News release items for February February 2009

Hey everyone!

Here is the latest Takara news release items for February.

For the fans in Europe and beyond. Fireworks magazine will be releasing their next issue with Takara features in several spots in the magazine. The new issue of Fireworks will have a cover CD the comes along with the magazine that will feature the new song "Angel of Lies" on it. This issue will feature a recent Takara interview, and some promo advertisements for the new album as well.
Also, Powerplay magazine in Europe will feature the same song "Angel of Lies" on its cover CD too. Along with that, they will have some promo advertisements for the new Takara album "Invitation to Forever"

Guitarist Neal Grusky has been quite busy lately with several interviews. Many of these interviews are quite in-depth. They shred light on the history of Takara, as well all that surrounds the new album too.
These full feature interviews can be found at these respective sites, or magazines.

www.hardblast.com (Brazil)

www.metal-temple.com (Greece)

www.lordsofmetal.nl (holland)

www.hardline-magazine.de (Germany) print magazine

Live interview on the air with The Classic Metal Show. Now uploaded, and posted on www.youtube.com
YouTube - Interview with Takara Guitarist Neal Grusky (Part 1)
YouTube - Interview with Takara Guitarist Neal Grusky (Part 2)
YouTube - Interview with Takara Guitarist Neal Grusky (Part 3)

Also, last but most certainly not least. Takara have teamed up with world renown Skateboard Marketing.
Skateboard Marketing is known for their incredible marketing skills. Their past client list reads like a who's who of rock. ACDC, Alice Cooper, Avenged Sevenfold, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Bruce Dickinson, Dio, Dream Theater, Judas Priest, Scorpians, Malmsteen, Megadeth, Metalica, Stryper, Symphony x, etc.

Skateboard Marketing will finally begin to crack the U.S. Market, a market that has long evaded Takara.
With Takara's new release finally available in all record stores in the U.S. It is finally time for the band to get the radio play it deserves, and Skateboard Marketing will begin to do just that for the band in 09'. They will embark on a 8 week, 400 radio station promo campaign.

Also, don't forget all Takara Albums, including their new one "Invitation to Forever" can be purchased via either Takara websites.

Hey Everyone! December 2008

r new album has met with some really great support from a whole new fan base as well as our old loyal fan base. We,as I feel, have moved away from the 80's sound and into a more contemporary realm. While still true to an instrisically Takara sound, this album embraces the evolution of our art and simultaneously integrates prototypical Takara hallmarks.  In alliance with our aim, this album also emcompasses the perfect mixture of melodies, hooks, power, and dynamics. In turn, this helped us evolve.

A glance at the future reveals a negotiation to perform at two huge music festivals. Without elaborating further, we can confirm for that one would potentially be in Brazil and the other one would take place here in the U.S.

Many Takara fans have asked me how we made the decision to sign with ProgRock Records/SPV. As many know, ProgRock/SPV carries many prog bands. While many of you know that we haven't traditionally been a prog rock band, we were offered a deal by ProgRock/SPV so that they may expand their reportoire. At the same time, Takara realized the opportunity of forming an alliance with a second to none distribution network. SPV is widely recognized in Europe as one of the premiere music labels. ProgRock, on the other hand, is distributed by Ryco, which is the same distribution used by WEA (Warner Electra Asylum). This means that Takara, for the first time, is in ALL music stores in the U.S.,  a feat that very few bands in this genre have achieved. Takara's music is now available in Target, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Virgin, Amoeba, BestBuy, Circuit City, Tower Records online, and a multitude of many online stores from Asia and Europe to the U.S.

Also, As far as our myspace impact has gone has been nothing less than amazing. We have had on the average of 200 music plays a day. We have had several days of 400, 500, 600, and a 700 play day! So it seems the word has been began spread like wildfire about this new album. The same goes for our www.takararocks.com site. Our site web trafic has shot up from 30 visits a day to over 100 visits per day!  From all around the world.

Takara has been selling cd's like crazy from the www.takararocks.com homepage. we are proud of this achievement! Many fans have placed their trust, and faith in us, and ordered direct from the Takara homepage. When purchased direct the cd will come signed if desired. Purchasing direct from the band, helps the band enourmously. Also, purchases of prior Takara albums have been happening at quite inspiring rate as well. We will during the holidays be offering a deal for fans that buy the new album. If you buy the new album, you can buy any other Takara album at half price !

 We also will be in the next few weeks offering Takara Tee shirts so please make your order soon. Also posters of the new Takara Album cover will be available too via the bands site. All orders are shipped next day by the way.

We are thrilled to discover that the fans have responded so positively to this album. We look forward to being able perform for you next year!

Welcome to the New Website

Hi Everybody,

Well it is here at last! Well... So many things are here at the same time lol . I am not quite sure where to start. Let's start with the most obvious. After many years of everyone seeing the same website, we finally updated it. Well not quite we, but our new webmaster/artist/genius,Guilherme Sevens the man behind all of our new look. He created the new album cover "Invitation to Forever", as well as our new website. We are very grateful for all his hard work. Many of you know that Darrell Sensing had been our webmaster from the very start. Well Darrell had chosen earlier this year to step aside from his role as Takara webmaster. From myself (Neal Grusky), and everyone past and present in Takara, we thank Darrell for his many years of hard work , and true dedication! So big thanks Darrell!

Next up, Our new album. As you might have noticed by now we have a new album out now. We have worked very hard on this new album. Many people who have heard this album already have told me personally they think this is our best album to date. My reaction has been surprised, especially when you consider some of our previous album's how well they came together for us. I must say I am very happy with this album. Gus and I worked together so incredibly considering we had never met before the album work began. I feel like Gus and I have really great writing chemistry, and that is really hard to find, anywhere. Nonetheless, it feels quite good to have a new album out.

I have often been asked why did it take you so long to put a new album out? Well due to many, and diverse circumstances from the time between "Perception of Reality", and our new album was an extended amount of time by anyone's standard. After many years of working very hard in the music business I felt after "Perception" I needed a break.

This gave me a chance to reflect on what was next for Takara musically. As things were progressing in my off time/writing time, I was blindsided by the very unexpected passing of my Father. The passing of my Father turned my world upside down like nothing that has ever happened to me. Slowly as I began to regroup myself, and my thoughts I began to miss, and desire to do a new album. I knew with this album that it had to be special, and after all the time off there would be expectations just purely based on previous albums, and rightfully so. I truly hope that this album will fulfill all the expectations all of you might have had, just based off how the previous albums sounded.

With this new Takara album I decided I wanted to be heavier with more of an edge than previous albums. With the new songs I wanted them to have the same melodic appeal that all my songs had in the past, but with that edge I was talking about. With this album I feel I achieved what I was aiming for. I expect most Takara fans will welcome the change as well. With the help of my old friend, and long time Takara Keyboardist Brook Hansen who's profound influence on the new album can be heard on many of the songs. We also like to thank bassist,and drummer Bjorn , and Patrick for their help on the album too.