VIRGIN STEELE's forthcoming metal opus, The Black Light Bacchanalia, will be released on October 22nd in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the rest of Europe on October 25th and on Novemeber 9th in North America.

Leader David DeFeis checks in with the following update:

"Well... believe it or not... we have actually finished The Black Light Bacchanalia album and sent it off to our label, Steamhammer/SPV for publication/replication. It was a mad, wild time these past few weeks and days recording and mixing like banshees! But... we made it. A week ago seems like an entire lifetime ago. It seems like every possible situation and change of season has occurred in a matter of hours and days. I personally went through the full dynamic range of emotional upheavals possible. One minute I was on top of the World, the next completely beneath it... and everything in between. Through it all as we say here in the Land Of Steele... we remained... Invictus!

As always when it comes time to actually part with an album and send it off into the World, I get very crazy. I always want to completely re-do it, to go back to the beginning and live with everything longer, but this of course is impossible. I am always frantic and rushed with every album, but this one was exceptionally challenging. It's birth was very much like how they did it in the long, long past, when people like Chuck Berry or Elvis would record a song, and then it would be immediately pressed and released only a few short hours later. After finishing these final mixes, I straight away began the process to send the album over to our label, so I really did not have the opportunity to live with these final mixes, listen back and adjust anything along the way... I trust that all turned out well and can only judge things from my initial gut reaction... which was that everything seems fine and nice and raw!

In the end, life goes on and all projects must have their completion, and this one is now well on its way to landing in your hands soon. I hope you enjoy it. All of us here in the House Of Steele stand behind it, and think that it makes a very appropriate soundtrack to the coming Autumnal Season. We poured all our blood, sweat, and energy into these tracks and everything from $200 dollar scotch (a very nice gift from a Fan) to 7-ll coffee went into the making of it. May it empower you and take you on journeys both strange & beautiful."

A BraveWords.com exclusive in-studio listen to The Black Light Bacchanalia can be viewed here.

The Black Light Bacchanalia will be released in four formats, three of which are standard CD, limited edition CD Digipak with a bonus CD, digital download and strictly limited edition LP box set. Each version will have its own unique artwork. Details on each format and the artwork can be found below:

Limited Edition Digipak:

CD 1

'By The Hammer Of Zeus (And The Wrecking Ball Of Thor)'

'Pagan Heart'

'The Bread Of Wickedness'

'In A Dream Of Fire'

'Nepenthe (I Live Tomorrow)'

'The Orpheus Taboo'

'To Crown Them With Halos (Parts 1 & 2)'

'The Black Light Bacchanalia (The Age That Is To Come)'

'The Tortures Of The Damned'

'Necropolis (He Answers Them With Death)'

'Eternal Regret'

CD 2

'When I'm Silent (The Wind Of Voices)' (Bonus Track)

'Silent Sorrow' (Bonus Track)

'From A Whisper To A Scream - (The Spoken Biography) - spoken by David DeFeis

Standard Jewel Case Edition:

'By The Hammer Of Zeus (And The Wrecking Ball Of Thor)'

'Pagan Heart'

'The Bread Of Wickedness'

'In A Dream Of Fire'

'Nepenthe (I Live Tomorrow)'

'The Orpheus Taboo'

'To Crown Them With Halos (Parts 1 & 2)'

'The Black Light Bacchanalia (The Age That Is To Come)'

'The Tortures Of The Damned'

'Necropolis (He Answers Them With Death)'

'Eternal Regret'

Strictly Limited Collector's Edition LP Box Set:

Bonus Materials

- Book in LP format with the complete history of Virgin Steele (written by David DeFeis)
- Extra large full color poster
- Sticker
- Postcard
- Jewel case version of the album

LP 1

Side 1

'By The Hammer Of Zeus (And The Wrecking Ball Of Thor)'

'Pagan Heart'

Side 2

'The Bread Of Wickedness'

'In A Dream Of Fire'

LP 2

Side 1

'Nepenthe (I Live Tomorrow)'

'The Orpheus Taboo

Side 2

'To Crown Them With Halos (Parts 1 & 2)'

'The Black Light Bacchanalia (The Age That Is To Come)'

LP 3

Side 1

'The Tortures Of The Damned'

'Necropolis (He Answers Them With Death)'

Side 2

'Eternal Regret'

'When I'm Silent' (Bonus Track)

All LPs come in printed inner sleeves.