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Alternative rock heavyweights Story of the Year will release their highly anticipated new album, (watch video here) The Black Swan, on April 21st. Like the title suggests, the group's third studio album is anything but predictable. Combining the addictive choruses of their platinum selling album (US, AUS, JPN) Page Avenue and the heaviness of In the Wake of Determination, The Black Swan transcends previous releases as their boldest and most accessible album to date.






Featuring the smash hit single "Wake Up" and the piano driven ballad, "Terrified," The Black Swan was produced by John Feldmann (Good Charlotte, The Used, Lost Prophets, Atreyu) and "Elvis" Baskette (Chevelle, Escape The Fate, Puddle of Mudd). "Making this record felt like starting over," says front man Dan Marsala. "We're like a brand new band. You can hear it in these songs, we're excited again. I think we've really stepped it up on this record."

Continuing with tracks like the remarkably powerful and deeply personal alt-rock anthem "Tell Me" and the thought-provoking "Message to the World," The Black Swan explores social and moral issues close to the band's heart. With themes of war and prejudice, and taking lyrical inspiration from the likes of Carl Sagan among others, the group's latest album finds the band in a refined state. "Musically, we've grown so much. We have some very unique, timeless, face melting guitar riffs and solos that have come to define our sound, without compromising the idea of a classic song," explains guitarist Ryan Phillips.

Story of the Year's first single, ‘Wake Up’ is up on band’s MySpace page and will be released in the UK on May 19th. Live dates:

20-May - London - Mean Fiddler
21-May - Birmingham - Academy 2
22-May - Manchester - Academy 2
23-May - Glasgow - QMU
25-May - Leeds - Slam-dunk Festival

STORY OF THE YEAR
MySpace.com - STORY OF THE YEAR (new record 4/22/08) - The Lou, Missouri - Rock / Alternative - www.myspace.com/storyoftheyear

watch the video of Wake Up