BEHOLDER, the band led by Simon Hall, former lead singer of NWOBHM legends HANDSOME BEASTS, will release its new album, "The Awakening", on December 1. With over 70 minutes of "full-on sonic offerings and melodic sensibilities, this album has already been hailed as a welcome return to the true spirit of British heavy metal," according to a press release.

On October 26, the title track of the forthcoming album will be released on download format with an additional live bonus cut, "Never Take Us Down", taken from the band's stunning performance at this year's Bloodstock Open Air festival.

The artwork for "The Awakening" is said to be "an existing piece of mastery" by Paul Raymond Gregory. Paul is renowned for his metal album covers, including releases from SAXON ("Crusader", "Rock The Nations", "Unleash The Beast", "Metal Head", "Heavy Metal Thunder", "Lionheart", "Into The Labyrinth"), DIO ("Angry Machines"), MOLLY HATCHET ("Silent Reign Of Heroes", "Locked & Loaded", "Kingdom of XII", "Warriors of Rainbow Bridge"), FREEDOM CALL, BLIND GUARDIAN and COMPANY OF SNAKES.

BEHOLDER frontman Simon Hall is featured in the upcoming feature-length film "Dude, Where's My Music?", which has been described as "'Slumdog Millionaire' meets 'Anvil! The Story Of Anvil' or 'Wayne's World' meets Michael Moore's 'Bowling for Columbine'. It is a movie drenched in humor but with a particularly serious message. It questions why, despite millions of passionate and loyal fans, music is deemed an afterthought by many industry professionals and asks why mainstream music is now so tepid." Other musicians interviewed for the film include members of ANVIL, LACUNA COIL, EXODUS, TESTAMENT, GOD FORBID, DREAM THEATER, KORN, DRAGONFORCE and VENOM.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/beholderuk.