AMORAL Announces New Guitarist

Finnish metallers AMORAL have issued the following brief update:

"We are happy to announce that AMORAL has a new guitar player!

"As announced when Valtteri [Hirvonen] came in as a session guy to help us out with the gigs, he could not commit to being a full-time member due to his hectic schedule as a hot-shot photographer. So we've been keeping our eyes open all this time to see if we could find someone worthy to join the band. And now we have! Enter Masi Hukari, six-string slinger from many a project and band over the years.

"Ben [Varon, guitar] and Ari [Koivunen, vocals] had already met Masi a few times before, so we knew him to be a cool dude, and the word on the street was that the boy could play! After a couple of long chats to see that we were on the same page, we picked up our guitars and two new songs came together in no time. So that was that! We all agreed that this could definitely be our guy, and so it is that we'll be entering the studio as a five-piece to record album number five.

"The AMORAL Street Team conducted an interview with Masi to give you all a better idea of who this new guys is and what he is made of. Ben also answered some questions the teamers had regarding the upcoming album. Check out the interview here.

"A little fact file on Masi can be found at the band section of our website, and he's also answering questions you guys might have on our forum, so feel free to bug him!

"In other news: recording of the fifth AMORAL album starts NOW! The next month will be spent at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna under strict supervision of our producer Janne Saksa. You can follow the studio session from our new studio blog, which will be frequently updated with pictures and witty remarks."

AMORAL's latest album, "Show Your Colors", entered the official chart in Finland at position No. 19.

"Show Your Colors" was released in the U.S. on June 9, 2009 through Spinefarm Records via Fontana distribution. Available in Finland since May 6, 2009, the CD was recorded at Sound Supreme Studios in Hämeenlinna, Finland.

An e-card for "Show Your Colors" can be accessed at this location.

"Year Of The Suckerpunch", the first AMORAL track to be released featuring singer Ari Koivunen, entered the national chart in the band's home country at position No. 19. In addition to the title cut, which was written and composed by guitarist Ben Varon, the single included a cover of the MISFITS song "Dig Up Her Bones".

Koivunen is best known as the winner of the 2007 Finnish national TV talent competition "Idols". He has released two solo albums thus far — 2007's "Fuel For The Fire" and 2008's "Becoming".