ENGLAND - Peaceville Records has announced the signing of White Empress featuring ex-Cradle of Filth guitarist, Paul Allender. The band's debut album, Rise of the Empress, will release this fall on Peaceville in conjunction with PledgeMusic.com. The album can be pre-ordered now through PledgeMusic at: http://www.pledgemusic.com/whiteempress along with plenty of White Empress goodies from signed artwork, signed guitars, to the opportunity to record in Paul Allender's studio and more. Pledgers will also be able to download a track from Rise of the Empress.

Formed by guitarist Paul Allender - previously of U.K. titan Cradle of Filth - and with a full band line-up, this new venture into the metal landscape under the moniker of White Empress exudes the depth and ferocity of his prior work whilst pushing new boundaries. Allender's signature razor-sharp riffing and epic, melodic twists and turns compliment the sumptuously alluring and often demonic voice of Mary Zimmer (Luna Mortis) to create a master class in savage, yet uplifting metallic darkness.

The album was recorded in White Empress' studio and has been mixed and mastered by veteran producer, Kit Woolven (Thin Lizzy, Cradle of Filth).

With Allender's relentless guitar and Zimmer's diverse vocals, ranging from operatic to death metal screams, White Empress is exploring new areas of metal.

"White Empress is the link the music scene has been so desperately missing," said Allender. "The band started writing together two years ago, and have slowly crafted the sound that is White Empress. White Empress has all the best parts of the metal scene rolled up into one band. The music is hard, but emotive. White Empress' unique style and sound is bringing fresh life to the music scene that it's been crying out for."

In between working with Cradle of Filth, Allender relocated to the U.S. in 2012 and decided to start work on another project with local musicians in his newly adopted home of Minneapolis, Minn. along with his friend, Martin Skaroupka from Cradle of Filth. This soon became White Empress. Having also recently released the acclaimed EP, 'White Empress,' the stage was set for a full-on assault.

White Empress comprises: Paul Allender, formerly the main guitarist and songwriter in Cradle of Filth, vocalist Mary Zimmer from Luna Mortis, Will Graney, keyboardist from Damnation Angels, Chela Harper, bass player for Coal Chamber, guitarist Jeremy Kohnmann from The Awakening, and drummer Zac Morris, who's played with many bands including Ugly Kid Joe.

Stay tuned for more information on White Empress and Rise of the Empress.

White Empress is...

Paul Allender - guitar

Mary Zimmer - vocals

Will Graney - keyboards

Chela Harper - bass

Jeremy Kohnmann - guitar

Zac Morris - drums