CELESTY Vocalist Quits

Vocalist Antti Railio has left Finnish symphonic power metallers CELESTY. He explains in a statement, "I have already for a long time felt my place in CELESTY to be merely an exit station in a long-overdue relationship that I just didn't know how to let go.

"I have not felt in a long time the joy and the passion that one should feel towards his or her own music… Thus I know want to concentrate to my own life and make music, as I, myself, see fit and without any outside/inside stress.

"My strong opinion is that the music you do should come within your heart. With your own words, purely respecting one self, and the listener. That's why I'll now concentrate fully on my long-lasted dream, and accomplishing it with full concentration.

"My new band IRON AGE REMAINS will see the dawn of light [in] January/February 2010!"

For more information on IRON AGE REMAINS, visit www.ironageremains.com.

CELESTY is moving on and is already in the throes of creating new and more powerful, innovative music for its next CD. While the bandmembers are busy creating, they are also in search of just the right singer to bring a new edge to their music.

Those who believe they have what it take to help the band blast into 2010 should send an informal application to CELESTY at [email protected]. This should include MP3 samples or links to where the music can be seen and heard.

CELESTY is based in Seinajoki, Finland.

An e-card for "Vendetta", the fourth full-length album from CELESTY, can be accessed at this location. The CD, which was released in Finland on March 18 (via Spinefarm Records) and in Japan on March 20, features eleven tracks and over sixty minutes of music.

Samu Oittinen began mixing the album in early December, which proved to be a daunting task: At times there were over 300 tracks playing. The epic soundscape was reinforced by an orchestra consisting of musicians from the Tampere City Orchestra, and a professional choir. The orchestration and the choir parts were arranged and produced by the conductor Kalevi Olli, renowned for his work with the Finnish National Opera.

"Vendetta" features guest appearances by Stephan Lill (VANDEN PLAS) and Elias Viljanen (SONATA ARCTICA). Suvi-Tuuli Dietrich (ESCAPE) contributed female vocals to the album.

The "Fading Away" video can be viewed below. The clip was shot in an isolated quarry 100 miles from the band's hometown of Seinäjoki and was directed by Markus Nieminen of Routafilmi, who has previously helmed dozens of music videos, as well as a number of short films and feature movies.