ICED EARTH (US)
Speaking of long overdue? Iced Earth debuted in 1990, and ever since, guitarist Jon Schaffer has brought the band to greater artistic and commercial triumph with a faithful and yet progressive variety of bona fide heavy metal. Losing popular frontman Matthew Barlow turned out to be another blessing in disguise when former Judas Priest-vocalist Tim Owens joined the fold for possibly the performance of his lifetime on “The Glorious Burden”, released in early 2004. Unfortunately, Jon’s health issues and an unstable line-up prevented Iced Earth from making the most of this release, but now they’re back to make amends. With their SRF-debut, among other things. (We recommend: “Night of the Stormrider”, “Something Wicked This Way Comes”, “The Glorious Burden”.)

NOVEMBER (S)
A classic name in the history of Swedish hard rock! Three-man outfit November from the Stockholm suburb of Vällingby was formed in 1969 - in November, obviously - and became a cult act by performing blues-based heavy rock, typical of their era, but with Swedish lyrics. The band relaesed three albums before they folded in 1972, weary from heavy touring, and th musicians moved onto other things. Through the years, November’s repute has grown, not least because of bands like Abramis Brama who have renewed public interest in traditional hard rock with Swedish lyrics. So undoubtedly several generations of nostalgians will gather around the stage in Norje to bring their praise to this bona fide cult band! (We recommend: “En Ny Tid Är Här”, “2:a November”, “6:e November”.)

NOCTURNAL RITES (S)
Nocturnal Rites from Umeå in Northern Sweden debuted in 1995 and have since grown to become one of the most influential and successful acts on Sweden?s flourishing melodic metal scene. They got their first major break with “Afterlife” (2000), their first album with singer Jonny Lindquist (ex-Mogg) who remains in the band to this day, to the delight of their devoted fanbase. Nocturnal Rites played at SRF for the first time, and to great public acclaim, in 2001. Since then, their popularity has increased even further, thanks to such releases as “New World Messiah” (2004) and particularly “Grand Illusion” (2005) ? the latter was awarded as “Best Swedish album of the year” at the Sweden Rock Kick Off that December. The band are working on their next album as you read these lines, and there can be little doubt that it will both cement and reinforce Nocturnal Rites? stature. As will, most certainly, their appearance at SRF 2007.

AMON AMARTH (S)
Their three latest releases have all brought Amon Amarth further up the proverbial ladder, and the brand new “With Oden On Our Side” in particular have been an unprecedented success for the proud metal vikings from Stockholm. Finally, even their countrymen have realised the greatness of this mighty quintet, so we’re expecting a mighty big crowd to appear for one of Sweden’s finest and currently hottest acts in melodic death metal. (We recommend: “The Crusher”, “Versus the World”, “With Oden On Our Side”.)

TIAMAT (S)
Tiamat rank among the Swedish pioneers on the death metal as well as the gothic metal scene. Centered around frontman Johan Edlund, they have been acknowledged as one of the foremost and most unpredictable acts on the international gothic scene. In recent times, news on the band has been relatively scarce, and more than three years have passed since their latest album “Prey”. But now the time has come for Tiamat to break the silence, and a new album is to be expected in a not too distant future. (We recommend: “Clouds”, “Wildhoney”, “Skeleton Skeletron”.)

VOMITORY (S)
Vomitory, from the county of Värmland, is a phenomenon in Swedish Death Metal history. Formed in the late 80s, during the early and golden age of this genre, but for a variety of reasons their official debut, “Raped in Their Own Blood”, did not see the light of day until 1997. By then it was more melodic influences rather than extreme brutality that was the flavor of the day in DM-circuits. Vomitory, however, remained true to their roots and have consequently earned well-deserved respect and become a true cult band. Their sixth and most recent album is called “Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize”, a title that certainly divulges that Vomitory still refuse to compromise the authenticity of their death metal. (We recommend: “Raped in Their Own Blood”, “Primal Massacre”, “Terrorize Brutalize Sodomize”.)

TRAIL OF TEARS (N)
Goth metal has become something of a Norwegian export product, and among the proudest bands in the ranks are undoubtedly Trail of Tears from Kristiansand. The band have released five albums since 1998, including their current release “Existentia” which also marks a turning point in their history. The recording line-up split up before the album’s release. However, vocalist Ronny Thorsen persistently refused to let the band perish, so it will be a whole new version of Trail of Tears, determined to prove itself, that takes the stage at SRF 2007. (We recommend: “Disclosure in Red”, “A New Dimension of Might”, “Existentia”.

ALL ENDS (S)
In 2003, In Flames-guitarist Jesper Strömblad decided to start yet another new and different project. Teaming up with his In Flames-colleague Björn Gelotte, a number of compositions were written and subsequently bestowed upon a talented batch of musicians, fronted by female vocal-duo Tinna Karlsdotter and Emma Gelotte (Björn’s sister). The result is powerful, dark and melodic metal, focused around the impressive skills of the two vocalists plus a mode of songwriting whose origin is quite recognizable.

CONFIRMED BANDS SO FAR. OUT OF TOTALLY 70!

HEAVEN & HELL (UK)
Ronnie James Dio - Tony Iommi - Geezer Butler - Vinnie Appice

MEATLOAF (US)

BLIND GUARDIAN (D)

MOTÖRHEAD (UK)

ICED EARTH (US)

REO SPEEDWAGON (US)

DIMMU BORGIR (N)

THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW (AUS)

NOVEMBER (S)

TROUBLE (US)

KREATOR (D)

UDO (D)

SUZI QUATRO (UK)

GOV’T MULE (US)

ANNIHILATOR (CAN)

NOCTURNAL RITES (S)

POINT BLANK (US)

PRETTY MAIDS (DK)

AMON AMARTH (S)

HARDCORE SUPERSTAR (S)

BLACK OAK ARKANSAS (US)

THUNDER (UK)

THE ANSWER (UK)

AXEL RUDI PELL (D/US)

CIRCUS MAXIMUS (N)

TIAMAT (S)

RANDY PIPER´S ANIMAL (US)

TOKYO DRAGONS (UK)

ELDRITCH (I)

LION’S SHARE (S)

FALCONER (S)

TRAIL OF TEARS (S)

ALL ENDS (S)

MEMFIS (S)

MORE INFO ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AND HOW TO GET TICKETS AT:

www.swedenrock.com