FINNISH METAL EXPO, KAAPELITEHDAS, HELSINKI JANUARY 28.-29.

- Program ready and online - Velcra and Amoral added
- Instrument clinic -schedule online
- Soundclips of Hilselinko-band contest finalists also available
- Map of Exhibitors
- International Metal Meeting allures industry heavy-hitters
- Tickets are selling well - Saturday is getting crowded

Preparations for the Finnish Metal Expo, taking place at Kaapelitehdas in Helsinki, Finland during January 28.-29. are almost complete.

The last bands confirmed to appear at the FME are Velcra, who are on the verge of release of their new album entitled Between Force and Fate and Helsinki-based death/thrash-squad Amoral. The showtimes of the Hilselinko-band contest finalists have also been added online.

The instrument clinics have drawn a plenty of interest and the preliminary schedule can also be viewed at www.fme.fi (click "ohjelma"). The clinics get off to a flying start on Friday with Kai Hahto of Rotten
Sound courtesy of Kumu-drums, followed by bass clinic of Lauri Porra and drum clinic of Kalle Torniainen. Musamaailma-music shop hosts guitar clinics on Satuday with Euge Valovirta, Roope Latvala featuring Alexi Laiho, Tuomo Saikkonen and Kuisma Aalto, Petteri Hirvanen and Petteri
Sariola - Acoustic. Exact schedule of the guitar players performances will be released at the FME.

Hilselinko-band contest, a collaboration between FME and Tuska-Festival, has reached its final stage and soundclips of all four finalists can now be heard online (click "hilselinko"). The four finalists are:

Melodic-metallers Agonizer
Helsinki death/thrashers Codeon
Lahti-based Kill The Romance
Attitude-metallers SinKing

The list of exhibitors is now complete:

Roadrunner Records, Spinefarm Records, Kingfoo Entertainment, Hellsinki Rock Shop, Pyroman FX, Fullsteam Records, EMI Finland, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Firebox Records, Dynamic Arts Records, Welldone Agency & Promotion, Hamara, Inferno, Noise.fi, Imperiumi.net, Sue, Stalker
Magazine, Ilosaarirock, Sauna Open Air, Pellavarock, Nummirock, Astia Studio, Nuorisoasaiainkeskus / MD-Studio / Ääni ja Vimma, Tuhma Magazine, Elmu ry, Nosturi, Suomen Muusikkojen Liitto, Gramex, Verkkopaita.com, Musamaailma Oy, Pro Center (F-Musiikki), DLX Music, Levytukku Oy, Tähtiraketti, Warner Music Finland, Melscene Helsinki, Raskasmusiikkiteollisuus, Miasma Magazine, Encoremetal.com, Joy Factory, Sakara Records, WCH -Metal, Ruumisliina.com, Freedom Underground, Like Kirjakauppa, Poison Arrow, Fullhouse Records, Unity Bookings, Fastrock Factory, Legacy Tattoo, Chambers Magazine, Tuska Open Air Metal Festival, Backline Rental Finland.

International Metal Meeting, the professional meeting taking place within the confines of the Finnish Metal Expo, has gathered an intersting delegation. Among the participants are the founder of Century Media Records Robert Kampf, the head of A&R of Nuclear Blast Records Andy Siry, Nightwish-US-agent John Finberg of Firstrow Talent and Sweden Rock Festival's festival manager Ingolf Persson. All international guests intend, of course, to check out the current state of Finnish metal.

Tickets sales for the event has got off to a good start. Especially people intending to visit the FME on Saturday, should bear in mind that we sell a set amount of tickets in concert-fashion, 3000 tickets per day, not like a regular exhibition.

Schedules, maps and latest news at www.fme.fi.

Tickets are on sale through Lippupalvelu (www.lippupalvelu.fi). We sell one day tickets only, 20euros each. Finnish Metal Expo is an all ages event with bars for those over 18 years of age.

Finnish Metal Expo -artists:

Sonata Arctica
Tarot
Mnemic (DEN)
Finntroll
Velcra
Machine Men
Total Devastation
Callisto
Godsplague
Pain Confessor
Amoral
Purity
Teräsbetoni
Hevein
The Scourger
Agonizer
Codeon
Kill The Romance
SinKing

Additional Info: www.fme.fi, www.tuska-festival.fi.