InsideOut Music has announced the worldwide signing of the progressive rock/metal band AFFECTOR.

Affector is a highly skilled, new international band consisting of German guitar-player Daniel Fries, Dutch drummer Collin Leijenaar (NEAL MORSE, DILEMMA), as well bass player Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) and vocalist Ted Leonard (SPOCK'S BEAR, ENCHANT, THOUGHT CHAMBER), both from the United States.

Affector's debut album, Harmagedon, which was mixed and mastered at The Mouse House in Los Angeles by Rich Mouser (Spock's Beard, TRANSATLANTIC, Neal Morse), will be released via InsideOut Music on May 21st in Europe and May 22nd in North America.

Affector's Collin Leijenaar comments on the signing as follows: "We are thrilled to be signing with InsideOut Music / Century Media. It is THE home for progressive rock and metal, and it feels very much home to us! It has always been a personal dream of mine to release something on this label, and with Affector this dream has come true! I'm stoked about the future of Affector, and I hope the audience is too!?"

On their debut album, Harmagedon, Affector are joined by four very special guests on keyboards: Alex Argento, Neal Morse (Transatlantic, FLYING COLORS), Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER) and Derek Sherinian (PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION). Also featured on the album is the Polish orchestra Sinfonietta Consonus. This concept album fuses a dark, apocalyptic scenery with themes of hope and light and features heavy riffs and lightning fast solos, but also has softer and more fragile moments, where the soulful singing of Ted Leonard opens a wide spectrum of vocal harmonies.

Citing broad musical influences and diverse inspirations between prog and classic as well as modern rock acts, Affector is like an open marriage between progressive rock/metal and orchestral minimalism, destined to appeal to everyone into bands ranging from Dream Theater, A.C.T., Symphony X, DARKWATER to QUEEN or RUSH.

Affector lineup:

Daniel Fries - guitars

Collin Leijenaar - drums

Mike LePond - bass guitars

Ted Leonard - vocals

More details about Affector and Harmagedon will be launched in the coming weeks. More on the band at this location.