Ireland's Stormzone has checked in with BraveWords, offering the following update:

"After 10 years of leading from the back, drummer Davy Bates has decided to leave Stormzone. Davy was highly influential on a very young Lars Ulrich when the Metallica drummer witnessed Davy's early band Sweet Savage supporting Thin Lizzy in the early '80s. 

Replacing Davy is the brilliant Gordy Gray who has been playing with Northern Ireland band The Irontown Diehards. Gordy's first task will be to commence working on the drums for Stormzone's sixth album, tentatively entitled Release The Beast. The band are also set to play at DistortionFest 16 in The Limelight, Belfast on October 29th as main support to Warrior Soul. 

To mark this appearance Stormzone will be releasing a remixed and remastered version of their third album, Zero To Rage, featuring all new artwork and bonus tracks. This version, entitled Return To Zero (Zero To Rage Revisited) will be available prior to DistortionFest 16 as an absolutely free download. This is simply to thank all the Stormzone fans who have faithfully stuck by the band over the last 10 years and hopefully to introduce some new ones!"

Stormzone's latest album, Seven Sins, was released on August 3rd, 2015 via Metal Nations Records. Recorded at FireMachine studios and produced by guitarist Steve Moore. Seven Sins combines all the elements expected from Stormzone and the classic heavy metal genre, powerful guitars, soaring vocals and crunching bass and drums wrapped with classic melodies.

Every day for twelve days leading up to the August 3rd release, the band released a daily video with vocalist John Harv Harbinson describing the stories behind the songs. The first thee clips can be seen below.

In another promotional twist, the actual Seven Sins are written in a certain order highlighted within the pages of the new album's booklet. Those armed with the correct order can then go to www.stormzone.tv where they can enter each sin individually onto Dr Dealer's Cursed Ladder. If the Seven Sins are successfully added in the order contained inside the booklet, a key will appear enabling you to download a further four songs not contained on the album. People can have a go even if they haven't bought the album, but if they get it wrong, well, it's not called the Cursed Ladder for nothing. More here.

Set in the 18th century, the album tells the story of the mysterious Dr Dealer, his travelling troupe of various gifted misfits and the Seven Sins Emporium into which he invites men to test their resolve and strength. A story with layers upon layers, it is unarguably the most ambitious Stormzone record to date, unified with a theme, Seven Sins is the very first Stormzone concept album. A difficult feat for most, but a challenge vocalist, lyricist and founding member John ‘Harv’ Harbinson embraced. “It's hard to describe Seven Sins in one paragraph… the story-line is so complex. It's a very dark subject. It’s touch and go at times with regards to how far you can go with it, but at the end of it all there's hope.”

As well as the 12 album tracks there is more. The physical CD booklet includes a code within its pages and fans will have the opportunity to enter it into the official Stormzone website, Stormzone.tv, and if they get the order correct they can download a further four brand new songs not available on the album.

Tracklisting:

“Bathsheba”
“Another Rainy Night”
“Your Time Has Come”
“The One That Got Away”
“I Know Your Pain”
“Seven Sins”
“You're Not The Same”
“Raise The Knife”
“Abandoned Souls”
“Special Brew”
“Master Of Sorrow”
“Born Of The Damned”

Track-by-track Pt. 1:

Track-by-track Pt. 2:

Track-by-track Pt. 3:

Trailer:

Having formed in 2004 Stormzone have gone from strength to strength. On the cusp of releasing their fifth and most ambitious record to date, the band can look back at a series of highlights including appearances on stages across the world and festivals including Sonisphere and Bloodstock Open Air, touring with legendary acts such as Saxon, Stryper, Tesla, etc. and seeing their name spread across the pages of iconic magazines.