Horizon was a German

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad :Fusion music genres, fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven s ...

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

band.

History

Horizon was formed in 1998 by drummer Krissy Friedrich and guitarist Patrick Hemer.
After a self-produced debut, they were introduced to

Massacre Records Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany, that specializes in bands of the heavier genres of metal. The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. Connected to Massacre Records is the marketing and music w ...

by Kosta Zafiriou of

Pink Cream 69 Pink Cream 69 is a German hard rock/ heavy metal band founded in 1987 in Karlsruhe by Andi Deris, Dennis Ward, Kosta Zafiriou and Alfred Koffler. The band gained their first contract by winning music magazine ''Metal Hammer''s newcomer compe ...

and had their first worldwide release, “The Sky’s the Limit”, in 2002, with the help of German producer

Achim Kohler Achim (; Northern Low Saxon: ''Achem''), commonly Achim bei Bremen, is a municipality and the largest town (population 30,059 in December 2006) in the district of Verden, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Weser, a ...

. The album, mixing AOR elements with intense riffing and brilliant guitar solos, was critically acclaime

http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=693] and was released in Japan through King Records.
The band started then to audition lead singers to allow Patrick Hemer more freedom to dedicate to his guitar playin

and a few names leaked out like that of

Chitral Somapala Peragaswatte Chandana Chitral Somapala (born 4 November 1966: si, චිත්‍රාල් සෝමපාල), aka Chity Somapala, is a Sri Lankan hard rock and heavy metal vocalist and a music director. He is known for his work with Europ ...

(

Firewind Firewind is a Greek power metal band formed in Thessaloniki in 1998. The group is currently signed to Century Media Records and was originally a small project created by guitarist Gus G. to showcase his demo, ''Nocturnal Symphony'', in 1998. Fi ...

, Avalon) and Jakob Samuel (

Talisman A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...

The Poodles The Poodles were a glam metal/ heavy metal band from Sweden, formed by singer Jakob Samuel (a.k.a. Jake Samuels), bassist Pontus Egberg, guitarist Pontus Norgren and drummer Christian Lundqvist. Their songs include "Metal Will Stand Tall" and " ...

), but 2004 saw the release of “Worlds Apart” with Patrick Hemer on lead vocals once again.
Much heavier than its predecessor, especially due to Hemer's use of a

seven-string guitar The seven-string guitar adds one additional string to the more common six-string guitar, commonly used to extend the bass range (usually a low B) or also to extend the treble range. The additional string is added in one of two different ways: by ...

, “Worlds Apart” was more or less well regarded by some of the European media that had praised “The Sky’s The Limit�

http://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=615] but received a warm welcome in Japan (where the famous ''

Burrn! is a monthly Japanese magazine for fans of heavy metal music, published since September 1984. It is the major publication on heavy metal music in the country. As of 2013, it is published by Shinko Music Entertainment in Tokyo. The magazine's c ...

'' magazine labelled Horizon a “legendary band”) and started to gain the group a cult following.
2005 was supposed to see the band back in the studio to start working on a follow-up to “Worlds Apart�

but this album never saw the light of the day. Although no official break-up has ever been announced, “Worlds Apart” remains the last recording of the band to date.
Today, Patrick Hemer seems to be the only former member of Horizon to pursue an active musical career as a studio musician, guitar clinician and solo artist.

Members

* Patrick Hemer -

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

*Bruno J. Frank - bass, background vocals *Vinnie Angelo -

keyboards Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

, background vocals (1999–2002) *JP “Giam” Giraldi -

, background vocals (2003–2005) *Krissy Friedrich -

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, background vocals

Albums

*''Horizon'' – self-production (1999) *'' The Sky's the Limit'' - Massacre Records (2002) *''Melody and Power'' - Massacre Records compilation with

Silent Force Silent Force is a German power metal band with neoclassical and progressive influences, founded by guitarist Alex Beyrodt. Band history The band was formed in 1999 by German guitarist Alex Beyrodt ( Sinner, Primal Fear, Voodoo Circle, T ...

Edenbridge Edenbridge may mean: * Edenbridge (band), a symphonic metal band from Austria *Edenbridge, Kent, a town in England *Edenbridge, Saskatchewan, a former Jewish settlement in Canada *Humber Valley Village Humber Valley Village is a neighbourhood lo ...

,... (2003) *'' Worlds Apart'' - Massacre Records (2004)

References

* Revolution Musi

* Horizon “Rising Stars” Q&A on Get Ready To Rock

* Horizon biography on Spirit Of Meta

* The Streets webzine : Patrick Hemer intervie

* Power Of Metal : Patrick Hemer intervie

* Lords Of Metal : Krissy Friedrich intervie

* Rock United new

* Massacre Records Horizon pag

* Rock Hard Magazine (Germany) March 2002 * Burrn! Magazine (Japan)

External links

*Patrick Hemer on MySpac

*Patrick Hemer Official Websit

{{DEFAULTSORT:Horizon German progressive metal musical groups German power metal musical groups