JON OLIVA'S PAIN, the band led by SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva, has issued the following update:

"Just wanted to drop a quick line and let everyone know that the band has returned to U.S. soil [from its recent European tour]... and frankly, we cannot wait to leave again.

"The fans and promoters treated us with the utmost respect and appreciation for our performances and the effort we made to help make their festivals/shows the best possible. Metal Dayz at Z7 [in Pratteln, Switzerland] was not only our final show of the tour, but the best performance we have had to date. It was magical onstage that night. Everything clicked in perfect harmony and Oliva's voice was absolutely perfect. The next day, we reflected on what we had set out to accomplish. We could leave Europe very satisfied....and the fans seemed to be as well.

"After a 20-hour trip home, we all need a couple of days to get our lives back in order. The release is just three weeks away and then we must begin rehearsing for our tour in support of 'Maniacal Renderings'. Greece, Turkey, Russia, and the rest of Europe are all part of that plan.

"So it is with sincere appreciation that we thank the 80,000 fans for making us all feel so welcome and for being such an important part of every show. It is always a pleasure to meet everyone and to witness the satisfaction on their faces first hand. After all, we are people just like everyone else. We put our shoes on the same way and experience the same highs and lows as you do. And we never, ever forget that without you... there is no where for us to play and no outlet for JOP's music.

"Thank you all... We are going to do it all over again very soon!"

JON OLIVA'S PAIN has posted four songs — "Through the Eyes of the King", "Playing God", "Push It to the Limit" and "Maniacal Renderings" — from its upcoming sophomore album, "Maniacal Renderings", on its MySpace page.

"Maniacal Renderings" is scheduled for release on September 1 via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2004's "'Tage Mahal" was once again recorded at Audio Lab Studios in Tampa, Florida and is described in a press release as "a more progressive, complex and dramatic edge without sacrificing any of the songwriting quality that fans have come to expect during Oliva's 25-year career." 14 songs are scheduled to be released in three different versions for Europe, Japan and the U.S. An EP, "Straight-Jacket Memoirs", consisting of two new studio tracks and two live tracks from the 2006 tour was made available in June when the band made its appearance at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Germany.

As previously reported, JON OLIVA'S PAIN has been confirmed as the headliner of next year's ProgPower UK festival, set to take place March 31, 2007 in Chelltenham, England. Also scheduled to appear are SCAR SYMMETRY, CLOUDSCAPE, DREAMSCAPE and HAGGARD. Oliva and company will perform for 100 minutes and will include songs from JON OLIVA'S PAIN and a healthy assault of SAVATAGE classics. Tickets go on sale January 7, 2007. More information is available at www.progpoweruk.com.