Nightmare Records has announced the signing of SACRED DAWN, one of Chicago, Illinois premiere power/prog metal bands.

“We’re very excited about our partnership with this talented band, I’m happy to announce their addition to the Nightmare family of artists,” remarked Lance King, owner of Nightmare.

“All of us with Sacred Dawn would like to thank Nightmare for this opportunity to join a very talented and remarkable family of artists,” said Lothar Keller, lead guitarist and lead vocalist of Sacred Dawn, speaking on behalf of Joey Vega on bass guitar, Brad Sabbath on drums and Johnny Vitale on guitar and backing vocals.

An excerpt from a press release reads as follows:

In January 2005, Lothar Keller was working on his first solo album when a vision of hard rock, progressive and heavy metal musical styles was conceived. The groundwork was then assembled for what would become Sacred Dawn.

After a few stops and starts in the quest for the right players in the band, along came John Vitale, former guitarist of Chicago MEGADETH tribute favourite, HIGHSPEEDIRT. After seeing the band play as a three-piece on New Year’s Eve 2005, John recognized Lothar’s talent and was very impressed with Sacred Dawn’s original music and wanted to be a contributing factor in the growth of the band.

John, however, wasn’t the only area musician looking for a new project. In May of 2006, faced with the task of finding a new bass player they had to look no further than Joey Vega. Lothar and Joey, both members of the same Chicago-based music alliance, met and fortunately for Sacred Dawn, Joey enthusiastically agreed to be

an integral part of Sacred Dawn.

One final step was need before Sacred Dawn was ready to begin their journey-an unstoppable stickman. Brad “Sabbath” Sabbathne stepped up and became the madman behind the kit that Sacred Dawn needed to be the solid and cohesive metal force they are today.

Sacred Dawn pulls their influence from such bands as DREAM THEATER, IRON MAIDEN, NEVERMORE, SAVATAGE, QUEENSRŸCHE, FATE’S WARNING and many others. Through these influences, Sacred Dawn combines musical styles reminiscent of “old school metal” and molds them together with today’s harsh driving metal to get a sound with a progressive feel, leading Sacred Dawn in the pursuit to bring guitar solos, clean harmonizing vocals and true musicianship back into the metal scene today.

Sacred Dawn are confirmed for the Nightmare Metal Fest, a brand new festival set to take place March 21st - 22nd at Bourbon Street in New Port Richey, Florida. Tickets are now on sale here (click on the Tickets Link).

Other act on the bill include: AVIAN, WARMACHINE, CAGE, DISASTERPEACE (which features ex-KING DIAMOND guitarist Peter Blakk and CRIMSON GLORY singer, Wade Black), X-THIRTIEN (produced by SAVATAGE/TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA /JON OLIVA'S PAIN legend Jon Oliva and featuring members of DR. BUTCHER), ORDER OF NINE, POWND, SIX MINUTE CENTURY and SHADES OF TWILIGHT.