TIMO TOLKKI Puts REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE To Rest

Former STRATOVARIUS leader/guitarist Timo Tolkki has released the following statement:

"Due to my private problems, the lack of interest in REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE [Tolkki's post-STRATOVARIUS band] shows by the promoters, and the current situation in the music industry that affects to everything including the production budgets, it has become impossible to continue the band.

"We have tried to book shows in these last three years, but we haven't been able to do so.

"A rock band cannot exist without direct contact to its fans. Therefore I have no other choice but to make the decision to stop the band and its activities due to the above-mentioned reasons.

"The third and final album of the band will be released at the end of September.

"From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank all the fans of my music throughout the years. It's been a great journey."

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's third album, "Trinity", will be released via Napalm Records. The CD, which was once again engineered by Santtu Lehtiniemi, follows a more "power metal" direction than its predecessor, last year's "Age Of Aquarius", although it will not be a clone of Timo's previous efforts with STRATOVARIUS. The vocals and the drums — which were handled by REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's Brazilian contingent, consisting of Gus Monsanto and Bruno Agra, respectively — were recorded in Brazil. According to Tolkki, the new CD sounds "very organic and natural, but also very modern."

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE recently tapped FIREWIND's Bob Katsionis as its new keyboardist. The band's most recent lineup was as follows:

Gus Monsanto - Vocals
Timo Tolkki - Guitar
Magnus Rosén - Bass
Bruno Agra - Drums
Bob Katsionis - Keyboards

REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE in October 2009 parted ways with bassist Justin Biggs and keyboardist Michael Khalilov because it "became evident to everybody that REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE was not the right band for the guys," the group said in a statement. "Justin is more of a thrash guy and Mike expected the music to be something totally different. Out of these reasons the decision has been made that it is better to go separate ways."

Recorded over three months in Finland, REVOLUTION RENAISSANCE's sophomore album, "Age Of Aquarius", was released in March 2009 via Scarlet Records. It was described in a press release as "by far the darkest, heaviest and most symphonic album that Tolkki has ever been involved in."