Italy: Lacuna Coil (Metal)

Location: Milan, Italy (1996 – present);

Genres: Gothic Metal/Rock (early) / Alternative Rock (later)

Current line-up: Marco Coti Zelati (bass, keyboards); Cristiano Mozzati (drums); Marco Biazzi (guitars); Cristiano Migliore (guitars); Andrea Ferro (vocals); Cristina Scabbia (lead vocals);

The band formed as Sleep of Right in 1994 and recorded a song called "Bleeding Souls" for the Noise of Bolgia compilation in 1995, but soon changed their name to Ethereal.

1996

• A two–songs demotape under the name “Ethereal” is recorded and sent to several labels across the Europe.
• After reviewing the offers that came in, an international deal is signed with independent label Century Media Records.
• The name of the band changes into Lacuna Coil because the name Etheral has already been taken. Lacuna Coil is a mix of Italian and English words and can be translated as “Empty Spiral”.

1997

• The debut self-titled EP is recorded at the Woodhouse Studio in Hagen (Germany) whith producer Waldemar Sorychta.
• The first live experience begins supporting Moonspell on a European Tour.

Falling from Lacuna Coil (1998)

1998

• Long time friends Cristiano “Chris” Migliore and Cristiano “Criz” Mozzati are recruited to join the band respectively on guitar rand drums.
• The self-titled EP is released.
• Lacuna Coil open for Moonspell at the Coliseum in Lisbon (Portugal) in front of 4000 people.
• Their second European Tour, this time with The Gathering and Seigmen. Chris is injured shortly before departure and cannot make it, Steve Minelli (Node) takes His duty on guitar for the tour.
• Keyboardist Alice Chiarelli joins the band for a few months.
• On their first summer festival experience, Lacuna Coil open the mainstage at The “Wacken Open Air” in Germany. One of the highlights is their first signing session.
• The almost complete band – Andrea, Marco, Cristina, Chris, Criz – come together to record their frist full-length álbum at the Woodhouse Studios, with Waldemar – In A Raverie is born.

Falling Again from In A Reverie (1999)

1999

• Marco “Maus” Biazzi joins the bando n second guitar. Now the line-up is finally complete.

2000

• They entered the “Damagen Inc.” Stuios in Ventimiglia (Italy) with Waldemar Sorychta to record a new EP – Halflife.
• Their first headlining tour across Europe: 13 gigs including UK and Ireland.
• In October, they entered “Woodhouse Studio” with Sorychta to record the second album – Unleashed Memories.

Senzafine from Unleashed Memories (2001)

2001

• Their second full-length album - Unleashed Memories – is released.
• Then, the “Metal Odyssy Tour 2001” featuring Dimmu Borgir, In Flames, Nevermore and opener Susperia is their biggest tour at the time, with a lot fo sold out shows.
• First tour in the U.S. with their Portuguese friends Moonspell.

2002

• After a few months of hard work in the practice room, they’re ready to start the pré-production with Waldemar, in Milan (Italy).
• In April, they are already located in Dortmund (Germany), starting the recordings of Comalies at the Woodhouse Studio.
• In September: European release for Comalies. They get lots of cover stories from magazines, including Terrorizer in U.K., Rock Hard in Germany and Metal Hammer in Greece.

Swamped from Comalies (2002)

2003

• In April they are ready to hit the stages again, 4 weeks as main supporter for Opeth and the first two headlining shows in the U.S.
• More shows in Italy and the festivals in Europe. The biggest festival they’ve ever playded in Italy has been the Heineken Jammin Festival, 40.000 people with Iron Maiden as headliner.
• Straight after that, they are ready to start the longest tour they’ve ever done in their carreer. 10 Weeks in the States, joining Type O’Negative and Anthrax, plus headline shows.
• Their frist vídeo – Heaven’s a Lie.
• Their first headlining tour in the States, with Dog Fashion Disco supporting them.

Heaven's A Lie from Comalies (2002)

2004

• Their biggest adventure of their carreer at that time: From May to September, they are traveling all across the States first with Blindside and Hazen Street, supporting P.O.D., and then taking parti n OzzFest 2004.

  2005

• They entered the Massive Arts Studios (Italy) and the Woodhouse Studios (Germany) for the recording sessions of their fourth full album – Karmacode.
• The U.K. Tour “Na Evening with Lacuna Coil” begins. All the gigs are sold out and, for the first time, they open for themselves with na acoustic set.

Our Truth from Karmacode (2006)

2006

• The year start with the shooting of two vídeos in one day, in the same área of Downtown Los Angles: Closer and Enjoy the Silence.
• Also in 2006, they shoot the vídeo for their last single out of Karmacode: Within Me. They have done it part in Torino and Parti n The Island of Sardegna.

2007

• In October, their first experience in Tokio (Japan) as part of the Loud Park Festival.
• Beginning og November marks their firts trip to Australia in the Gigantour 2007 Package.

2008

• Is March and they start the songwriting process for Shallow Life.
• Between June and July, parto f the band start the mix of their first live DVD at the Officine Meccaniche Studios, in Milan, with the producer Marco Trantacoste.
• In November 25th, their official first live DVD – Visual Karma, Body, Mind and Soul – is released.

Spellbound from Shallow Life (2009)

2009

• Shallow life is released

2010

• They release the EP - Shallow Live: Acoustic At Criminal Records.

Discography:

1998 – Lacuna Coil (EP)

1999 – In a Reverie (Full-length)

2000 - Halflife (EP)

2001 - Unleashed Memories (Full-length)

2002 - Comalies (Full-length)

2005 - The EPs (Compilation)

2006 – Sampler (EP)

2006 - Karmacode (Full-length)

2008 - Visual Karma (Body, Mind and Soul) (DVD)

2009 - Manifesto of Lacuna Coil (Compilation)

2009 - Shallow Life (Full-length)

2010 - Shallow Live: Acoustic At Criminal Records (EP)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Italy: Fleshgod Apocalypse (Metal)

Location: Rome, Italy (2007 – present);

Genres: Death Metal

Current line-up: Palolo Rossi (bass, clean vocals); Francesco Paoli (drums, guitars, vocals); Cristiano Trionfera (guitars, vocas, orchestral arrangements); Tommasco Riccardi (guitars, vocals); Francesco Ferrini (piano);

Italy's brutal/symphonic horde, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, have returned with their definitive epic masterpiece Agony. With only two releases under their belts, Oracles (2009) and the Mafia EP (2010), FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE have already become one of the most talked about bands in the underground. Their unique blend of technical death metal with a symphonic elements have quickly made them a favorite with fans and critics alike. Now, after a slew of successful tours in Europe and the US, the band have unleashed their defining moment in the form of Agony!

The Violation from Agony (2011)

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE was born in April of 2007 when they released a two track demo entitled Promo 07, which was later released as part of the 4-way split called Da Vinci Death Code. In early 2008 the band started to perform live in the Italian and European underground scene supporting bands like BEHEMOTH, ORIGIN, DYING FETUS, HATE ETERNAL, SUFFOCATION, NAPALM DEATH and many more.

In May 2008 the band entered 16th Cellar Studio again to record its first full-length album, Oracles. In December that same year the band decided to part ways with Neurotic Records and inked a deal with Willowtip Records. Oracles was released in April 2009 and the band started an intense show schedule all over Europe. First touring in support of GOD DETHRONED in the Balkans, then with VADER and MARDUK on the “Funeral Nation” tour, then finally they covered the UK and EIRE territories with their first headlining tour.

In Honour of Reason from Oracles (2009)

The Mafia EP was recorded, mixed and mastered again at 16th Cellar Studio in January 2010 and released by Willowtip Records. The release marked a big step forward for the band in every way. Right after the end of the recording session the band embarked on another European tour supporting SUFFOCATION followed by a headlining tour of Russia.

After some Festivals and gigs in the summertime, the band flew overseas for their first tour of the US/Canada dubbed the Decibel Defiance Tour 2010. The tour took place in October/November 2010 with SUFFOCATION, THE FACELESS, THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD and DECREPIT BIRTH. Before the end of the year the band played several more gigs in Europe. 2011 opened with the Bonecrusher Fest, a European tour with DYING FETUS, KEEP OF KALESSIN, CARNIFEX, ANNOTATIONS OF AN AUTOPSY and ANGELUS APATRIDA.

Temptation from from Agony (2011)

In November of 2010, the band signed a worldwide deal with Extreme Management Group, Inc. and began writing their second full length album. In May of 2011 the band signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records and began wrapping up work on this album. During this time Francesco Ferrini, the pianist and orchestrator who has worked with the band from the beginning, joined FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE as full-time member. This enabled them to have even more grand symphonic arrangements on Agony, taking the bands signature sound to new euphoric heights.

Agony hones in on the bands unique traits giving fans everything they could hope for and more. Marco Hasmann once again crafts an intricate depiction of the bands concept with his cover art. As always, the mix and mastering work of Stefano “Saul” Morabito from 16th Cellar Studios is so superb that you can expect to hear his name quite a bit more in the future. Make no mistake, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE are soon to be one of the leading forces in the extreme metal scene!"

Discography:

2007 - Promo '07 (Demo)

2008 - Da Vinci Death Code (Split)

2009 - Oracles (Full-length)

2010 – Mafia (EP)

2011 – Agony (Full-length)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Myspace, Facebook and Twitter.

Italy: Elvenking (Metal)

Location: Sacile (Pordenone), Italy (1997 – present);

Genres: Melodic Power/Folk Metal;

Current line-up: Gorlan (bass); Symohn (drums); Aydam (guitars); Rafahel (guitars); Damna (vocals); Lethien (violin);

“ELVENKING may be the heroes of folky power metal! Certainly, no other band of this genre has evolved so much during the last couple of years and kept its individualism intact, but their 6th album “Red Silent Tides” is now set to prove that there’s still more in the box we weren’t expecting!

With the addition of highly-acclaimed producer Dennis Ward, who was responsible for the mix, ELVENKING have introduced an 80’s like hard rock element that matches perfectly with the folky power metal that they are known for and the result is their most mature album to date, a record that that will solidify the status of the band immensely. Tracks like powerful opener “Dawnmelting” are unmistakably ELVENKING, so are “Runereader” and the furious “Your Heroes Are Dead”. But the anthemic “The Cabal” then arrives right from where their hit “The Divided Heart” left off in 2007, and it’s one of the standout and ultimately wonderfully creative moments of the album which proves that this band not only has a grievous heart but also a more commercial potential, with this track being chosen as the band’s first video clip.

The Divided Heart from The Scythe (2007)

Red Silent Tides has other facets too: songs like “Possession”, “The Last Hour” and “What’s Left Of Me” will undoubtedly surprise; the sweetness of Hard Rock fusing beautifully with the power of the heavier moments, but honestly, this is exactly what we expect from this band and the fact that they have undoubtedly delivered their most mature(d) album to date should not be ignored.

The Last Hour from Red Silent Tides (2010)

Since 1997, Italian metal pioneers ELVENKING have been an active part of the European scene steadily building a rapidly growing cult fan-base and performing around Europe, in both their home country, Budapest (where a strong set at the Sziget gathering several years ago had people talking for months), and the UK where the band appeared at the legendary Bloodstock Festival with ex Skyclad / Sabbat singer Martin Walkyier (in 2002) and at Metalfest in Dudley (2009) where the band walked away with the joint ‘Band Of The Festival’ prize sharing the spoils with Brainstorm.

Pagan Purity from Heathenreel (2001)

The band debuted on record in 2001 with the excellent "Heathenreel", but this would only be the beginning. Spreading mystic tales of fantasy and imagination to a wider audience, that album proved that their mixture of epic power metal and frisky folk was capable of instantly grabbing attention and was a lot more focused and real than many. "Wyrd", the band's second album was released in 2004, followed by another showcase of their musical individuality, "The Winter Wake", unleashed in 2006; but it was probably “The Scythe” (released in 2007) that became their biggest success so far and set the band on the current path.

The Scythe from The Scythe (2007)

Not only did they dare to enhance their unique sound with some more dark/modern elements (to the delight of many), but with its strikingly bold track “The Divided Heart” they presented a high class video clip that has grabbed the attention of over one million (!) viewers on the internet, a feat that continues to this day. Their semi-acoustic 2008 follow up to “The Scythe”, “Two Tragedy Poets (...And A Caravan Of Weird Figures)” displayed their folk roots like never before and provided the band with their first European headlining tours and biggest festival bookings such as Summer Breeze but for 2010, the band has decided to return to full electric power again whilst still proving that this band has another key ace up its sleeve.

The Cabal from Red Silent Tides (2010)

 

The new album clearly shows where this band stands today. “Red Silent Tides” is a journey full of poetry, melancholy and bitter sweetness, but without any kind of lethargy or tackiness. It’s poetry that rocks!”

Discography:

2000 - To Oak Woods Bestowed (Demo)

2001 - Heathenreel (Full-length)

2004 - Wyrd (Full-length)

2006 – The Winter Wake (Full-length)

2007 - The Scythe (Full-length)

2008 - From Blood to Stone (Single)

2008 - Two Tragedy Poets (...And a Caravan of Weird Figures) (Full-length)

2010 - Red Silent Tides (Full-length)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Myspace, Facebook and YouTube.

Italy: Rhapsody of Fire (Metal)

Location: Trieste, Italy (1995 – present);

Genres: Symphonic / Orchestral Power Metal

Current line-up: Oliver Holzwarth (bass); Alex Holzwarth (drums, percussion); Tom Hess (guitars); Roberto De Micheli (guitars); Fabio Lione (vocals); Alex Staropoli (keyboards);

Rhapsody of Fire was formed in 1993 as Thundercross, and then changed name to Rhapsody in 1995. They were forced to change their name again, this time to Rhapsody of Fire, due to copyright problems on 14th of July of 2006.

“With their outstanding debut LEGENDARY TALES (1997) they've achieved what only the fewest rock bands can claim: guitarist Luca Turilli, vocalist Fabio Lione and keyboarder Alex Staropoli – the regular cast of Rhapsody Of Fire – created their own niche, a very own genre: “Hollywood Metal” or “Film Score Metal”, because their epic Power Metal in combination with elements of classicism and film music but also folkloric touches just couldn't be put into one of the existing categories.

Legendary Tales from Legendary Tales (1997)

In general the guitar play of Luca Turilli takes the virtuosic and harmonic late baroque style plus the subsequent neo-classicism as an example, whereas the keyboard parts of Alex Staropolis often undertake the function of basso continuo. Together with the fantasy lyrics an unique pizazz emerges that has no peer and that is being perfected by the Italiens as time goes by.

At the turn of the millenium the typical Heavy Metal agression occupied center stage on albums such as DAWN OF VICTORY (2000), RAIN OF A THOUSAND FLAMES (2001) or POWER OF THE DRAGONFLAME (2002), while from 2004 on – especially on releases SYMPHONY OF ENCHANTED LANDS II: THE DARK SECRET (2004) and TRIUMPH OR AGONY (2006) – epic elements came to the fore, which found its provisional peak in the orchestral THE FROZEN TEARS OF ANGELS (2010).

Bloody Red Dungeons from Triumph Or Agony (2006)

Despite having used the momentum of this previous production from 2010 to start working on FROM CHAOS TO ETERNITY without a break, a return to traditional and more rocking virtues sets in now, though the self-created musical stamping ground is not being abandoned for a single second: “We cut back the bombast to a certain extent, let the guitars blast stronger again, put emphasis rather on basic rock”, Turilli states concerning this year's variant of their “Film Score Metal” and the alignment of the new opus, which into the bargain finalizes the fantasy saga of the emerald sword that has been continued from the debut on for more than 15 years.

Once again Christopher Lee, doyen of dramatic arts, could be won over as the narrator, who introduces the lyrical concept in the theatric intro 'Ad Infinitum' and furthermore guides the listener through 'Heroes Of The Waterfalls´ Kingdom' which is 20 minutes long and the concluding centerpiece of the album at once, that pulls out all the stops of the symphonic-epic Hollywood Metal.

Tempesta Di Fuoco from From Chaos To Eternity (2011)

'Tempesta Di Fuoco' with its Italian lyrics and classical baroque speed rock attitude may be exactly what devotees of the sextette expect from their heroes, and also the hymnic title track with its typical sweeping Rhapsody-choirs embodies Film Score Metal at its best. However, already 'Ghosts Of Forgotten Worlds' turns out to be the first surprise because of its massive and progressive guitar play as well as Fabios Geoff-Tate-alike vocals – just as 'Aeons Of Raging Darkness' that undoubtably is one of the most agressive songs of Rhapsody's repertoire, due to its thrashing riffs and the astounding touch of Black Metal in Lione's voice.

Ghosts Of Forgotten Worlds from From Chaos To Eternity (2011)

On the other hand one can find traditional pieces such as the mini-opera 'Anima Perduta' (which is sung in romantic Italian language as well), the straight-lined mid-tempo rock track 'I Belong To The Stars' that is repeatedly bursting out in stunning orchestral choirs at the same time, or the rhythmic 'Tornado' that has a bridging function between the dramatic-epic and agressively rocking stylistic elements within the Italian's sound.

Aeons Of Raging Darkness from From Chaos To Eternity (2011)

While the triumvirate Turilli/Lione/Staropoli was basically responsible for the recordings, the mixing was – in the tried and tested way and true to the motto ”never change a winning team” - passed on to Sascha Paeth and Michael ”Miro” Rodenberg to the Gate Studios in Wolfsburg. Even though FROM CHAOS TO ETERNITY might not be as orchestral as its predecessors: Rhapsody Of Fire are able to give their self-created genre ”Film Score Metal” subtle nuances and to create a record that – like all of its precursors – will be able to stand the proof of time with ”Summa cum Laude”.”

Discography:

1997 – Eternal Glory (Demo)
1997 - Legendary Tales (Full-length)
1998 - Emerald Sword (Single)
1998 - Symphony of Enchanted Lands (Full-length)
2000 - Holy Thunderforce (Single)
2000 - Dawn of Victory (Full-length)
2001 - Rain of a Thousand Flames (Full-length)
2002 - Power of the Dragonflame (Full-length)
2004 - Tales from the Emerald Sword Saga (Compilation)
2004 - The Dark Secret (EP)
2004 - Symphony of Enchanted Lands II - The Dark Secret (Full-length)
2005 - The Magic of the Wizard's Dream (Single)
2006 - Live in Canada 2005 – The Dark Secret (Live album)
2006 - Triumph or Agony (Full-length)
2007 - Visions from the Enchanted Lands (DVD)
2010 - The Frozen Tears of Angels (Full-length)
2010 - The Cold Embrace of Fear (EP)
2011 - Aeons of Raging Darkness (Single)
2011 - From Chaos to Eternity (Full-length)

You can find more information on their official website, and follow them on Myspace and Facebook.