THE FLOWER KINGS - New album details

Written by Daniela Vorndran Friday, 13 April 2012 10:24

After five years absence, progressive cult rockers THE FLOWER KINGS, will release a new album finally on 18th June 2012 (Europe / USA 19th June). The new release of the band around mastermind Roine Stolt (Transatlantic) is named ‘Banks of Eden’ and will be released via InsideOut Music (Century Media/ EMI). The new material presents classic THE FLOWER KINGS style with dreamy-melancholic and cinematic elements. Also, harsher as well as psychedelic and darker passages will be found at the album, melting Prog sound of the late 60s with modern sounds of the “New Generation Of Art Rock”.

Comments Roine: "It was both a scary and exciting prospect to go back into the studio after an almost 5 year-long, well-earned hiatus. We have all been active with Transatlantic, Karmakanic, Agents Of Mercy since, so we were up to speed in the playing department, but starting TFK again put some weight on my shoulders I suppose, but it's fun. We knew we could make an album 'cause this is what we do  and we know we do it good, but the question was if we had anything new or anything important to contribute in 2012, in a time when the internet fills every hour with entertainment and every town or village seems to have emerging prog superstars. Realizing now with ELP, Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd being history we are among the new eldermen of Prog and we feel responsible for keeping the standard up, so a lot of hard work is gonna go into the coming months.

The core members were there and for this re-starting of TFK we brought in new 26 year old drummer prodigy Felix Lehrmann. Without playing one single note together, or no audition, we started the recording at Varispeed studios in Sweden, January 23rd, taking a big, big chance. It is with happy smiles on our faces that we can conclude that it was a jackpot and a great choice and we feel Felix is gonna  breathe life into  both the new and old material in a live setting, possibly with a more hard hitting edge. His outgoing personality and general love for music and playing will be very evident live and for coming albums I can feel he may contribute even in writing.

The progressive daredevil at the helm made us start the new album with a 25 min epic centerpiece that is NOT easy listening, it is in fact a quite demanding task. But the material also has all classic elements of the Flower Kings style with all the dreamy melodic & cinematic glow sprinkled all over, that the band's fans have come to  love over the years. My advice is: just give it time and it will be very rewarding.”

A first studio trailer giving insight behind the scenes can be watched at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igp5RIeznE.

Source: Press Release