Michael Vaucher, guitarist for Switzerland-based melodic metallers EMERALD, is featured in a new interview with Norway's Metal Express Radio. An excerpt is available below.

MER: One of the biggest changes for you guys is the addition of new vocalist Thomas Winkler. What does his presence bring to Emerald?

Vaucher: "He is an incredible singer and our big chance to reach many more fans than in the past. He can sing almost everything; high pitched screams, powerful singing, and also very melodic warm notes. For me, he sounds like a combination of my heroes BRUCE DICKINSON, MICAHEL KISKE and ROB HALFORD. Also, do not to forget our new guitar player Manuel Werro. He had a big influence on the songwriting of the new album. He brought us some real killer riffs and also did an incredible job in the studio."

MER: Being that Re-Forged is your fifth full length album, can you discuss how your sound has changed and evolved through the years?

Vaucher: "We started with melodic and epic metal. In the beginning, we had no experience and not much ability. We were very young and tried our best. Unfortunately, we never had a good producer, which is why our older albums have just an average sound. With every release, we learned a lot and we were getting better, heavier, and more professional. The new album is the first one that had a real heavy metal producer, V.O. Pulver (ex-POLTERGEIST, DESTRUCTION, GURD). He helped us create a real powerful and pounding Metal sound, while still sounding old school and not modern, which is exactly what we wanted."

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As previously reported, Emerald released their new album, Re-Forged, on November 20th, 2010 via Pure Steel Records.

Re-Forged (album art at left, click to enlarge) will features the following tracklisting:

'The Wanderer'

'The Last Legion'

'Pipes Are Calling'

'Where's Your God'

'Alteration'

'Secret Agenda'

'The One'

'Witches Tower'

'Winterlude'

'Until My Winter Comes'

'Mark Of The Beast'

'Mutiny'

Guests on Re-Forged include:

Sean Peck - CAGE

Mike Sifringer - DESTRUCTION

Mike Steel - STEELCLAD

Oromi

Damir Eskic - GONOREAS

The album was recorded and produced at the Little Creek Studio by V.O. Pulver (GURD, POLTERGEIST, DESTRUCTION). A promo teaser for Re-Forged can be seen below.

A release party/performance will be held at the Bad Bonn Club in Duedingen, Switzerland on November 20th.