The new album from Norwegian melodic metal-act Nergard is in the final mixing stages. The follow up to 2013's Memorial For A Wish will see its release in April. A Bit Closer To Heaven is the brainchild of composer and mastermind of the Nergard-project: Andreas Nergård.

The first album trailer has been released and features a sneak peek from the lead single "On Through The Storm" which features the singers Elize Ryd and Andi Kravljaca.

Andreas gives some insight in the making of the song:

"I am very fortunate to work with such amazing singers like Elize and Andi. Andi and me have been working together since the recording of my debut album way back in 2011 and I really can't see an end to our collaboration. It has been a constant pleasure since day one. Andi is such a great and easy guy to work with. We share the same vision of perfection, a constant struggle to make the best out of a song. I guess that's the reason why we keep working together. This time he is even more involved in the album. He handles all the backing vocals and lead vocals on four songs.

Having Elize onboard is a blessing indeed. I've been in love with her voice since I first heard her sing on the Kamelot song ‘Sacrimony (Angel Of Afterlife)’ in 2012. That eventually made me check out her band Amaranthe and it became obvious to me that I needed to invite her to join the line-up for my new album. Working with Elize on this song has been an amazing experience. It's always amazing to hear one of my favorite singers sing a song that I have written. Elize is also one of those artists that experiments and adds a lot of her own ideas to the song instead of just singing the guidelines from the vocal demos I make. She's all about the music and I love working with people that want to push the best out of a song instead of finishing it as fast as possible.

Trust me, I've met those guys that are only there for the paycheck... Elize came up with a lot of awesome stuff and her ad libs at the end of the track ... they gave me goosebumps. For me, ‘On Through The Storm’ is a bit personal, lyrically, although it has some twists to make it fit into the album concept. It's a song about going through an awful period of your life and still find the strength to get out of it. You know the same ol' cliché. Both singers make the lyrics come alive. It's pure joy to listen to them. Can't wait to release it.

On top of this I asked the amazing guitarist Jørn Viggo Lofstad to do the guitar solo. Jørn has been one of my favorite guitarists since I bought the album Celestial Entrance by Pagan's Mind when I was a 14 year old kid. Did he deliver the goods? Oh yes! Just wait till you hear it, it's just beautiful."

A Bit Closer To Heaven lineup:

Andreas Nergård - drums/bass/keyboards

Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) - vocals

Nils K. Rue (Pagan's Mind) - vocals

Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear, ex-Gamma Ray) - vocals

Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) - vocals

Andi Kravljaca (Aeon Zen) - vocals

Thomas Løseth (Tempo) - vocals

Sunniva Unsgård - vocals

Ole Martin Moe Thornæs (Rudhira) - vocals

Jostein Svarstad (Tony Carey, The Jan Holberg Project) - guitar solo

Stig Nergård (Tellus Requiem) - guitar solo

Jørn Viggo Lofstad (Pagan's Mind) - guitar solo

Øyvind Voldmo Larsen (Withem) - guitar solo

Henrik Karlsvik - rhythm guitar

Martin Aas - bass

Øyvind Wærnes - guitar

Raymond Hellem - acoustic guitar

Tracklisting:

"Light And Shadows" (featuring Ralf Scheepers, Nils K. Rue, Andi Kravljaca, Ole Martin Moe Thornæs)

"Fall From Grace" (featuring Thomas Løseth)

"On Through The Storm" (featuring Elize Ryd, Andi Kravljaca + guest guitarist TBA)

"Let It Come" (featuring Michael Eriksen. Guitar solo by Øyvind Voldmo Larsen)

"Stay" (featuring Thomas Løseth)

"Help Me Through The Night" (featuring Andi Kravljaca. Guitar solo by Stig Nergård)

"I Will Find You" (featuring Andi Kravljaca)

"A Bit Closer To Heaven" (featuring Andi Kravljaca. Guitar solo by Stig Nergård)

"When All I Want Is You" (featuring Sunniva Unsgård. Guitar solo by Jostein Svarstad)

Andreas Nergård: drums/bass/keyboards

Henrik Karlsvik: all rhythm guitars

Martin Aas: bass on "When All I Want Is You”

Raymond Hellem: acoustic guitar

Øyvind Wærnes: electric guitar on "I Will Find You"

Andi Kravljaca: all backing vocals expect "Let It Come"

A Bit Closer To Heaven will be out on Battlegod Productions in April.

(Photo - Bernt Kulseth)