ROYAL HUNT: RONNIE JAMES DIO Was 'A Great Artist And A Kind, Caring And Bright Person'

May 19, 2010

Denmark-based hard rock/progressive metallers ROYAL HUNT have released the following statement regarding the passing of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW):

"[On Sunday, May 16] we lost an amazing man, a fantastic musician, a true legend — Ronnie James Dio.

"We offer our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

"Being huge fans of his talent, we've been privileged to meet Ronnie James Dio in person while supporting his band a few years ago… and will always remember him as a great artist and a kind, caring and bright person… a true gentleman."

ROYAL HUNT's new album, "X", will be released in Europe in June via Scarlet Records. The CD came out in Japan and Southeast Asia on January 21 via Marquee/Avalon Records.

ROYAL HUNT decided to revisit its roots and incorporate some of the musical values of the '70s into its songwriting as well as — in order to reinforce that particular atmosphere — employing mostly "retro" means of production (recording in analog format exclusively being one of them) for its tenth studio album. The music has been described as "an interesting mix of what's been tagged as classic rock nowadays (established by KANSAS, GENESIS, ELP's earlier works and DEEP PURPLE, URIAH HEEP's classics from the same era) and ROYAL HUNT's trademark composition/delivery."

ROYAL HUNT last year parted ways with bassist Per Schelander and replaced him with Andreas Passmark (NARNIA, ROB ROCK, E-TYPE).

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