While Scar Symmetry have been busy making music with two new singers that sound like their old one, that old one — Christian Alvestam — has been busy with a ton of new projects of his own. Among them is the very promising Solution.45, a band that also features Mikko Härkin (Cain’s Offering, ex- Sonata Arctica, Kotipelto), Jani Stefanovic (Miseration, Essence Of Sorrow), Tom Gardiner (Hateform, ex- Mors Principium Est), Anders Edlund (Angel Blake), and Rolf Pilve (Miseration).

Solution.45 are currently in the studio recording their debut album. According to an update sent by the band exclusively to MetalSucks, the music is “just about done” and Christian is currently finishing up his vocals. The record will be completely finished and mastered by the end of December, and should see a release this Spring via AFM Records and Marquee/Avalon. The cover artwork will be done by Pär Olofsson, the artist behind the latest Immortal and The Faceless album covers. The album will also feature a few guest appearances, including a few vocal spots by Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquillity. Neat-o!

Check out a 7 minute teaser of demo material at Solution.45′s MySpace page. It’s good stuff.

-VN

Ironic metal covers of decidedly non-metal songs are definitely passe, but exceptions have to be made when there’s nary a trace of irony. Northern Kings, the new Finnish band consisting of J. Ahola (Teräsbetoni), Marco Hietala (Tarot, Nightwish), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica), J-P Leppäluoto (Charon) have a new all-covers album called Reborn, including the Tina Turner smash “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” video below. (The album also features covers of Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Dire Straits, Billy Idol, and more).

Check out some other audio samples at Northern Kings’ MySpace page.

This, my friends, is fucking metal. These guys really mean it; NO MORE FUCKING HEROES, OK???
-VN

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