New Zealand-based metallers SONIC ALTAR have announced they are mixing their second album with Finnish producer/engineer Mikko Karmila (CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHTWISH, APOCOLYPTICA) at Finnvox Studios in Finland, starting in late October.

Vocalist Kane Bennett commented: “The first time around, we worked with a fantastic producer called Mike Exeter just after he had finished HEAVEN AND HELL’s The Devil You Know. We flew him out to New Zealand and worked with him in our own studio over a period of six weeks. I learned so much working closely with him during that time. When it came to producing and recording the new album, I felt I had enough experience to handle it myself, but we wanted to get someone with an impressive catalogue of previous work to mix it. One of the first people we thought of was Mikko Karmila, as we are all massive fans of what he has been involved with.”

Bennett will be travelling to Finland to work on the mix alongside Mikko.

According to a press release: “Finnvox Studios have never had anyone travel so far to work on an album and are very excited about the mix.”

Bennett commented: “We have put a huge amount of work into this album! For instance we have probably recorded two or three different versions of it, reworking things each time, but now we finally feel like we have got it right. There are 12 songs on the album, just like No Sacrifice. The band’s sound and direction has evolved and so has the song writing. It’s more modern and definitely heavier. This has had a lot to do with fresh blood coming into the band in the form of guitarist Dave Hudson. He brought a lot of killer ideas in. Dave and I wrote about half the album together. It’s a very exciting time for us; all we need now is a title for it!”

The band hopes to see the album released early next year.

Sonic Altar’s first single ‘In The Night’ can be seen below: