TIM 'RIPPER' OWENS And CHRIS CAFFERY Joined In New Project By STEVE DIGIORGIO And MARK ZONDE

Frontiers Music Srl has signed a handful of American metal musicians to collaborate on a new musical project. The songs that will comprise the first album are being composed by guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens (JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED). Enlisted to help with the writing and to produce the entire venture, including recording and mixing, is Roy "Z" Ramirez (BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD). Completing the lineup is the powerhouse rhythm section of bassist Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, DEATH, SEBASTIAN BACH, CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) and drummer Mark Zonder (FATES WARNING, WARLORD).

Regarding how his collaboration with Caffery came about, Owens told Metal Express Radio: "Chris and I have been friends for years, and he wrote a song ['The Shadows Are Alive'] with me on my solo CD [2009's 'Play My Game'], and we've always wanted to write together and do something. And he gave me a shout and we've signed a deal with Frontiers. It's gonna be like a cross between SAVATAGE and JUDAS PRIEST kind of stuff. [Frontiers] is a fantastic label, so we're looking forward to it."

Owens recorded two studio albums with JUDAS PRIEST — "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before the band reunited with Rob Halford.