SIRENIA, the Norwegian gothic metal band featuring former TRISTANIA guitarist/vocalist Morten Veland, have posted the following message on their official web site:

"We will start the recordings of our new album on the 17th of July. We have chosen a somewhat different solution this time, and will record in altogether three different studios. This is a solution that we feel can add something new and different to our sound, as well as keeping the essential basics of SIRENIA. First we will track the drums in Jailhouse studios in Norway with engineer Hans Eidsgard, then we proceed to Soundsuite studios in France to record everything else, together with Terje Refsnes. And finally we will mix and master the album at Antfarm studios in Denmark with Tue Madsen. We look forward to work with Hans and Tue for the first time, and ofcourse we are eager to work with Terje again, who's been a part of our team for many years. The recordings will be completed the 1st of October."

SIRENIA recently announced the addition of 27-year-old Danish female singer Monika Pedersen (photo) to the group's ranks. "Monika has been dedicated to music all her life, and has loads of experience from from other bands, projects, choirs etc." the group wrote on their web site. "In addition, she has been working with several professional singing teachers in Luxemburg and Denmark. From now on she will have an important role in SIRENIA's music, and we all look forward to a future collaboration."

Pedersen joined SIRENIA as the replacement for Henriette Bordvik, who quit the band last September.

SIRENIA last year signed a new record deal with Nuclear Blast Records. The band have released two successful albums to date (2002's "At Sixes and Sevens" and 2004's "An Elixir for Existence") and in 2004 toured Europe with TIAMAT, PAIN and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY.

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