The international progressive metallers Universal Mind Project are proud to present Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze) as the bands new keyboard player. Check out a video introduction below.
Their debut album “The Jaguar Priest” is available now in Europe and North America through Inner Wound Recordings and in Japan through Bickee Music.
“The Jaguar Priest” is a fantastic debut album filled with perfectly executed modern progressive/power metal combined with the unique diversity of male and female vocals! Apart from band members Elina Laivera, Henrik Båth [Darkwater], Michael Alexander and Alex Landenburg [Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody], the album also includes performances by Nils K Rue [Pagan’s Mind], Mark Jansen [Epica, Mayan], Charlie Dominici [ex. Dream Theater], Mike Lepond [Symphony X], Diego Valdez [Helker] and more! (See guest list below).
Founded in 2012 by guitarist and composer Michael Alexander, Universal Mind Project began as a collaborative project between musicians from all around the globe to finally shape into a band with a solid nucleus consisting of Elina Laivera and Henrik Båth [Darkwater] on vocals, Michael Alexander on guitars and growls and Alex Landenburg [Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody] on drums.
In a mix of perfectly executed modern progressive/power metal combined with the unique diversity of male and female vocals that stylistically spread from lyrical and fragile to soothing and powerful, as well as the use of growl vocals at parts of the record, the debut album of the band “The Jaguar Priest” encloses a most impressive league of artistic creation.
The album was composed by Michael Alexander and Elina Laivera and a lot of hard work was put into writing the best possible vocal lines for each guest vocalist gracing different songs on the album. The result is truly rewarding. Apart from Elina Laivera and Henrik Båth, the album also includes performances by Nils K Rue [Pagan’s Mind], Mark Jansen [Epica, Mayan], Charlie Dominici [ex. Dream Theater] and Diego Valdez [Helker] -forming an incredibly powerful team of vocalists, each of whom add their own distinctive style to the songs.
One should find melodic and mellow passages, yet really heavy moments on ”The Jaguar Priest” -all combined with philosophical, spiritual and other diverse themes that inspired the dynamic duo of Alexander and Laivera along the creative process of the album.
“The Jaguar Priest” was mixed by Simone Mularoni [Ancient Bards, DGM, Vision Divine] at Domination Studios and the impressive artwork was created by Jan Yrlund [Apocalyptica, Korpiklaani, Leah] at Darkgrove Design.
Expressed through catchy hooks, bursting riffs, killer guitar and keyboard duets, as well as super melodic choruses performed by top names of the metal scene, the sensational power-sound ofUniversal Mind Project has come to blast your speakers off and is destined to capture full attention within the metal music community.
Our review of “The Jaguar Priest” can be found here.
Band members:
Elina Laivera – Vocals
Henrik Båth [Darkwater] – Vocals
Michael Alexander – Guitars, Growls
Alex Landenburg [Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody] – Drums
Jonah Weingarten [Pyramaze] – Keyboards
Weblinks: Facebook / Indiegogo
Video below: UMP new keyboard player.Introduction
Lyric video: ‘The Force Of Our Creation’
Video below: ‘Truth’ (feat. Mark Jansen of Epica/Mayan)