun on kuullut valmiin tekeleen, voi huoletta seistä kaiken takana mitä levyltä löytyy. Jos Tides kolahti niin luultavasti kolahtaa myös tämä. Kaikilla osa-alueilla on menty eteenpäin."

Albumilta julkaistava ensimmäinen single on "Sentenced", joka edustaa sitä, mitä Leverage on; mahtipontinen, useista kokonaisuuksista koostuva hard rock -teos. Biisin stadionrockintro, kerrasta selkärankaan liimautuva melodia ja kertsi sekä antaumuksellinen kitarasoolo vievät "Sentenced" kappaleen kerrasta hardrock -biisieliittiin - takuuvarma päänsisäinen vakioviisu. Uusi albumi tullaan julkaisemaan Suomen lisäksi koko Euroopassa tammikuussa 2008.

Leveragelta on odotettavissa vuoden alussa korkeatasoinen levy, joka tulee olemaan piristävä poikkeus tällä massatuotannon aikakaudella. Latu on auki!


Pressikuvat: (kysy tommi@playgroundmusic.com tai 044 5400 486)



Lisätiedot:

Jakelu: Playground Music / Tommi Muhli, 044 540 0486, tommi@playgroundmusic.com

Promootio: ProPromotion Oy / Taija Holm, 040 748 3435, taija@propromotion.fi

Keikat: Dex-Viihde / Minna Kumpuvuori, 044 280 6699, minna.kumpuvuori@dexviihde.fi

Next issue of finnish metal mag Inferno has a story of the forthcoming Leverage album. Magazine will be out on October 12th.

Click here for more info

Leverage has signed a multi-album deal with italian melodic rock label Frontiers Records. The label is one of the biggest in Europe when it comes to this genre and the band is very excited about working with Frontiers Records.

Here is the news from their site:

"Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the signing of the Finnish Melodic Metal band LEVERAGE for a multi album deal !

Finnish Heavy Rock has of course long traditions, but this type of old school melodic heavy rock with a shade of progressive flavour hasn’t been heard from Finnish bands before.

Leverage debut album “Tides” created a real underground wave among the fans during 2006. Winner of the “Best Metal / Prog” album of the year award on Melodicrock.com (and getting great reviews all around the net), the band’s music offers a variety and exciting Melodic Metal formula with powerful vocals (courtesy of singer Pekka Heino, also known for his stint with Brother Firetribe) and killer guitars.

“Tides” charted in Leverage home country, Finland, reaching the general Top 30 in the first 2 weeks of release.

“This is not a boy band, a studio band, a wannabe-band, project band or whatever fake band. Leverage is a true and honest heavy rock band, for the love of heavy rock!”: states guitarist and main songwriter Tuomas Heikkinen and you can bet these guys are definitely one of the musical upcoming brightest stars around.

Leverage are:
Pekka Heino :: vocals
Tuomas Heikkinen :: guitar
Torsti Spoof :: guitar
Marko Niskala :: keyboards
Pekka Lampinen :: bass
Valtteri Revonkorpi :: drums

Check out the band listening to “Superstition”, a sample from “Tides” and judge it on your own !

Leverage spent the entire months July and August in the studio to wrap up the follow up to “Tides”. The new album will be released on Frontiers in early 2008, with a re-release in selected European countries on the band’s monster debut album “Tides” in mid price line with bonus tracks ! Stay tuned for more updates!"

Check out the official label announcement here.

The first song from the upcoming album is now mixed. Take a look at the studio diary to see some interesting info about it.

Pekka's vocals, part two

Again...

Studio report by Torsti this time... check it out!

Marko Niskala tells about his keyboard work. Background vocal sessions also visited.

Check it out..

Click on Diary to see what's up.

On Monday 9th of July Leverage will start the recordings for their second album. The album will be recorded and mixed in Studio Audio, the same place where they did their well-received debut album Tides.

To keep up with what's going on read this Studio Diary.

Follow down that River EP should hit stores in Finland today. Title song is taken from the band's debut album Tides (released last September) which has received plenty of positive feedback in Finland as well as in other countries.

EP also has 2 Japan bonus tracks Waterfall / Land of Flames and a live version of Stranger recorded at Tavastia last February.

Leverage is currently writing and pre-producing material for their next album. Stay tuned for more info.

The show at Giggling Marlin on June 8th is cancelled.

Leverage is the band of the month at Hardrockhaven.net

Read more: www.hardrockhaven.net

Follow down that River will be released as a CD single. Release date will be announced later but expect it late April / early May.

Track list is as follows:
1. Follow down that River
2. Waterfall*
3. Land of Flames*
4. Stranger (live)**

* from Japan edition of Tides
** recorded at Tavastia 15th of February

The band is currently writing new material for their second album. Stay tuned for more info on that too..

Classic Rock Suomi has posted a gig review from our Tavastia show on February 15th. The review is in finnish and you can read it from HERE.

www.classicrocksuomi.com

Leverage was well-noticed at RockUnited.com where it was selected as the 2nd Best Album of the Year.
To see the complete list, go to www.rockunited.com/bestof2006.htm

Here we go!!

Leverage's debut album TIDES and Pekka Heino got awarded on one of the biggest melodic metal site awards. Here's the list:

Vocalist of the Year:
Pekka Ansio Heino (Brother Firetribe & Leverage)
"What other frontman delivered two killer debut albums in the same year - one a very special melodic hard rock album and the other a powerful more metal orientated release? Both Brother Firetribe and Leverage captured the imaginations of fans and it was the vocals of Pekka that made these albums ever more appealing. Nothing short of fantastic vocals and melodic at every turn - be it rocking thru a fell good anthem, slowing things down for a heartfelt ballad, or kicking into high gear for a melodic metal masterpiece. Looking forward to more to come from this great Finnish singer."

The best Metal/Prog album:
1. Leverage - Tides

The best heavy rock song:
1. Leverage - 15 Years
2. Leverage - Follow Down That River

Best debut album:
3. Leverage - Tides

Best artwork:
3. Leverage - Tides

Album of the Year:
11. Leverage - Tides

Song of the Year:
11. Leverage - 15 Years
20. Leverage - Follow Down That River

Also, Brother Firetribe (Pekka's other band) got awarded including #1 best cover song and #2 Best debut album. Congrats to those guys also!

Check out the complete list at www.melodicrock.com

"If you feel that Leverage has changed your life ...or just think that we rock as hell and deserve to be awarded in this big finnish Femmagaala night, go and vote:

http://www.femmagaala.fi/aanesta2?artist=9387

Thank you! Every vote counts so tell your friends to vote also."

Peace,
Leverage

Leverage will be playing at Sauna Open Air festival (Tampere, Finland) on June 9th.

Heaven and Hell (Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler ja Vinny Appice) will be headlining that night.

www.sauna-open-air.fi

Tides was voted 10th in the Best Album 2006 category on a finnish zine Korroosio. The voting wasn't restricted to any categories so all finnish artists were in the probe.

Here are the results:
01) Amorphis - Eclipse
02) Insomnium - Above The Weeping World
03) Mokoma - Kuoleman Laulukunnaat
04) Stam1na - Uudet Kymmenen Käskyä
05) Tarot - Crows Fly Black
06) Diablo - Mimic47
07) Shade Empire - Intoxicate O.S.
08) PMMP - Leskiäidin tyttäret
09) Orne - The Conjuration By The Fire
10) Leverage - Tides

More at www.korroosio.fi

Check out this review of the gig at Pub Katse. The review is in finnish only.

CLICK HERE

Leverage is proud to announce that Minna Kumpuvuori of King Foo Entertainment is taking care of the band's booking.

Leverage now shares the same booking agency with bands such as Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Tarot and Brother Firetribe (Pekka Heino's other band).

The first confirmed show is at Tavastia on February 15th where Leverage will be supporting Tarot.

Stay tuned for more dates...

www.kingfooentertainment.fi

Radio City (www.radiocity.fi) has put up an album of the year poll.
You can vote for Leverage here.

----------

Radio City (www.radiocity.fi) on laittanut sivuilleen Vuoden levy -äänestyksen.
Äänestä Leveragea täällä.

Tides was released in Sweden on Monday and immediately received its first bad review ever - Swedish men's magazine Slitz gave the album 1 out of 5.

"Finally! After all the overwhelming reviews the album has received we were truly waiting for this! Have to get that mag ASAP." comments the band.

"Hi folks!
We have opened an international Leverage forum at
leverageband.com/forum

Go ahead, log in and start spreading the word inside and outside of the forum. We'll be hanging out there as well, so see you all and have a chat!

And special thanks to Tina 'the administress' for this."

Cheers,
Pekka, Tuomas, Torsti, Pekka, Marko & Valtteri

Read this interview with Tuomas, Pekka (Heino) and Valtteri at vertigo.cd.

They discuss about the band's feelings after the release of the debut album. Pekka also tells some things about singing and his musical background.

The interview is in finnish. Check it out here.

Tides will hit stores in Japan today on Sep 21st. The Japan version of the album will have 2 exclusive bonus tracks! The songs are:
Waterfall - fast-paced rock your socks off type a song with a killer solo section.
Land of Flames - a "big" song with catchy melodies and a driving chorus.

Look for an album review and a band interview in the next issue of Burrn! magazine and order Tides from www.cdjapan.co.jp

One of the biggest melodic rock oriented site in the web MelodicRock.com praises 'TIDES' by saying "One of this year's more essential releases" and giving it 94/100.

Check out the review here.

Playground Music Scandinavia will release Tides in Sweden. The album is due to hit stores there on October 16th.

www.playgroundmusic.se

'Tides' climbs from 38th to 27th on its second week on the TOP40 finnish chart. That makes the album 'the climber of the week'.

Nice going and let's hope it's on the way even higher..!

www.yle.fi/lista

Imperiumi interviewed Tuomas about some unusual things. Check out this funny conversation at www.imperiumi.net

After 3 weeks of its release the album makes it to the official finnish album chart. Position is 38 and hopefully it's only going up from there!

Thanks to everyone who has purchased the album and check out the charts here

A finnish radio Radio Keski-Suomi interviewed Heikkinen and Heino on August 19th. They talked about the music on Tides as well as covered the issue of 'How to pronounce word Leverage' - it seems to be a tough one for finnish people..

Click HERE to check the interview out. You need RealPlayer in order to listen to it.

First bunch of reviews of 'Tides' have been very positive. For example Soundi, one of the biggest music magazines in Finland, gave the album 4 out of 5 saying: "...with songs as Dreamworld, Follow Down That River and Twilight Symphony Leverage clears the road with a one single blow and for a long way ahead!"

Other reviews have been just as favorable. Check them out here.

Finland release date for the album is today. Purchase your copy from the record shop near you!

'Tides' is completely produced by the band itself - from the first note of music right down to the last detail on the covers. It is distributed by Playground Music Scandinavia in Finland. Other countries are "in progress" and so far a license deal has been made with Marquee Avalon Inc. for a Japan release. The album is due to hit stores there on September 21st.

Here's a little message from the band:

"Now, here it is. Last November we marched into studio and now, after 9 months, our debut album has finally caught your hands and ears. We are extremely proud of the end result. We were lucky to have the freedom to make it just the thing we wanted to and damn - it sounds so good!! Hope you guys have a kick-ass time listening to 'Tides' and remember to spread the word! Catch you later and come see the release party show on September 2nd. Enjoy and rock on!"

-Leverage-

click here to listen to songclips

There will be an album release party at Lutakko (Jyväskylä) on September 2nd and here's a little to-do list for everyone:
1. Buy the album
2. Listen to it many many times
3. Tell your friends about it
4. Listen to it a bit more
5. Buy tickets to the show
6. Tell your friends about it
7. Come to the show and have a blast!
8. Tell your friends about it ;)

See you all there!

YleX radio channel is airing Superstition. You can promote it and help to make sure it stays there - click here
And while you're at it, why not promote it on Radio City also - click here

Marquee Inc./Avalon will release the album in Japan. It is due to hit stores there on September 21st.
The Japan version of 'Tides' has 2 bonus tracks: 'Waterfall' and 'Land of Flames'.
The album is released in Finland on August 9th.