.com
.de1997 was a quite experimental year. Waltari did again something completely different. While the two previous studio albums So Fine and Big Bang featured many different styles of music and did not concentrate on one the 1997 release Space Avenue concentrated pretty much on a crossover style between metal and electronic beats.
The album was produced by Rhys Fulber, the most famous producer Waltari had so far, and mixed by Greg Reely. The Canadian got famous in the EBM band Frontline Assembly until he and FLA founder Bill Leeb split up.
The recordings for Space Avenue ended in January. It has been recorded in Cologne and Helsinki. Mixing in Vancouver, Canada.
In April Space Avenue is released in most of European countries and the USA. Chart album in Germany (highest chart position was 88), Austria and Finland. The "Far Away"-video is shown on MTV and VIVA.
Space Avenue Tour was in May. Waltari toured Finland and Germany.
In summer Waltari performed again at festivals in in Germany, Austria, Czech, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. Followed up by aClub tour in Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In August "Far Away" hit position 5 in Japanese import metal single charts.
In September Waltari were on another club tour: Dedicated To The Flyers club tour in Finland.
From October 13th to November 25th Waltari have their third club tour in the year. This time in New York on promotion trip. They performed eight gigs in local clubs.
