Van Canto release fifth album, Dawn of the Brave - February 2014

German a cappella metal band Van Canto release their fifth studio album on the 10th February. Dawn of the Brave features 9 original compositions and 4 covers (including The Final Countdown, Holding out for a Hero, Into the West and Black Sabbaths, Paranoid).

Van Canto also have one UK date on the Dawn of the Brave tour. Sadly it is in London, but as is proper and correct, I will be heading down south to catch them on the 2nd April at The Underworld, Camden.

The band have released a teaser video which provides a snippet from each of the tracks on the album:

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A Cappella Metal is The Future

Not since I came across Northern Kings have I been quite as excited about music as I was when I came across Van Canto.  A German a cappella band with classic heavy, power metal and symphonic metal influences.  The group is made up of five singers and a drummer.  The band have 2 lead singers and 3 singers who use their voices to create the sounds of the guitar and bass.

Formed in 2006 the band have produced 4 studio albums and collaborated with numerous artists such as Victor Smolski from Rage, Tony Kakko from Sonata Arctica, Chris Boltendahl from Grave Digger, Tarja Turunen and Joakim Broden from Sabaton.  Their music is a combination of original compositions and covers.  Their most recent album Break The Silence, released in 2011 includes a Sabaton, Alice Cooper and Manowar cover as well as a bonus track cover of Bad to the Bone by Running Wild. 

The band have to be seen to be believed.  I am still amazed that they can make these sounds with their voices.  Here is the Sabaton cover Primo Victoria. Blew me away.