Germany's ATROCITY is recording a new CD which is described as "a project album" featuring frontman Alex Krull's sister Yasmin.

The collaboration with Yasmin began on ATROCITY's 1994 "Blut" album, where Alex's sister contributed guest vocals. In 1995 the mystical and very special ATROCITY FEATURING YASMIN "Calling The Rain" mini-album was released, and it became a success. "Calling The Rain" contained mainly acoustic songs and represented a complete musical departure for what was primarily known as a death metal band at that time. As no other group was playing that kind of music, it was simply dubbed "ethno metal." "A funny name for creating a kind of metal nobody had a name for," says Alex. "As we are a metal act and playing with Yasmin songs influenced by ethno and world music, it's OK to me, although I don't like categories."

ATROCITY's last collaboration with Yasmin came in the shape of the "Desert Land" song for the first Orkus compilation in 1999. Since then, fans have demanded a new official release from ATROCITY featuring Yasmin.

The recording process for the new ATROCITY CD is in full swing and drummer Seven Antonopoulos has already completed his drum tracks. He utilized a significant number of different percussion instruments during the sessions. Seven states, "I really had fun tracking this record. Nowadays records are so over-produced and slick-sounding. It was nice to get in the studio and use organic drum sounds as well as a ton of percussion instruments.

"A couple years ago I started experimenting with different kinds of percussion. On this record I used a cajon on almost all the tunes as well as congas, bongos, timbales and all kinds of rhythm tech shakers and tambourines. Again, it was so refreshing to utilize natural instruments in a recording situation.

"I think the fans will be taken by the whole vibe and mood of the tracks.

"This was my first time to work with Yasmin. She has a great voice and it was a real treat to see how she interpreted the songs."

ATROCITY's "Beauty & The Beast" tour — which also features LEAVES' EYES, ELIS, SIRENIA and STREAM OF PASSION — will kick off on November 13 in Lichtenfels, Germany.