Mandroid Echostar is a six-piece heavy metal band from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The band's sound has been described as a combination of melodic technical guitars, progressive metal, and heavy metal. The band won the Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2017 for their album '' Coral Throne''."Local Musicians Win Juno Award"

Blackburn News Blackburn () is an industrial town and the administrative centre of the Blackburn with Darwen borough in Lancashire, England. The town is north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the River Ribble, Ribble Valley, east of Preston ...

, April 2, 2017.

Band members

The band was formed in the summer of 2010 by bassist Adam Richards, guitarist Sam Pattison, and drummer Matt Huber-Kidby."Guelph rockers nominated for Juno Award"
'' Guelph Mercury-Tribune'', February 7, 2017. Over the remainder of 2011, guitarist/keyboardist James Krul, guitarist Stephen Richards, and vocalist Michael Ciccia were added to the line-up.

Current members

* Michael Ciccia –

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

* Matt Huber-Kidby –

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 ...

* Adam Richards - bass guitar * Sam Pattison – guitar * Stephen Richards – guitar * James Krul – guitar

History

''Mandroid Echostar'' and ''Citadels''

The band finished writing their debut self titled EP in the winter of 2011 and recorded in Sundown Studios, owned and operated by Jordan Valeriote who engineered, mixed and co-produced the EP. The album was mastered at

Masterdisk Masterdisk is an American multimedia company in New York, located at 8 John Walsh Boulevard in Peekskill. They provide production services such as audio mastering, vinyl cutting and enhanced CD and DVD production. Their clients include such no ...

in New York City by Roger Lian. The ''Mandroid Echostar EP'' was released on April 22, 2012. Mandroid Echostar announced an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign for their second EP, ''Citadels'', in March 2013. The band offered merchandise and fan experience packages and eventually raised $7,480 toward the production of the EP. The band once again chose to record at Sundown Studios with Jordan Valeriote in their hometown of Guelph. Recording began on April 15, 2013 and the EP was released on November 13, 2013. After gaining traction online, the band signed to Distort Records in late 2013.

''Coral Throne''

In 2014 Mandroid Echostar began writing their debut full length record and first release with Distort Entertainment. The album, ''Coral Throne'', was recorded in December 2014 and January 2015 at Vespa Studios in Toronto, with Juno award winning producers,

Eric Ratz Eric Ratz is a Canadian producer, engineer, and mixer. He has won multiple Grammy and Juno awards. Throughout his career, Ratz has worked with some of Canada's most successful and influential rock bands, including Arkells, Big Wreck, Billy Tale ...

and Harry Hess. ''Coral Throne'' was written as a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

inspired by the histories of colonialism, cultural genocide, and the clash of organized religion and traditional spirituality. Throughout the writing process, the band made many notable appearances such as performing in direct support of

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...

, playing the main stage at Koifest (

Kitchener Kitchener may refer to: People * Earl Kitchener, a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom ** Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener (1850–1916), British Field Marshal and 1st Earl Kitchener ** Henry Kitchener, 2nd Earl Kitchener (1846–1937) ...

) alongside Every Time I Die and Foxy Shazam, as well as the main stage at Lachie Music Festival ( Cayuga Speedway - Hagersville, Ontario) with July Talk and The Trews. In an attempt to promote ''Coral Throne'', Mandroid Echostar embarked on the ''Kezia X'' tour across Ontario with Protest the Hero. The album was released on January 15, 2016. Ciccia was featured on the song "Cataract" by Protest the Hero which appeared on their 2016 EP, '' Pacific Myth''. The band has announced that they are currently writing new music, expected to be debuted on tour in 2017.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

*''Mandroid Echostar EP'' (2012, Self-released) *''Citadels'' (2013, Crowdfunded on Indiegogo)

Awards and nominations

In 2017, Mandroid Echostar won the Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year for their album ''Coral Throne'', beating out other more critically acclaimed Canadian groups such as Devin Townsend Project, Despised Icon, Annihilator, and Protest the Hero.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Canadian progressive metal musical groups Musical groups from Guelph Musical groups established in 2010 Juno Award for Heavy Metal Album of the Year winners 2010 establishments in Ontario