Pyramaze is a Danish

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 formed in 2001.

History

Pyramaze was formed in 2001 by guitarist Michael Kammeyer. Next to join were fellow Danes drummer Morten Gade Sørensen (

Wuthering Heights ''Wuthering Heights'' is an 1847 novel by Emily Brontë, initially published under her pen name Ellis Bell. It concerns two families of the landed gentry living on the West Yorkshire moorland, moors, the Earnshaws and the Lintons, and their tur ...

Anubis Gate Anubis Gate is a power metal band from Denmark. Despite having formed Anubis Gate only in 2003, the members have regularly worked together since 1984. They have released eight studio albums, a six-CD boxset and two singles/EPs. History The ba ...

) and bassist Niels Kvist. American keyboardist Jonah Weingarten, who originally met Kammeyer over the Internet, joined next. The band then set out in search for a singer. After listening to many demos, the band selected American singer

Lance King Lance King (born November 23, 1962) is an American heavy metal music singer and songwriter specializing in melodic progressive power metal. He has sung with many groups over the last 35 years and started the record label Nightmare in 1990 to ...

(formerly of Balance of Power) to be their lead vocalist. The band's first live show took place on 23 April 2004 in

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

. They released their debut studio album, ''

Melancholy Beast ''Melancholy Beast'' is the debut studio album by the Danish power metal band Pyramaze, released by Nightmare Records and Massacre Records in May 2004. Track listing # "Sleepy Hollow" − 6:11 # "Forsaken Kingdom" − 5:27 # "Melancholy Beast ...

'', in May 2004 and followed with a tour over the summer of 2004. During this time, Danish guitarist Toke Skjønnemand joined the group. In February 2006, the band released their second album, ''

Legend of the Bone Carver ''Legend of the Bone Carver'' is the second studio album by the Danish power metal band Pyramaze, released by Nightmare Records on 20 February 2006. It is a concept album. Track listing All songs written and composed by Michael Kammeyer, exc ...

'', 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 ...

that was received very well by fans. On 15 September 2006, the band performed at the

ProgPower USA ProgPower USA is a progressive and power metal festival held annually in the United States since 2001. Its upcoming edition, ProgPower USA XXI is scheduled to take place on June 1–4, 2022. The festival's band selection process focuses on qual ...

VII festival in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

. Shortly after that performance, on 10 November 2006, the band announced on its official website that

was no longer Pyramaze's singer.Official website
accessed 15 July 2008 On 14 April 2007, former

Iced Earth Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and currently based in Columbus, Indiana. They were formed in 1984 under the name the Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer and original drummer ...

vocalist

Matt Barlow Matthew Barlow (born March 10, 1971) is an American heavy metal singer. He is the lead singer for Ashes of Ares and former lead singer of Iced Earth and Pyramaze. He is Jon Schaffer's brother-in-law. History Barlow joined Iced Earth after the ' ...

returned to the metal scene as Pyramaze's new singer. On 11 December 2007,

Jon Schaffer Jon Ryan Schaffer (born March 15, 1968) is an American heavy metal musician. He is the rhythm guitarist and principal songwriter of the Indiana-based heavy metal band Iced Earth, which he formed in 1985 under the name Purgatory. He is also the ...

announced on his website that Barlow had rejoined Iced Earth. Barlow finished recording ''

Immortal Immortality is the ability to live forever, or eternal life. Immortal or Immortality may also refer to: Film * ''The Immortals'' (1995 film), an American crime film * ''Immortality'', an alternate title for the 1998 British film '' The Wisdom of ...

'' with Pyramaze before leaving to work solely with Iced Earth.Official website
accessed 5 January 2008 On 13 March 2008, Pyramaze released demos of two songs from ''Immortal'', "Year of the Phoenix" and "Caramon's Poem". The album was officially released 30 May 2008. On 11 July 2008, Pyramaze announced that former Tad Morose and

Bloodbound Bloodbound is a Swedish power metal band formed in 2004 in Bollnäs. History They released their first studio album, ''Nosferatu'', in 2005 and their second, ''Book of the Dead'', in May 2007. The brainchild of former Street Talk members Fre ...

singer

Urban breed Urban Breed (often written with a lowercase "breed") is a Swedish singer. He is the former vocalist for Project Arcadia Bloodbound, Serious Black, Tad Morose, and Trail of Murder. Urban's style and voice have been described as similar to Ronn ...

would be taking over the role of lead vocalist. His first activity with the band was performing on their Danish tour in November 2008 in support of Volbeat. On 10 February 2011, it was announced that band founder, songwriter and guitarist Michael Kammeyer and bass guitarist Niels Kvist would be departing the band, citing family responsibilities. Shortly after, keyboardist Jonah Weingarten issued a letter stating that, despite losing their founder, leader, songwriter, guitarist and bass guitarist all in one day, Pyramaze would carry on. This was backed up by a statement Pyramaze released that the band's producer, Jacob Hansen, formerly of

Invocator Invocator are a Danish technical thrash metal band featuring Esbjerg-based guitarist/singer Jacob Hansen, founder of the band. They are considered influential on the European thrash metal/heavy metal scene, and known for incorporating elements ...

and

Beyond Twilight Beyond Twilight is a progressive metal band from Denmark. History The band was originally formed by Finn Zierler in 1992 under the name "Twilight". Twilight attracted international attention releasing the debut album ''Eye For An Eye'' selling 2 ...

, would be joining as guitarist, as well as continuing to mix the band's albums. The band went on a short hiatus soon afterwards while still looking for a new lead vocalist. Then in 2015, the band finally recorded its next album ''

Disciples of the Sun ''Disciples of the Sun'' is the fourth studio album by the Danish power metal band Pyramaze, released on 22 May 2015. This album features a significantly different lineup than the band's previous records. Pyramaze recruited vocalist Terje Harøy ...

'' with their new vocalist, Terje Haroy. The album was released on 22 May 2015 in the United Kingdom on 25 May 2015 and in North America on 26 May 2015 on Inner Wound Recordings. On 8 September 2016, Pyramaze played a special show at

XVII, with the current lineup of the band being bolstered by guest performances of Matt Barlow and Lance King. Their follow-up to ''Disciples of the Sun'', titled ''Contingent'', was released on 28 April 2017 through Inner Wound Recordings.

Band members

Current members

* Morten Gade Sørensen − drums (2001–2011, 2015–present) * Jonah Weingarten − keyboards (2002–2011, 2015–present) * Toke Skjønnemand − guitar (2004–2011, 2015–present) * Jacob Hansen − guitars, bass (2015–present) * Terje Haroy – vocals (2015-present)

Former members

− vocals (2001–2006) *

– vocals (2007–2008) *

Urban Breed Urban Breed (often written with a lowercase "breed") is a Swedish singer. He is the former vocalist for Project Arcadia Bloodbound, Serious Black, Tad Morose, and Trail of Murder. Urban's style and voice have been described as similar to Ronn ...

– vocals (2008–2011) * Michael Kammeyer − guitar (2001–2011) * Niels Kvist − bass (2001–2011)

Timeline

Discography

* ''

'' (2004) * ''

'' (2006) * ''

'' (2008) * ''

'' (2015) * ''Contingent'' (2017) * ''Epitaph'' (2020)

References

External links

Lance King homepage

Pyramaze homepage

Nightmare Records Inc.

{{Authority control Danish power metal musical groups Danish progressive metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2001