Year : 2012 (Nightmare Records Edition)
Style : Melodic Christian Heavy Metal , Melodic Power Metal
Country : Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 99 mb
Bio:
Divinefire vocalist GERMÁN PASCUAL (Ex-Narnia/Ex-Mind's Eye) is set to release his debut solo release "A New Beginning" to North American and Europe via Nightmare / Sony / RED. Blessed to have these special guest musicians joining on the album are Martin Hall (Forged Wings) and Carl-Johan "CJ" Grimmark (Narnia , Fires Of Babylon, Rob Rock) and bassists Per Schelander (Pain of Salvation, Ex-Royal Hunt) and Raphael Dafras (Almah, Seven Horizons).GERMÁN is a man with a very special voice, born in Uruguay, raised in Brazil, he has lived in Stockholm Sweden since his early teens and has achieved much success and notoriety in Sweden and around the world in the last few years. His name has been lauded greatly and likened with the greatest melodic metal voices of our day, voices like Ronnie James Dio, Jorn Lande, David Coverdale to mention but a few in reviews from metal media. GERMÁN was named as "the best metal voice 2009" by "The Gates of Metal".At five years old, GERMÁN sang to the radio with everything.... popular music to opera even classical music. In 1994 GERMÁN began an education in voice and music. Longing for Sweden again, he returned to look for work and a way back into music, doing a short stint with a Rap artist D.J. Mendez, but his friends helped him realize... he was meant for metal.Starting music as a drummer in a thrash band at 15, he was invited to try out for a much better band rehearsing next door as a vocalist when they overheard him screaming next door. It was to be his destiny, the band next door was MINDS EYE. In 2008 NARNIA needed a singer, and through a good friend GERMÁN made contact with Narnia guitarist C.J Grimmark. The rest is history... "Course of a Generation" by Narnia was launched in late 2009. Feeling blessed to have found this great situation in Narnia, GERMÁN was stunned when the band decided to end all activity. In addition to music, GERMÁN works with the less fortunate, the homeless, those drug addicted, in general.... people in need of support in Stockholm's Stadsmission.Recorded in GERMÁN's studio "Camel wash studios", Engineered and produced by GERMÁN Pascual & Raphael Dafras,. Mixed and mastered by Thomas Plec Johansson in "The Panic Room". (Sweden).When I were 15 some dudes in my neighbourhood wanted me as singer in their rock band. By that time I had no idea that I could sing. My dad wanted me to continue studying and become an interpreter or worse, a tourist guide. My mom just wanted me to follow my heart and find happiness (however she did not knew of my Rock singer dreams…).During the years I’ve been involved in various kinds of musical projects within Pop, Blues, Soul, Latin, Gospel and Rock. But still Metal rules!!I want to take the opportunity to thank family and friends for all the support and strength you have given me throughout the years. Above all I wish to thank God. Without you my Saviour my life have no meaning.
Album:
What happens when you cross equal parts melodic metal and symphonic power metal with a vocalist from Sweden by way of Brazil? You get the multifarious sounds to the fall of 2012 Nightmare Records debut solo release from Germán Pascual, A New Beginning. Pascual, who was raised in Brazil but moved to Sweden with his family at an early age, got started in music at 15 drumming in a thrash band but later found his calling as a vocalist with the progressive metal group Mind’s Eye on its 2008 debut The Afterglow. He went on to garner greater acclaim from fronting 2009 sixth Narnia album Course Of A Generation and swansong Divinefire offering, Eye Of The Storm from 2011 in which he shared co-lead vocal duties with Christian Liljegren (Narnia).A New Beginning finds the artist walking a fine line between the best aspects of Narnia and Divinefire with its emphasis on abundant melodies, pristine vocal harmonies and soaring vocals (akin to the former) alongside symphonic keyboards, double kick drum and occasional growled vocals (not unlike the latter). Album correspondingly stands out with its accessibility. Almost commercial, its songs breathe of melody while oozing with every bit as much high-energy emotion and impassioned underpinnings. It is a travesty FM radio is not open to music of this capacity because I can see several songs dominating the airwaves if given opportunity.Further enhancing albums the quality are Pascual’s wonderful vocal talents. Other reviewers have accurately listed Ronnie James Dio, Jorn Lande, Russell Allen, Rob Rock and David Coverdale as reference points, but I also feel that Michael Sweet and Lance King deserve mention. In terms of specifics, Pascual brings a pristine and smooth vocal style that allows him to reach for a high note with ease but also add a hint of lower register grit. Another critic that suggested his vocals as being ‘graceful and at times emphatic’ hit the nail on the head.A New Beginning also impresses as an ‘all-star’ project when factoring the talented guest musicians to appear. In addition to former band mates in guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark (Narnia) and multi-instrumentalist Jani Stefanovic (Divinefire), you will also find guitarists Martin Hall (Forged Wings) and Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Mean Streak) along with bassists Per Schelander (Pain Of Salvation) and Raphael Dafras (Seven Horizons).Long out of print, A New Beginning was re-mastered and reissued in October of 2025 by Roxx Records on CD and vinyl with the excellent bonus track “Live Amongst The Dead”. Enhanced packaging (attributing to Scott Waters of No Life Til Metal Graphics) includes lyrics and liner notes in an easy to read font. Keeping in mind the original Nightmare version sounds fine, the Roxx Records re-mastering (noting the work of Rob Colwell of Bombworks Sound) improves with a clearer sound manifesting in a heightened low end, fuller rhythm guitar sound and cleaner mix of guitar leads and keyboards.
Line Up:
Germán Pascual - Vocals - See also: Bethesda, Essence of Sorrow, Heartwind, ex-Denied, ex-Narnia, ex-DivineFire, ex-Mind's Eye, ex-Empire 21, ex-Forged Wings, ex-Mendez
+ guests:
Backing Vocals [Chorus] – Andreas Novak (tracks: 2, 4, 6 to 9), Erik Mårtensson (tracks: 3, 5)
Guitar [Guitars] – Martin Hall (6) (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 9)
Bass – Raphael Dafras
Drum Programming – Raphael Dafras (tracks: 1 to 9)
Keyboards – Guilherme Oliveira (2) (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7)
Production:
Recorded At – Camel Wash Studios
Recorded At – Room Of Doom Studios, Solna
Mixed At – The Panic Room
Mastered At – The Panic Room
Manufactured By – The ADS Group – 4708-CD-0074
Booking, Management – Furia Music
Cover, Artwork [Cover Artwork], Layout – Lucas Vieira
Mixed By, Mastered By – Thomas Plec Johansson
Photography By – Katriina Mäkinen, Studio KaT
Producer – Germán Pascual, Raphael Dafras
Tracklist:
01. Seek the Truth 05:07
02. The Wrath of God 04:03
03. If the Sky would Fall 03:35
04. Misty Dreams 05:18
05. Open Your Eyes 04:19
06. I Call for The One 04:17
07. Unbroken Wings 03:38
08. Come Ease the Pain 03:15
09. Fate of the Blind 03:42
10. Cancion Con Todos 03:34
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
