Vandenberg announce new singer Mats Levén

Vandenberg announce new singer Mats Levén

Vandenberg featuring ex-Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg have a new lead vocalist by the name of Mats Levén (Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass, Trans-Siberian Orchestra).

The following message was posted in part on Adrian Vandenberg‘s Facebook page earlier today:

“VANDENBERG Return With New Singer Mats Levèn

+ Announce Debut Headline Show at Planet Rockstock Festival

Friday 12th November – Planet Rockstock, Trecco Bay, Wales, UK.

VANDENBERG has announced that Mats Levèn will be joining the band as lead singer. The powerhouse vocalist is known for his work with Yngwie Malmsteen, Candlemass and tours with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, among many other bands. To celebrate this new coming together, they have announced their only show of 2021 with the new line-up at the Planet Rockstock Festival at Trecco Bay, Wales, on Friday 12th November.

Talking about Mats joining the band, Adrian Vandenberg exclaims, “To say I’m excited about working with Mats Levèn would be an understatement! It’s a huge privilege to work with a vocalist of Mats‘ world-class calibre, who’s just as passionate about kick-ass rock and as motivated and dedicated as I am. A one of a kind signature voice, commanding stage presence, very experienced but as far from running on automatic pilot as humanly possible and a great guy! Mats and I are working on our new songs for the next Vandenberg album as we speak. We’re pushing and inspiring each other to keep raising the bar and are coming up with great, very exciting stuff!”

Mats says, “I’m thrilled to join Vandenberg and to be recording the new album! I’ve been a fan since the ’80s, and I’m honoured to be soon sharing the stage with my Dutch amigos!!”

Along with Leven, the rhythm section for the 2021 line-up features bassist Randy van der Elsen (of NWOBHM heroes Tank) and drummer Koen Herfst (Epica and Doro).

“I believe the vibe we have with this turbocharged line-up is wonderful,” concludes Vandenberg. “We are not at all a nostalgia act, trying to recreate what happened all those years back. This is a brand-new dynamic band with a name that has a legacy, and I couldn’t be happier with the way it’s turned out.””

Vandenberg released their fourth album 2020 last year, which was 35 years after their third studio album Alibi (1985). 2020 finished at #19 on the Sleaze Roxx Readers’ Top 20 Albums of 2020 to which Sleaze Roxx stated:

“After toying with Vanderberg’s Moonkings for a couple of albums, former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg finally decided to resurrect his band Vandenberg and actually release some new material. The big question of course was who would handle the lead vocals in the resurrected Vandenberg. Given that Adrian Vandenberg had had to fight for control of the band name against his former bandmates including singer Bert Heerink back in 2012, it seemed doubtful that any of the guitarist’s former Vandenberg band members would be part of the new adventure. It appears that Adrian Vandenberg made the right choice as he picked singer Ronnie Romero (Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, The Lords of Black, The Ferrymen, Sunstorm) to handle the lead vocals and the results speak for themselves. With 2020, Vandenberg have come up with a record that is worthy of the band’s legacy and one can only hope that there will be another album from theAdrian Vandenberg / Ronnie Romero led Vandenberg line-up in the future.”