Albion

Description

Ten's first album 'X' was released in May 1996 and was warmly acclaimed by the fans and the press especially in the UK and Japan, where they were outselling huge rock bands, reaching sales of 100,000 records only during the first weeks of release. With the songs already written, the band returned to the studio in order to finish their second album. 'The Name Of The Rose' was released in September of the same year (1996) and was even more successful than 'X', gaining enthusiastic reviews from the critics. The title track was also voted "Song Of The Year" by the readers of BURRN! magazine in Japan and the band voted "Brightest Hope".Ten's popularity in Europe increased when the band signed to major label Mercury Records in Japan and Frontiers in Europe for the release of their fourth studio album, 'Spellbound'. The album was released in April 1999, was produced by Rafe McKenna and was one of the most successful Ten albums in Europe. 'Spellbound' was also the first Ten album for which famous fantasy artist Luis Royo designed the cover.In 1999, the band returned to the studio in order to begin the recordings of their next album. 'Babylon', which was released in August 2000 and featured keyboard player Don Airey (Deep Purple) and once again, proved to be another successful release for Ten and Gary Hughes, even entering the German Rock Album Charts.Soon after, the band returned to the studio to record the follow-up album to Babylon, named 'Far Beyond The World'. The recordings took place in Hannover, Germany, with Tommy Newton behind the mixing desk and ex-Hard Rain keyboard player Paul Hodson taking the place of Don Airey. In December 2001, Ten released 'Far Beyond the World' but just before the promotion of the new album had begun, guitarist Vinny Burns (Dare/Asia) announced his departure from the band, citing creative differences.After several albums and line-up changes, the band signed to the newly formed Rocktopia Records in 2013, and are recording back to back albums once more as they did back when they burst onto the scene all those years ago. The first of these is titled 'ALBION', which will be released worldwide on the 21st of November through Rocktopia Records and features stunning original artwork from Italian maestro Gaetano De Falco.For years Gary Hughes has toyed with the idea of bringing even more power and width into the TEN live sound. To this end, TEN are proud to announce the arrival of two new members in the shape of guitar players Dann Rosingana and Steve Grocott. Gary comments, "The arrival of Dann and Steve will enable the band to play more of the layers in Ten's studio sound live on stage."Beginning with their October UK appearance at Firefest, Ten will emerge as a new look seven-piece, for the first time featuring the triple guitar attack that will bring a new dimension to the established melodic giants.