SYMPHONY X (US)
Symphony X from New Jersey is arguably the only band being serious competitors with Dream Theater for the championship in progressive/symphonic metal. Their eponymous debut was released in 1994, followed shortly by new vocalist Russell Allan joining the ranks - and now Symphony X was a force to be seriously reckoned with. The following six releases - five studio and one live - are all classics and totally indispensable for any fan of progressive metal. Since the release of “The Odyssey” in 2002 the band has mainly devoted their energy to different side projects, and their scheduled appearance at SRF last years had to be cancelled for bassist Mike Lepond to undergo an emergency stomach operation. But better late than never: Symphony X will soon be releasing their highly anticipated seventh studio album, and are now confirmed for their first SRF-appearance since 2001. Front figures are, as always, the above-mentioned Russell Allan and lauded guitarist Michael Romeo. (We recommend: “The Damnation Game”, “The Divine Wings of Tragedy”, “The Odyssey”.)

SKID ROW (US)
When you talk about the eighties and sleaze a couple of bands are always mentioned, one of them is of course Skid Row. In the eighties the band was fronted by Sebastian Bach, who actually visited Sweden Rock a few years ago. The band had some massive hits with songs like “18 and Life”, “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You”. Skid Row has, since Sebastian left, proven they still can deliver the goods, this when they returned in 1999 when the highly potent lead singer Johnny Solinger. The band has since released two albums, “Thickskin” and the latest release “Revolution Per Minute”.

QUIET RIOT (US)
Kevin Dubrow, Randy Rhoades, Drew Forsyth och Kelli Garni once formed the basics of Quite Riot. The band’s first two albums only saw the light of day on the Japanese market. After this Randy was hired by Ozzy Osbourne and tragically died in a plane crash in 1982. Kevin however kept the banner flying and made great impact in the eighties hair band era with the album “Metal Health”. The band even had a couple of massive hits with two old Slade-numbers; “Cum Feel The Noize” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” in the eighties. This year, after some time of silence Quiet Riot’s new album “Rehab” shows the band is still rocking strong. Today’s line-up consists of Kevin, Alex Grossi (guitar), Chuck Wright (bass) and long time member Franki Banali (drums).

KORPIKLAANI (FIN)
Korpiklaani band leader Jonne Järvelä is perhaps best known as the supplier of yoik vocals on the Finntroll album “Jaktens Tid” (2001), but his own band also deserves wider recognition outside of their native Finland. Under their previous name Shaman, the band released two albums in Lappish (!). They released their first album as Korpiklaani in 2003, and their fourth one unde that monicker will appear in May, titled “Teravaskanto”. Korpiklaani’s lyrics are mainly in English, but they also often write in Finnish and traditional Finnish music and instruments are one of the cornerstones of the band’s recognizable sound. The other one is, obviously, vicious hard rock. Much like Finntroll, Korpiklaani have the status of folk metal-kings in their home country. By attending SRF, they will undoubtedly gain a legion of new fans in Sweden as well. (We recommend: “Spirit of the Forest”, “Voice of the Wilderness”, “Tales Along This Road”.)

MCQUEEN (UK)
From Brighton, England, comes this female and punky quartet, who opened for such bands as Cheap Trick, L.A. Guns, W.A.S.P. and The Almighty before they had even released their first album! Said album hit the shops in January 2007, titled “Break the Silence”. Since its release, McQueen have already appeared at a festival in Vietnam (!) and are about to embark on a tour in Germany. So it will be a both tight and aggressive live unit that comes to add the audience at SRF to their list of conquests. (We recommend: “Break the Silence”.)

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)
SYMPHONY X (US)
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW (AUS)
NOVEMBER (S)
TROUBLE (US)
KREATOR (D)
UDO (D)
SUZI QUATRO (UK)
GOV’T MULE (US)
SKID ROW (US)
ANNIHILATOR (CAN)
NOCTURNAL RITES (S)
POINT BLANK (US)
PRETTY MAIDS (DK)
QUIET RIOT (US)
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)
MCQUEEN (UK)
RANDY PIPER´S ANIMAL (US)
TOKYO DRAGONS (UK)
ELDRITCH (I)
LION’S SHARE (S)
FALCONER (S)
TRAIL OF TEARS (S)
ALL ENDS (S)
KORPIKLAANI (FIN)
MEMFIS (S)

MORE INFO ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AND HOW TO GET TICKETS AT:
www.swedenrock.com