Finnish Folk Metallers TURISAS At U.K.'s DOWNLOAD Festival; Video Available

Professionally filmed video footage of Finnish folk metallers TURISAS performing at the Download festival earlier today (Saturday, June 9) at Donington Park, Leicestershire, England has been posted at YouTube.

Century Media Records has set a July 17 North American release date for the sophomore album from TURISAS, entitled "The Varangian Way". The CD was co-produced by the band's own Warlord (vocals) and Janne Saksa at Sound Supreme Studio and mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studio (H.I.M., NIGHTWISH). The group has also taken the U.K. by storm after landing this month's Terrorizer cover, in addition to performing at the Download festival and the Metal Hammer Awards this summer.

Central to "The Varangian Way" is the group's concept of a journey through the East-European river route through the lands of modern day East Europe. The Northmen who traveled this path in the 9th-11th centuries were called Varangians. Key to the album's concept is a search for self and identity, both of which are explored by the protagonist in "The Varangian Way"'s eight songs. Truly a display of the band's dedication to the conceptual elements of the album, TURISAS made sure to include cultural influences from the lands the Varangians would have traveled through.

Due to the warm reception of their highly acclaimed debut, "Battle Metal", the band wanted the new album to sound like a natural progression on that sound while reflecting a greater maturity. Warlord had the following to say about the release: "The sound is big, pompous and orchestral, but also features a lot of progressive elements and ethnic influences. It's a daring blend of many different styles, but I'm confident that people are musically open minded enough to swallow this album."

Check out www.myspace.com/turisasofficial to sample new music and video performance clips.