PLACE VENDOME, the melodic rock project featuring UNISONIC and former HELLOWEEN singer Michael Kiske on all lead vocals and production from Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69), will release their third album, Thunder In The Distance, on November 1st in Europe and November 5th in North America via Frontiers Records.

The official Michael Kiske fanclub did an interview with all composers of Place Vendome, and will publish the interview in two parts, starting with Magnus Karlsson, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Sören Kronqvist and Brett Jones. An excerpt follows:

Q: Which songs did you write for the new Place Vendome album? What can you tell us about the songs and did you hear the final result? What is your opinion about YOUR songs?

Alessandro: "Yes I happened to write the two singles 'Power of Music' and 'Talk to Me' which is a big honor for me. I also wrote the title track 'Thunder in the Distance', 'Hold Your Love', 'Never Too Late' and co-wrote with Carmine Martone 'Heaven Lost'. I heard the final result and I think it's pretty awesome to hear Michael sing the parts I wrote for him. I always considered myself as a singer-songwriter, so a songwriter that write specifically for who is going sing the song, so I'm very pleased about the result. I’m pretty proud 'Power of Music' has been chosen as a lyric video single because that is a statement from a musician to all musicians, a sort of hymn to our love for Music. 'Hold Your Love' and 'Never Too Late' are more generic rock love songs but 'Talk To Me' is a song about cancer and a witness of the strength we can give for those who suffer from this tremendous disease. 'Thunder in the Distance' and especially 'Heaven Lost' talk about what we're all experiencing in the world today: crisis, debt, poverty and cultural misery. I had the idea of 'Heaven Lost' watching footages of the crisis in Greece."

Brett: "'Broken Wings' and 'Fragile Ground' are the only songs of mine which feature on the new Place Vendome album. I actually wrote 'Broken Wings' back in 2010 during a period where I was finding it hard to find musical inspiration. I guess every artist comes across a creative block during their career. It can be very frustrating but then all of a sudden, inspiration comes shining through. 'Fragile Ground' was written in 2012. Without giving too much away, I believe everyone can relate to the lyrics in some way. I am proud of both my songs and cannot wait to hear the final result."

Sören: "I co-wrote 'It Can't Rain Forever' with Camilla Andersson and Thomas Vikström. Our song is a positive song about looking forward in life when things are tough there will be a better tomorrow one day. We have not heard the final version of the song yet. Usually all the journalist have heard all albums long before the song-writers themselves. One can say it is a little ironic. Nevertheless, we are very pleased with the power ballad we wrote. I am sure Michael Kiske, Dennis Ward and everyone else will do a great job on the song and on the album! Hopefully, people will like the song!"

Magnus: "'Break Out' is the only song I wrote for this album and I didn't get the final result yet but I can't wait to hear it. When I know I gonna write for Michael it's easy to get a flow. I listened a lot to him... both old and new stuff and I can hear his voice in my head when I write. I wrote songs to him before and I always try to copy his singing style on the demos. And even if I absolutely can't sing like Michael I hope it helps him and everybody involved to get the vibe I had in my head when I wrote the song. This time I did a mid tempo, emotional song that I know that Michael sings fantastic!"

Read Part 1 of the interview in full at this location.

Thunder In The Distance tracklisting:

'Talk To Me'

'Power Of Music'

'Broken Wings'

'Lost In Paradise'

'It Can’t Rain Forever'

'Fragile Ground'

'Hold Your Love'

'Never Too Late'

'Heaven Lost'

'My Heart Is Dying'

'Breakout'

'Maybe Tomorrow'

'Thunder In The Distance'

'Power Of Music' lyric video:

Track samples: