Biographies

Introducing you to our bands -including full biographies, band members and discographies


- E -




Edenbridge (AUT)

Edenbridge is a symphonic- and neo-classical metal band from Austria.


Edenbridge was formed in 1998 by guitarist and keyboardist Lanvall, bassist Kurt Bednarsky and vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher. The line-up was completed when drummer Roland Navrati joined the band. Edenbridge quickly set to work, and entered the recording studio in 1999, and signed a recording deal with Massacre Records the very same year. The album, named Sunrise in Eden was released in the autumn of 2000.


The band added a second guitarist, Georg Edelmann, to its line-up in February, 2000, but his stay with the band was to be a short one. When he left in January, 2001, he was replaced by Andreas Eiblar. Under this line-up, Edenbridge released the album Arcana (2001). During a tour in 2002, Edenbridge's bassist and founding member Kurt Bednarsky left the band. In November the same year, the album Aphelion (2002) was released. Their next album, recorded live and entitled A Livetime In Eden was released in August 2004 two years later, followed shortly by Shine in October. At this time, a new bassist, Frank Bindig, joined the band. In December the same year, guitarist Andreas Eibler left the band on friendly terms and was replaced by Martin Mayr.


The Grand Design (2006), their fourth studio album, was recorded at Lanvall's studio Farpoint Station (one of many Star Trek references surrounding Edenbridge) and was released May 19th, 2006. The single "For Your Eyes Only" was released April 21st, featuring the album track "Evermore" and a cover version of the James Bond theme of "For Your Eyes Only" (originally performed by Sheena Easton), the first cover the band have ever recorded.


Edenbridge has signed a world wide deal with Napalm Records and are proud to announce to be part of the Napalm Records family from now on. Also, on January 30, 2007, Edenbridge released a new album titled, "The Grand Design" in the USA and Canada


Current line-up

Former members

Discography



Official website: http://www.edenbridge.org

back






 Enter Shikari (GBR)


Enter Shikari formed while still in school in 2003. As soon as the summer came around, they climbed in the van and hit the road. They’ve pretty much never come home since.
Safely out of sight of the UK music industry and media, Enter Shikari did their growing up in public. Building a following from scratch based on the stuff that REALLY matters; “is it kicking my ass?” and “is everybody out there having a good time?”, Enter Shikari have taken themselves from ‘one man and his dog’ to capacity crowds. All without ever having to wait for a ‘tastemaker’ deem them this afternoon’s ‘next big thing’.
The main benefits of this route are that Enter Shikari have never had to listen to anyone else’s advice but their own. Edges that were once rough (and would surely have been smoothed over and dulled by advice from those with an interest in shifting ‘product’) have instead been sharpened by the road, turning Enter Shikari into one of the most exciting, brutal and explosive live bands on Britain’s screamo / post-hardcore / whatthefuckever ‘scene’ (in fact, fuck it, they’re pretty much one of the best live bands in the UK, full-fucking-stop).
A tent-lifting appearance at 2006’s Download festival saw Enter Shikari step it up a gear, playing to their largest crowd so far in a rammed-to-the-rafters Gibson / MySpace stage. Appearances at Leeds Festival and opening for My Chemical Romance at their ‘Black Parade’ Hammersmith unveiling just spread the love further.
Late August / early September 2006 saw the band back out on the road again, with a string of sold out shows and the release of the download only single ‘Mothership’
 
October 06 brought the release of the debut Enter Shikari single, a double A-side of live favourites ‘Sorry, You’re Not A Winner’ and ‘OK, Time For Plan B’.
It also brought – you guessed it – more shows. All of ‘em sold out (including a date at London’s Mean Fiddler venue which was then upgraded to the 2000 capacity Astoria, which then also sold out in advance).
A short run of MORE sold out UK dates in December brings us to the close of 2006.
2007 starts with Enter Shikari’s first trip abroad (3 shows in Holland. One of which as part of the Eurosonic festival), followed by yet more UK dates before playing London’s Brixton Academy with Billy Talent.  Then it off on a tour of German arenas with Billy Talent & Alexisonfire in late February.
March 2007 will see the release of the single ‘Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour’ plus the release of the debut Enter Shikari album.
Oh yeah… and more UK shows.
In January 2008, Enter Shikari performed in Australia and New Zealand for the first time as part of the Big Day Out Festival. The band also did a number of side-shows in Australia, including 2 sold out shows at the Hi-Fi Bar in Melbourne.
They recently announced via email to members that there will be a 2008 UK & Ireland tour at the end of the year. A 'bootleg' DVD compliation of live footage filmed by band / crew along with some TV footage will be released to coincide with the tour according to a Kerrang! interview with the band.
On 13th May the band released the first in a series of videos called "Enter Shikari: In the 'Low". The videos, posted on the band's YouTube page, showcase the band as they record the new album, set for release in early 2009. Both videos feature a time table of songs set to recorded, one of which appears to be a re recorded demo of an early song, 'We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don't Want Us To Escape'.


Members Roughton "Rou" Reynolds - Vocals, Electronics
Chris Batten - Bass, Vocals
Liam "Rory" Clewlow - Guitar, Background Vocals
Rob Rolfe - Drums

Discography - Albums
2007 Take to the Skies

EPs
2003 - Nodding Acquaintance
2003 - Sorry You’re not a Winner
2004 - Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour...

Singles
2006 - Mothership 2007 - Sorry You’re not a Winner/OK! Time for Plan B
2007 - Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour...
2007 - Jonny Sniper
Compilations
2007 - The Zone



Official website:  www.entershikari.com

back







Entwine (FIN)


Entwine was originally assembled as a death metal band, Kaamos, in 1995 by guitarist and vocalist Tom Mikkola, drummer Aki Hanttu and bassist Taipale. In 1997 they decided to change Entwine's musical style to gothic metal and rhythm guitarist and vocalist Panu Willman was shortly after added to the band's line-up. In December of that year, Entwine recorded its first demo, entitled Divine Infinity. In February of 1998 female singer and keyboard player Riitta Heikkonen joined the band.
Entwine's debut album Treasures Within Hearts was released it in September of 1999. In April of 2000 both Willman and Taipale left the band, with the latter being replaced by Joni Miettinen. Vocalist Mika Tauriainen was added to the band on the following month.
The band's next album Gone was released in April of 2001. It received the award of "Album of the Month" from German magazine Hammer and the song "New Dawn" entered the "Finnish Single Charts" in one of the top ten positions.
Jaani Kähkönen joined the band as a live session guitarist in late 2001, but soon became a permanent member of Entwine. In early 2002 the band recorded their third album, Time of Despair, which was produced by Anssi Kippo. Entwine then toured Europe with Theatre of Tragedy and Ram-Zet to promote this release.
In 2003 Entwine recorded their fourth album, diEversity, released in March of 2004. This albums showed an evolution on their sound, abandoning some of the band's gothic roots and opting for a heavier style.
Entwine released in August of 2005 an EP containing five tracks, entitled Sliver.
n August 2006 Entwine released their fifth album entitled 'Fatal Design' and toured in Europe with German gothic rock band Zeraphine.
On December 8 2006, keyboardist Riitta Heikkonen announced her departure from the band citing personal reasons. No replacement is planned.
On May 3rd, 2008, Entwine announced that they have begun working on their sixth studio album which will be produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, Apocalyptica, Sentenced), and recorded over the summer. Release date and title are as of yet unknown.

Current Members
Mika Tauriainen (Vocals)
Tom Mikkola (Guitar)
Jaani (Guitar)
Joni Miettinen (Bass)
Aksu Hanttu (Drums)

Former Members
Riitta Heikkonen (Keyboards/Vocals) (1997-2006)
Teppo Taipale (Bass)(1995-1999)
Panu Willman (Vocals/Guitar) (1997-1999)

Discography

Albums
The Treasures Within Hearts (1999)
Gone (2001)
Time of Despair (2002)
diEversity (2004)
Fatal Design (2006)

EPs
Sliver (2005)

Singles
New Dawn (2000)
The Pit (2002)
Bitter Sweet (2004)
Break Me (2005)
Surrender (2006)
Chameleon Halo (2006)

 Demos
Addicted to Homicidal Enjoyment (1995) (released as "Kaamos")
Divine Infinity (1997)

Official website: http://www.entwine.org/


back








Epica (NED)




Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band which puts emphasis on the use of operatic elements and death grunts, also performing some song passages in Latin. It was founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever.


In early 2002, Mark Jansen left After Forever due to creative differences and began looking for musicians to integrate a new musical project, initially named Sahara Dust. In late 2002, the band courted Helena Michaelsen (from Trail of Tears) as its frontwoman, but shortly after she was replaced by the then unknown mezzo-soprano Simone Simons, Jansen's girlfriend at the time. The band's line-up was completed by guitarist Ad Sluijter, drummer Jeroen Simons, bassist Yves Huts and keyboard player Coen Janssen. Their name was changed to Epica, inspired by Kamelot's album Epica.


Epica then assembled a choir (made up of two men and six women) and a string orchestra (three violins, two violas, two cellos and a double bass) to play along with them. Their debut album, The Phantom Agony, was produced by Sascha Paeth (known for having previously produced bands such as Angra, Rhapsody of Fire and Kamelot) and was released in late 2003.


Their second release, entitled Consign to Oblivion, was influenced by the culture of the Maya civilization, a fact which can be noticed, for example, on songs which integrate the "A New Age Dawns" arch. "A New Age Dawns" refers to the time system of the Mayan people, which extends up to the year of 2012, and makes no reference of what may happen past said year. Consign to Oblivion was composed with film scores as a basis, with Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman being cited as major inspirations. The album features guest singing by Roy Khan (from Kamelot) on the song "Trois Vierges". Epica also joined Kamelot as a support band on parts of their tour for promotion of the The Black Halo album, to which Simone had contributed her vocals.


Epica's The Score - An Epic Journey was released in September 2005 and is the soundtrack for a Dutch movie called Joyride, though it can also be seen as their third album. Characterised by guitarist, Mark Jansen, the album is "Typically Epica. Only without the singing, without the guitars, no bass and no drums".[1]


In 2005 and 2006 Epica went on their first tour throughout North America with Kamelot. After the tour, their drummer, Jeroen Simons, left the band, due to his wish to pursue his other musical interests. In December Ariën Van Weesenbeek was announced at the official website of the band to be the drummer for their new album.


In September of 2007, Epica will for the first time be the head liners of their next North America tour. It will also see the release of their latest commercial album, which they began recording in late 2006.


Line-up



Past members



 Session members



Discography

    Albums

    Singles

    DVDs

    Other releases



Official website: http://www.epica.nl

back