Metalium is a
power metal
Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in co ...
band from
Hamburg
Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding. The band was reactivated in 2023 by founding members Henning Basse and Matthias Lange. Their style of music is 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. The band has at times been called one of the most influential European heavy metal bands of the 1980s. Its first ...
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. Nine musicians have been part of the band ...
.
History
The band was formed by bassist Lars Ratz (ex-Viva, Zed Yago, Velvet Viper), vocalist Henning Basse (ex- Burgeon Street,
Brainstorm) and newcomer guitarist Matthias Lange. The German musicians got acquainted with drummer
Mike Terrana and
Savatage guitarist
Chris Caffery 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 () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...
fan, who drinks a magic potion and becomes the invincible warrior Metalian.
The debut Metalium album ''
Millennium Metal – Chapter One'' 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.
and
Mark Cross replaced Caffery and Terrana respectively for the second album ''
State of Triumph – Chapter Two'', 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, 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 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, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...
's
Don Airey on keyboards.
After speculation the band would be fully reactivated, Henning Basse announced that he, Matthias Lange, and new guitarist Bruno Nunes would return as Metalium in 2023. Shortly after that, the band announced that bassist Fabio Carito and drummer Marcus Dotta completed the line-up.
Members
Current line-up
* Henning Basse - vocals
* Matthias Lange - guitar
* Bruno Nunes - guitar
* Fabio Carito - bass
* Marcus Dotta - drums
Former members
*
Chris Caffery - guitars
*
Mike Terrana - drums
*
Jack Frost - guitars
*
Mark Cross – drums
* Lars Ratz - bass, keyboards (died 2021)
* Michael Ehré - drums, keyboards
* Tolo Grimalt - guitar
*John Osborn – drums (live 2000 tour)
*
Saeko Kitamae – vocals (live 2004 tour, guest
As One - Chapter Four)
*Christian Stöver – guitars (live 2009–2010)
Timeline
Discography
* ''
Millennium Metal – Chapter One'' (1999)
* ''
State of Triumph – Chapter Two'' (2000)
* ''
Hero Nation – Chapter Three'' (2002)
* ''
As One – Chapter Four'' (2004)
* ''
Demons of Insanity – Chapter Five'' (2005)
* ''
Nothing to Undo – Chapter Six'' (2007)
* ''
Incubus – Chapter Seven'' (2008)
* ''
Grounded – Chapter Eight'' (2009)
Videography
*''Metalian Attack'' (2001)
*''Metalian Attack pt. 2'' (2006)
References
External links
Metalium Official SiteDrummer Michael Ehre Official Site
*
{{Authority control
1998 establishments in Germany
2011 disestablishments in Germany
German musical quintets
German power metal musical groups
Musical groups established in 1998
Musical groups disestablished in 2011
Musical groups from Hamburg