BLIND GUARDIAN To Complete New Single In November

BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch has posted the following message at the band's web site: "Although time keeps on ticking quickly, things go very well in the GUARDIAN camp. To be more precise: we are still on schedule, and even though everyone is totally busy and concentrated, the atmosphere is very lifely and still relaxed to a certain extent. The material for the single will be accomplished at the end of November. To make that happen, this particular stuff will get most of our attention for the next four weeks. Everyone is already involved in the recording process and we are really excited about the album's progression. It is too early to say when we will be finished exactly, but I would say a worldwide release in the first half of 2006 is very realistic. Things look (and sound, as well) very promising. At the moment we are also getting deeper into details such as album title, cover, etc. So, we are about to scratch the most important phase of the recording session and we do not intend to leave you out. Please, let us work on it a little longer, so we can fix things technically. You will be provided with footage, that is for sure." BLIND GUARDIAN recently replaced drummer Thomen Stauch, who left the band in April after 20 years. The new man behind the kit is fellow German Frederik Ehmke, who is said to be "fairly unknown in the world of metal." The production of BLIND GUARDIAN's debut album for Nuclear Blast Records is being handled by producer Charlie Bauerfeind. Working songtitles include "Carry the Blessed Home", "The Edge", "In Search for the Lionheart", "Market Square", "Another Stranger Me", and "Otherland".