Hi everyone and welcome to this eleventh Hanker newsletter! This is, by far, the most important one since its creation. We have some very good news for you about this heavy metal band so let's start up immediately!

Hanker sign with Skyscraper Music!!

Following the successful Snakes And Ladders (released in 2000 by Metal Disk), Hanker will make its debut recording on Skyscraper in the spring of 2004. The 18-year old Power/Heavy quartet has nothing to envy younger talent, the band is here to stay and work their way through today's international Metal scene. Five titles are presently known for the upcoming CD: Empower, Stigmata, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Do Or Die and Under Cover Of Darkness. Stay tuned for more updates!

Hanker will play at the Headbangers Open Air 2004 in Germany!

The doors have finally begun to open for Hanker! After getting an opening slot for the Helloween gig in Montreal on October 11, 2003 and signed with Skyscraper Music for their upcoming album, our Quebec metallers will finally play in Europe next year for the first time! Furthermore, they will be one of the headliners at the cult Headbangers Open Air Festival which will take place on July 9-10, 2004! Bands confirmed for this two days festival are: Intruder (USA), Brocas Helm, Elixir (UK), Desaster (Germany), Vortex, Nightmare, Fist (UK), Tyr (Denmark), Overdrive (Sweden), Hirax, Highway Chile, Rosae Crucis and more! Tickets are limited to 1,000 and only cost 20 Euro (tax free). They are currently available on the Hellion Records Web site. Check out the Headbangers Open Air Web site for more details about the festival.

The Dead Ringer released in vinyl format!

Hellion Records has just released in Europe the second Hanker album, The Dead Ringer, in vinyl format! The release is limited to 500 copies with a bonus track (250 copies in red and 250 copies in yellow 180 g. vinyl). All three Hanker albums are therefore available in vinyl format (Cult Metal Classics released the other two last year).

Hanker forum now online!

A discussion forum fully dedicated to Hanker is now open to everyone! It is hosted and moderated by Michel Renaud of the excellent Metal Crypt Web site. You must register if you want to post (simply click on «register» in the forum and fill the form). Note that you can post threads in either English or French. Feel free to come discuss about Hanker on the online forum.

Main additions to the site:

Here are the main additions to the Hanker Web site since the last newsletter: added a very interesting interview with Pascal Cliche by Snakepit Magazine under Interviews. Added seven excellent reviews of Snakes And Ladders under CD Reviews. The album now has 34 known reviews and none of them are negative! Added a new interactive and improved menu at the top of every page, more details about how to order Hanker LPs and CDs, a new banner under Download and many new Web sites related to Hanker under Links.

That's all for now folks. The Hanker team is thrilled and looking ahead with great enthusiasm! Thanks a lot to everyone who support Hanker. Don't forget to come to discuss on the message board! Take care!