Desde finales de los noventa hasta mitad de los 2000, el guitarrista altamente respetado Ralph Santolla (Iced Earth, Deicide, Obituary, etc.) fue la fuerza impulsora tras cuatro tremendisimos albumes de hard rock de su propia banda, MILLENIUM. Originalmente lanzados en el año 2000 por Now & then /Frontiers Records, el tercer y discutiblemente esfuerzo más ambicioso-el progresivo, con tintes metálicos y de rock épico HOURGLASS-fue el único en incluir los talentos impresionantes del frontman noruego Jørn Lande (Jorn, Vagabond, Masterplan, etc.); junto con la contribución a los teclados de Dag Stokke (TNT, Vagabond, etc.) y del legendario Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Deep Purple, etc.)
En gran parte debido a la chispa de la química musical entre Santolla y Lande -que surgió inmediatamente por su amor compartido por el mismo típo de música- Hourglass fue el resultado de sesiones de composición de todo el grupo. Grabado durante tres meses es diferentes estudios como Manchester, Inglaterra, Bøverbru, Noruega (Studio Studio Nyhagen); Tampa, Florida (Morrisound Recording); además de los propios hogares de los músicos. Millenium grabaron varias versiones adicionales del tipo de MSG, Rainbow, Sweet, y Jefferson Starship sólo publicadas como bonus tracks japonesas o años más tarde en la colección The Best of…and More.
Muy bien recibidos en Europa y Asia, la banda realizó una serie de shows limitados para apoyar el lanzamiento de Hourglass de forma local en el cuartel general del grupo en Florida, el festival Gods of AOR de Wigan, Inglaterra y en una gira de tres shows en España con Ten y Elyte. En algun momento sin embargo, Jørn, más y más atareado con otros proyectos, se fue del grupo de forma amigable dejando la puerta abierta para el regreso de su anterior vocalista Todd Plant, y cerrando esa etapa de Millenium.
17 años después, Divebomb Records se enorgullece de rescatar este impresionante segmento de la discografía de Millenium en el presente con Hourglass: The Complete Sessions. Esta colección de 16 temas cuenta con el disco en si de 10 canciones y seis bonus de la era recopiladas en un único CD de 76 minutos por primera vez. Todo lo cual arropado por un booklet extenso de más de 20 páginas con portada actualizada, fotos, letras y una evocadora entrevista con Ralph Santolla realizada por Shawn Pelata. Para los fans y por los fans!
Fecha de lanzamiento 13 octubre 2017
Jorn Lande, lead and backing vocals
Ralph Santolla, lead guitar, keyboards
Shane French, lead and rhythm guitar
Manfred Binder, bass
Oliver Hanson, drums, percussion
Don Airey, guest keyboards
Dag Stokke, guest keyboards, piano
Howard Helm, additional keyboards
Tracy LaBarbera, additional vocals, tambourine, keyboards
From the late-’90s to the mid-2000s, highly respected workhorse guitarist Ralph Santolla (Iced Earth, Deicide, Obituary, etc.) was the driving force behind four tremendous hard rock albums from his own band, MILLENIUM. Originally released in 2000 by Now & Then/Frontiers Records, the group’s third and arguably most ambitious effort—the progressive, metal-tinged, epic rock of Hourglass—was its only to include the wildly impressive talents of Norwegian frontman Jørn Lande (Jorn, Vagabond, Masterplan, etc.); not to mention keyboard contributions from Dag Stokke (TNT, Vagabond, etc.) and the legendary Don Airey (Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Deep Purple, etc.).
Largely due to the spark of musical chemistry between Santolla and Lande—who instantly bonded over a shared love of similar music—Hourglass was the result of more collaborative writing sessions for the group. Recorded over the course of three months at studios as spread out as Manchester, England; Bøverbru, Norway (Studio Studio Nyhagen); Tampa, FL (Morrisound Recording); as well as the band members’ own homes; MILLENIUM additionally laid down several cover tunes by the likes of MSG, Rainbow, Sweet, and Jefferson Starship—only released as Japanese bonus tracks or years later amidst The Best of… and More collection.
Predominantly well-received in Europe and Asia, limited shows supporting the release of Hourglass followed locally in MILLENIUM’s home base of Florida; at the Gods of AOR festival in Wigan, England; and throughout a three-show tour of Spain with Ten and Elyte. At a certain point, however, Jørn—increasingly busy with other projects—amicably parted ways with the group, leading to the eventual return of their former vocalist, Todd Plant, and drawing this portion of the MILLENIUM timeline to a close.
17 years later, Divebomb Records is honored to bring this stunning segment of the MILLENIUM discography back to the fore with Hourglass: The Complete Sessions. This 16-track collection finds the 10-song album and six bonus cuts from the era compiled onto a single 76-minute CD for the first time. All of which is housed alongside an extensive 20+ page booklet featuring updated cover art, photographs, lyrics, and a memory-fueled interview with Ralph Santolla, conducted by Shawn Pelata. For the fans, by the fans!
Releases October 13, 2017
Jorn Lande, lead and backing vocals
Ralph Santolla, lead guitar, keyboards
Shane French, lead and rhythm guitar
Manfred Binder, bass
Oliver Hanson, drums, percussion
Don Airey, guest keyboards
Dag Stokke, guest keyboards, piano
Howard Helm, additional keyboards
Tracy LaBarbera, additional vocals, tambourine, keyboards
