, draw influences from Blaze’s experience as singer with British metal goliaths IRON MAIDEN (1994-1999), plus his extensive solo career which started with his legendary Silicon Messiah album in year 2000.
The new album, entitled War Within Me, is not a concept album but does include a positive thread throughout. In Blaze’s own words… “This is an album that I want to put on and feel very positive about. Whatever song you choose there’s some good feeling about it. As fans of metal music we tend to be damaged, strange and different in some way and this album is (as I say in my live intro to the song "Futureal") about taking your future in your own hand. It’s one of the things that really connects with people at my live shows.”
War Within Me was recorded during 2020 with work split between Blaze’s studio at home in the West Midlands and Christopher Appleton’s studio in Greater Manchester. The now very consistent line-up, chosen from British metal band ABSOLVA, played on the album - Christopher Appleton (guitar, backing vocals), Martin McNee (drums), Karl Schramm (bass). Blaze and Appleton shared the work mixing and producing, whilst Ade Emsley (IRON MAIDEN, TANK, BRITISH LION, VOODOO SIX) handled the mastering. The striking and detailed artwork is provided by Akirant Illustration (IRON MAIDEN, Star Wars).
In terms of touring, like so many other artists, Blaze (normally relentless on the live circuit) has recently been restricted by the pandemic but did manage a tour of Brazil in January 2020, before a heroic sold-out performance at Burr Fest (The Dome, London) in March 2020 in honour of former-IRON MAIDEN drummer, the late Clive Burr. If travel restrictions permit and if safe, it is hoped to fulfil a number of festival bookings during Summer 2021, followed by an extensive UK tour towards the end of the year, returning to Europe in 2022.
Current festival shows booked for 2021
- 22nd May - UK - Lincoln - Call of the Wild
- 6th June - Bulgaria - Dulovo - Enigma Rocks
- 19th June - Germany - Daun - Der Detze
- 8th July - Denmark - Fredericia - Metal Magic
- 9th July - Germany - Neukirchen-Vluyn - Dong Open Air
- 14th July - Germany - Balingen - Bang Your Head
- 30th July - UK - Walsall - Rock the Beacon
- 28th August - UK - Newark - Stone Dead
War Within Me is to be released on CD, Vinyl and digital platforms.
