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 from
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
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, postal ...
, Germany, founded in 1999 and disbanded in 2011. Their style of music was that of the traditional power metal sound which was pioneered by bands such as
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weik ...
and
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres.Brainstorm) and newcomer guitarist Matthias Lange. The German musicians got acquainted with drummer
Mike Terrana
Mike Terrana (born January 21, 1960) is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer. His first professional work was in 1984 with the MCA band Hanover Fist from Toronto, Canada, after which he recorded and toured with other bands, playing m ...
and
Savatage
Savatage () was an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band was first called Avatar, but, shortly before the release of their debut album ''Sirens'' (1983), they changed thei ...
guitarist
Chris Caffery
Christopher Caffery (born September 9, 1967) is an American musician, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Recently, Chris has been pursuing a solo career, releasing four albums since 2004.
Biography ...
through Ratz's own management company during a European tour of the two Americans. The five musicians worked together on a single
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 ...
project with a science fiction/fantasy storyline and speed metal style, to be released before the new millennium. The story is about Michael, a
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
fan, who drinks a magic potion and becomes the invincible warrior Metalian. The debut Metalium album ''
Millennium Metal – Chapter One
''Millennium Metal – Chapter One'' is the debut album by the German power metal band Metalium. It was released in 1999 by the German label Massacre Records and distributed in the USA by Pavement Music. ''Millennium Metal'' is a concept album ...
'' was released in 1999 and was a success in Germany, peaking at No. 75 in the German chart and receiving positive reviews. The success of the first album ensured the continuation of the band's career, as well as new adventures for the Metalian, the main character of Metalium's ongoing saga.
Jack Frost
Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, ...
and Mark Cross replaced Caffery and Terrana respectively for the second album ''
State of Triumph – Chapter Two
''State of Triumph – Chapter Two'' is second album recorded by the German power metal band Metalium. It was released in 2000, following their first release, '' Millennium Metal - Chapter One'' and continues the story which began in the first alb ...
'', released in 2000. Both Frost and Cross had left the band by the end of 2001, leaving Lange as the only guitarist for studio recordings and introducing Michael Ehré on drums in time for Metalium's third album of 2002. Still in 2001, the band released a DVD/Video titled ''Metalian Attack'' which included a 7-track live-CD and a full Metalium concept comic book by artist Markus Mayer. In the following years the band went on tour in Europe, Russia and South America, granting its presence at many important festivals. Metalium released another six albums until 2009 and a second live DVD called ''Metalian Attack pt. 2'' in 2006.
On 13 September 2010, the band announced on its website that it would dissolve in 2011.
On 18 April 2021, Lars Ratz died in a plane crash in
Vilafranca de Bonany
In Vilafranca de Bonany is a small municipality in the district of Pla on Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is an agricultural town, known for its market stalls along the highway selling spices, fruits, and vegetables as well a ...
, Spain. He was 53 years old.
On August 31 2021, the surviving members of the band released a single in memory of founder Lars Ratz which also featured Grave Digger bassist
Jens Becker
Jens Becker (born 24 May 1965) is a German heavy metal bass guitarist who currently performs with Grave Digger.
History
Becker was born in Fürth. His first major band was Running Wild, which he joined in 1987. He stayed with them for four ...
and
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...
's
Don Airey
Donald Smith Airey (born 21 June 1948) is an English musician who has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, after the retirement of Jon Lord. He has had a long and productive career, playing with such acts as Gary Moore ...
on keyboards.
Members
Final line-up
* Henning Basse - vocals
* Tolo Grimalt - guitar
* Matthias Lange - guitar
* Lars Ratz - bass, keyboards (died 2021)
* Michael Ehré - drums, keyboards
Former members
*
Chris Caffery
Christopher Caffery (born September 9, 1967) is an American musician, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Recently, Chris has been pursuing a solo career, releasing four albums since 2004.
Biography ...
- guitars
*
Jack Frost
Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, ...
- guitars
*
Mike Terrana
Mike Terrana (born January 21, 1960) is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer. His first professional work was in 1984 with the MCA band Hanover Fist from Toronto, Canada, after which he recorded and toured with other bands, playing m ...
As One - Chapter Four
As, AS, A. S., A/S or similar may refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media
* A. S. Byatt (born 1936), English critic, novelist, poet and short story writer
* "As" (song), by Stevie Wonder
* , a Spanish sports newspaper
* , an academic male voice ...
)
*Christian Stöver – guitars (live 2009–2010)
Timeline
Discography
* ''
Millennium Metal – Chapter One
''Millennium Metal – Chapter One'' is the debut album by the German power metal band Metalium. It was released in 1999 by the German label Massacre Records and distributed in the USA by Pavement Music. ''Millennium Metal'' is a concept album ...
'' (1999)
* ''
State of Triumph – Chapter Two
''State of Triumph – Chapter Two'' is second album recorded by the German power metal band Metalium. It was released in 2000, following their first release, '' Millennium Metal - Chapter One'' and continues the story which began in the first alb ...
'' (2000)
* ''
Hero Nation – Chapter Three
''Hero Nation – Chapter Three'' is third studio album recorded by the German power metal band Metalium and released in 2002.
Track listing
All songs by Metalium
#"Source of Souls" - 1:13
#"Revenge of Tizona" - 3:45
#"In the Name of Blood" - 4 ...
'' (2002)
* ''
As One – Chapter Four
''As One – Chapter Four'' is the fourth studio album by the German power metal band Metalium
Metalium was a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany, founded in 1999 and disbanded in 2011. Their style of music was that of the traditional powe ...