After the success of “Species” the final
instalment of Consortium Project’s pentalogy
of releases with back in June 2011, Lion
Music are proud to now announce the
re-release of the complete Consortium
Project back catalogue. All albums are
remastered with the added extra of new bonus
tracks for each new reissue, the series
begins with the first instalment of Ian
Parry’s epic story - ‘Consortium Project 1 –
Criminals & Kings’ - on 18th November 2011.
Heading
back to the mid 1990’s and after the release
of Ian Parry’s solo album “Thru’ the
looking-glass” in 1995, it had been the wish
of the English singer-songwriter famous for
his work with Elegy to embark on a new
ambitious album. Ian’s wish not only saw a
new album develop that would see the light
of day in 1999, but a whole new musical
legacy that would see a story develop over
five releases spanning 13 years.
The
original “Criminals & Kings” album contained
11 powerful melodic progressive metal
tracks, not a million miles away in scope
from the works Parry was so acclaimed for
with Elegy. Now in 2011 the starting
foundation for the Consortium Project
pentalogy is revisited with the added
enhancement of a full remaster by Marcus
Teske and two new never before heard bonus tracks
in the form of an acoustic version of “A
Miracle Is All We Need” with Patrick Rondat
on guitar, and a demo version of “Evilworld”
which sees Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen
provide bass guitar.
“Consortium Project I – Criminals & Kings”
sets the foundations for a story that would
be continued throughout the subsequent four
albums – (“II - Continuum in Extremis”, “III
- Terra Incognita”, “IV – Children Of
Tomorrow”, “V – Species”) with the main
story premise of “Criminals & Kings” set in
a time shortly after President Kennedy’s
assassination, the impact of which saw a
global ripple effect in which a select few
whose motives would change the balance of
power had secretly gathered. These select
few implemented their totalitarian ideals,
with one aim – to create a new world order.
To do this they manipulated an innocent and
honest electronics genius, who had developed
a method to communicate globally using
electronic messages. His dream was to bring
people closer together. He never once
considered that this would help create
endless opportunities for greed and
corruption… and so the story begins.
As is
also the case on future Consortium Project
releases Ian Parry surrounded himself with a
wealth of first class musicians. For
“Criminals & Kings” Parry is joined by
guitarists Stephan Lill (Vanden Plas),
Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot), Patrick Rondat
(Elegy, Jean-Michel Jarre) and Tamas
Szekeres, bassists Barend Courbois, Martin
Helmantel, Arjen Lucassen, drummer Dirk
Bruinenberg, pianist Jan Vayne and
keyboardist Tommy Newton.
“Criminals & Kings” was recorded in various
studios worldwide including the USA,
Holland, Germany & Hungary. Being such an
enormous task, Ian Parry personally
coordinated the production duties. The album
was then mixed at Area 51 studios in Germany
by ex-Victory guitarist/producer Tommy
Newton.
•
First instalment of the complete reissue of
the previously out of print Consortium
Project back catalogue.
•
This new edition comes fully remastered and
loaded with exclusive bonus tracks.
•
All star cast featuring members of Kamelot,
Ayreon, Vanden Plas, Elegy.
•
Ian Parry is available for interview now via
email or Skype, email requests to
promo@lionmusic.com
•
Reviews in all leading rock/metal press.
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