BW&BK; has received the following press release:

"Songs Of War And Vengeance: a powerful new force in shredding melodic metal.

Drawing on classic influences such as HELLOWEEN, AYREON and IRON MAIDEN, the new project EMPIRES OF EDEN is a must-hear for fans of melodic heavy metal. While many albums bathe in the hype of greatness, yet fail to deliver the goods, Empires delivers 11 tracks of pure symphonic mayhem with irrepressible hooks and jaw-dropping performances. The monstrous production by Dan Quinlan (DEICIDE / SUFFOCATION tour sound Australia) and stunning artwork by Oliver Lehmann combine to create a history-making metal masterpiece.

Empires Of Eden showcases an incredibly diverse collection of talent from some of metal's finest performers. Created by guitarist Stu Marshall (PAINDIVISION / ex-DUNGEON) the epic is built on the foundations of Marshall's music while providing a vehicle for three magnificent metal voices. Louie Gorgievski (CRIMSONFIRE), Mike Zoias (ex-TRANSCENDING MORTALITY) and Chris Ninni (Sydney session vocalist) have been given free reign to bring their own power, influence and flavour to the project by writing their own melodies and lyrics.

Originally, more than 20 songs were composed for the project. Of these, 11 have been chosen as the absolute A-list, ensuring a compelling listen from the first to the last. One of the standout features of the album is the monolithic 'Black Endings / Echoes Of Oblivion', a nine-minute, orchestrally-based spoken word epic. Detailing the final days of the world and the rebirth of the human spirit, the piece will place the listener into an atomic wasteland with cinematic clarity and is narrated by acclaimed author Gun Arvidssen.

Soaring vocals and shredding guitars, enhanced by the imposing presence of a 30-piece orchestra, mark Empires as the premier, refreshing, uncompromising release of 2009. The songwriting is second to none, and draws on nothing short of the best talent from many sources in the metal community.

Songs Of War And Vengeance features performances by members of VANISHING POINT, Dungeon, LORD, THUNDASTEEL, CERBERUS (Japan) and ARGUMENT SOUL (Japan), rounding out the global standard of musicianship to be found on this remarkable album. With a project as ambitious as accomplished as this, there is no doubt we are witnessing the birth of a new era in metal. Visit www.empiresofeden.com for audio samples and videos."