SAMMY BERELL (Neoclassical/Metal – Sweden) – Will release the album “Beyond the Veil” via Sound Pollution on October 29, 2021 #SammyBerell

Sweden has a long tradition of extremely talented, technically driven and innovative guitarplayers. But they definitely don´t grow on trees and they don´t come in bundles every chistmas either. So when a new bright star on the northern sky is born you can be sure to tell by the vivid sparks!
Sammy Berell grew up in the 1980´s and 1990´s in a suburban area north of Stockholm. In fact and by coincidence the very same place where Yngwie J Malmsteen also was born and raised. This was later becoming an issue, since a lot of people were obviously comparing Sammys playing style to Malmsteen. Something that should be seen only as a compliment really.

Sammys family were all musicians and singers, so he was always surrounded by music and was musically encouraged. His upbringing was partly a little bit disorderly though, since Sammy was only interested in music and not at all in school.

Sammys father was a priest, who often took his young and restless son with him to work. Listening to the organist in church and classical music was therefore a constant, common and everyday habit. Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi and Händel were always on the agenda.

This way Berell became intensively inspired by all these legendary composers early on, and it gave him the urge to start playing and practicing different instruments. He began with the piano already at the age of six, and then, as time was passing, came also the flute and the violin. He swiftly came to a deeper understanding of symphonies, opera  and musicals.  In his early teens, Sammy also started to listen to classically influenced heavy rock music. He discovered Van Halen, Malmsteen, Norum, Talisman, Dream Theater, etc. He started to play the drums. And then he was given an electric guitar. He took to it instantly and it quickly became his main instrument.

Everyday after school Sammy was practising guitar for hours without end. He developed  his sound and his technicality day by day. After all these days, weeks, months, years of dedication and practising hard, people also started to pay attention to his extraordinary skills and talent.
Sammy played with some different bands during his youth, but he always dreamed about and envisioned his own thing. The early 1990´s was definitely not the era for advanced musicianship and being musically ambitious. The trend at the time rockwise was called grunge. Being obsessed with playing scales and practicing your instrument manically, days and nights, was seen as kind of ridiculous, nerdy or goofy. Only a few people took Berell seriously. But he himself knew exactly which way he wanted to go. He was confident and very strongly believed in  what he was doing.
Then in 2017, finally his dream came true. His debut album as a solo artist in his own right was released. Suitably named “Passion Dreams” (Dark Force Records / Sound Pollution). All music and all lyrics written by Berell himself. And he plays all guitars, all bass, keyboards and do some vocals himself also. And now, with this project, he also got to work together with some of his own musical heroes. Singers like Michael Vescera (Yngwie Malmsteen, Loudness, Obsession) and Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum, Kharma). People he grew up with, admired and looked up to. Something Berell felt was extremely cool and satisfying. Musically The album is connecting the past with the present. Well known and the biggest magazine in Japan for Heavy Metal music since the 1980´s – Burrn Magazine, praised Berell, his album, his music and above all – his guitar playing highly! “Passion Dreams” ended up as #2 on their list of recently released albums. Victorious.

In 2020 Berell recorded a single together with Göran Edman – “Dystopia”.
And a new solo album has now also been recorded, mixed and mastered (by Martin Sweet), for release later in 2021. This time with Mark Boals (most known for his work with Malmsteen on albums like “Trilogy” (US platinum), “Inspiration”, “Alchemy”, and a lot more) on lead vocals.

The future for Sammy Berell looks very bright and clear and the spark of this star is as energetic, vibrant and shining as ever!

Order the album here at Sound Pollution

Sammy Berell Links:
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