The Flower Kings - Banks of Eden (June 18th)

New Flower Kings album title, cover artwork and release date

13th April 2012

After five years of absence progressive cult rockband "The Flower Kings" will release their new studio album onthe 18th of June.
The new sound carrier is called "Banks Of Eden".

It will be released throughout InsideOut Music (Century Media/ EMI).
The material is all classic Flower Kings, but the 2012 incarnation of the band mixes it up with both psychedelic and darker metal passages that place this album somewhere in between the late 60's proto prog and the new generation of art rock.

Roine comments:

"It was both a scary and exciting prospect to go back into the studio after an almost 5 year-long, well-earned hiatus. We have all been active with Transatlantic, Karmakanic, Agents Of Mercy since, so we were up to speed in the playing department, but starting TFK again put some weight on my shoulders I suppose, but it's fun.

Realizing now with ELP, Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Pink Floyd being history we are among the new eldermen of Prog and we feel responsible for keeping the standard up, so a lot of hard work is gonna go into the coming months.

The core members are there and for this re-starting of TFK we brought in new 26 year old drummer prodigyFelix Lehrmann who we feel Felix is gonna breathe life into both the new and old material in a live setting, possibly with a more hard hitting edge.

The progressive daredevil at the helms made us start the new album with a 25 min epic centerpiece that is NOT easy listening. But the material also has all classic elements of the Flower Kings style with all the dreamy melodic & cinematic glow sprinkled all over, that the band's fans have come to love over the years.

My advice is: just give it time and it will be very rewarding."

To learn more about "Banks Of Eden" check out the 2 videos (2 out of a sequence of several videos to be launched) while they were in the studio:

YOUTUBE clips Ahoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQLvkJsFLcQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igp5RIeznE


In all likelihood the band will go on an extended headlining tour across Europe in September. But it's for sure that they will play their first official re-union gig at the Sweden Rock Festival and one month later 7th July at Loreley "Night Of Prog".

Check in here soon to get all the European tour dates.

For more information visit:

• www.flowerkings.se
• www.facebook.com/TheFlowerKings
• https://twitter.com/#!/TheFlowerKings

INSIDEOUTMUSIC online:

• www.insideoutmusic.com
• www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
• www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
• www.twitter.com/insideouteu
• www.myspace.com/insideoutlabel

Visit the new InsideOut Shop:

• www.insideoutshop.de

 

Great news!

Sweet.

super duper
also loving that cover art

Nice!  Much sooner than I expected.
 
Also really like the artwork - it's kinda different for them.

Love the artwork, love the videos, love the clip, love the interview ("that white hat looks like a dead dog on your head!"). So happy these guys are back.

The Flower Kings need a distribution contract with Ikea..the retailer of all things Swedish!

Is it going to be any different from all the other FK release?

gazinwales


Is it going to be any different from all the other FK release?

According to the promo video, it's going to be "Pretentious, totally overblown, unfashionable, dated, not hip, more of the same and nothing new". So apparently not.
 
Actually the music in those clips sounds very promising, more inspired than anything I've heard from Roine in years.

Album medley: http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/12967817

I have no doubt this album will be GREAT

Sweet!  I've been waiting for this for awhile now.  I'm interested in this new darker approach and expected this towards end of year but sooner is good

I'm a fan, but I really don't think they should pride themsleves on producing "nothing new"...

Maybe it's just irony.

I can't wait to get this!!

The new FLOWERKINGS album will be released in 3 different formats on June 18th.
 
FLOWER KINGS: BANKS OF EDEN (Ltd 2CD-Enhanced Edition Of 2012 Album / Digi-Pak) 2CD
FLOWER KINGS: BANKS OF EDEN (Standard Single CD Edition Of 2012 Album - ) 1CD
FLOWER KINGS: BANKS OF EDEN (Ltd 2LP Heavyweight Vinyl ) 2LP
 
"To show that we're real men we decided to start the new album with a 25-minute epic centrepiece that is not easy listening, but the material also has all classic elements of the FLOWER KINGS style with all the dreamy melodic & cinematic glow sprinkled all over, that the band's fans have come to love over the years. My advice is: just give it time and it will be very rewarding." RS.
 
Track List - CD1
01. Numbers (25:20)
02. For The Love Of Gold (7:35)
03. Pandemonium (6:05)
04. For Those About To Drown (6:50)
05. Rising The Imperial (7:40)
 
Track List - (Bonus) CD2
01. Fire Ghosts (5:50)
02. Going Up (5:10)
03. Illuminati (6:20)
04. Lo Lines (4:40)
05. Interview with the band in the studio - Video Feature (18:12)
 
http://www.reverbnation.com/page_object/page_object_blogs/artist_2533977
 
Only 5 songs and 53½ minutes? It's their shortest album. As always, I rather take 50 minutes of great music than 75 minutes of uneven material though.

Huh, the album is short...

I don't think that is short at all.  Remember that most prog rock classics are 40 to 45 minutes.

Yes, but most flower kings albums fill the cd to capacity. And often spill over. Ah well, who cares? It's new Flower Kings material!!

Mikes Schieaybude,
I know. I actually prefer 35-40 minutes albums. It's just TFK are known for releases that go on and on and on...

Fantastic! I love these guys!

Exactly, I'd prefer a 50 minute TFK album to a normal 70 minute as long as they just cut some of the fat off.  This might be fine.  They probably could have thrown a couple bonus songs on the regular CD but figured to do it this way. 

I'm aware that TFK usually put out longer albums. I'm just saying that this is by no means short. 

Pre-orders available now: http://www.flowerkings.se/

Got mine in the mail yesterday. Listened twice already. It's very good, sounds like they were really inspirred and not just going thru the motions.

The 4 nouns tracks are very good as well.

Very good release from the Kings, I would love a US tour, but not holding my breath.

Highly recommended.

I'm glad it's short. Hoping the epic is them up to their standard stuff, and the the 7 minute-ers are forays into something new. Looking forwards to it anyway!

Got mine on Thursday but have only had the chance to play it once but loved what I heard. 

Numbers 25:27
For the Love of Gold 7:26
Pandemonium 6:09
For Those about to Drown  7:07
Rising the Imperial 7:52
 
I love every second of it!
 

ITunes has the album, including bonus tracks, for 8 bucks.

I'm a few spins into this one now and really enjoying it quite a bit.  Another solid effort.