BW&BK; has received the following press release:

Spinefarm Records will be officially launching into the UK market this autumn, as a way of giving added push and profile to the label’s impressive – and ever-growing roster – of hard rock talent. Since starting up in Helsinki back in 1990, Spinefarm has concentrated on developing the darker, more dramatic side of Finnish music for both the domestic and the international markets, scoring major successes with acts such as NIGHTWISH, CHILDREN OF BODOM and SONATA ARCTICA.

With Finnish music now exerting a serious influence on the hard rock/ heavy metal scene per se, it was really only a matter of time before Spinefarm (now in full partnership with Universal) made a more concerted assault on UK shores…

Well, that time has come, and with a roster that also includes ENSIFERUM, FINNTROLL, MOONSORROW, REVEREND BIZARRE, END OF YOU, BROTHER FIRETRIBE (featuring Nightwish guitarist Emppu Vuorinen) and more, the label finds itself perfectly placed to retain its underground kudos, whilst at the same time using the international clout of Universal to spread its reputation and further develop its roster.

A special launch show to celebrate and reaffirm Spinefarm’s UK ambitions is currently being lined up for early next year, but in the meantime the label has confirmed its first batch of releases for October. These are the re-issue of the first five Nightwish albums: Angels Fall First (1997), Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000), Over The Hills And Far Away (2001) and Century Child (2002). All of these new versions will be available with bonus tracks/videos, expanded artwork, sleeve-notes, messages, autographs and special packaging. There will also be a limited run of double albums, pressed onto colored vinyl. To date, Nightwish have sold around 3 million records worldwide, and have toured in 40 different countries.

November 12th – the release of My Winter Storm, the much-anticipated debut album from TARJA TURUNEN.

Since parting company with the band in October 2005, this exceptionally gifted singer has signed to Universal Music on an exclusive worldwide basis, with Spinefarm acting as the label in the UK. Tarja is now ideally placed to take her solo career to a whole new level, and to this end the 29-year-old (originally from the Finnish town of Kitee) is currently completing her first recordings as a solo artist, working with producer Daniel Presley and utilising studios on both sides of the Atlantic. The musicians featured on My Winter Storm include bassist Doug Wimbish, who has played with pretty much everyone from LIVING COLOUR and JOE SATRIANI through to MADONNA and THE ROLLING STONES. First single/video, ‘I Walk Alone’, is being lined up for a mid-October release.

Further Spinefarm UK releases will be confirmed shortly (including news on a second album from Brother Firetribe, whose latest single ‘I Am Rock’ recently hit the No. 6 spot on the Finnish charts) along with UK dates for Ensiferum, Finntroll, Moonsorrow and more; there will also be a very special announcement from Children Of Bodom, now poised to begin work on a brand new studio album.

Shows for Finntroll & Sonata Arctica are already locked into place and are as follows:

Finntroll – Hard Rock Hell event, Minehead, November 9th – 11th

Sonata Arctica – Electric Ballroom, London, November 12th

A dedicated UK website/Myspace page is currently being set up for Spinefarm Records UK; in the meantime, further info can be found at www.spinefarm.fi or www.myspace.com/spinefarmrecords.