A NORTH-East band are celebrating signing a five-album record deal after touring Europe with rock legend Slash.

Amara, who formed only 18 months ago, spent part of December on the road with the former Guns'N'Roses guitarist's band, Slash's Snakepit, thanks to Dragon Records who gave them a development deal.

And following the success of the heavy metal band's tour, the same firm has given them a five-record deal and will release their first album, Conspiritualized, across Europe on Sunday.

A British release will follow in the late summer.

The band, made up of guitarist Mut Schulz, bass player Mike Naylor, singer DJ Lake and Steve Thompson on drums, hail from the Stockton and County Durham areas and are heading out on tour across Europe to promote the album.

The tour with Slash came following a meeting in Germany, said Mut.