Adagio is a French

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral ...

band formed in 2000 by guitarist Stéphan Forté.

History

Since their third studio album ''

Dominate The Dominate, also known as the late Roman Empire, is the name sometimes given to the " despotic" later phase of imperial government in the ancient Roman Empire. It followed the earlier period known as the " Principate". Until the empire was reu ...

,'' Adagio has evolved from their original power metal sound, but still adhering to their trademark elements of virtuosity and massive orchestral influences. With ''Dominate,'' they implemented a heavier sound with traditional death grunts. ''

Archangels in Black ''Archangels in Black'' is the fourth studio album by French progressive metal band Adagio. According to their website, the mastering of ''Archangels in Black'' was completed on 3 September 2008. After numerous delays, the album was officially ...

'' was the band's fourth album. The band has stated that the "compositions are the ultimate between melodic and extreme metal, and can be considered as a more brutal version of (their second album) ''

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld ...

''". In April 2016, Stéphan Forté created an Indiegogo campaign to help fund Adagio's fifth album, ''Life''. The campaign ended on 5 June 2016, with the campaign reaching 148% of its goal. The album was expected to come out in December 2016 under Stéphan's own label, Zeta Nemesis. The release date was delayed to 26 July 2017 but the band premiered a song called "Darkness Machine" two months beforehand. Forté announced an indefinite hiatus of Adagio in April 2018, in order to pursue his solo career.

Musical style

Adagio's music is known by its technical precision and dark orchestration. Adagio keeps unique complex lead workings which are complemented with a powerful and driving rhythm section. In their album ''Life'', Adagio mixes progressive metal with eastern ethnic and

djent Djent () is a subgenre of progressive metal characterised by its use of off-beat and complex rhythm patterns. Its distinctive sound is that of high-gain, distorted, palm-muted, down-tuned strings. The name "djent" is an onomatopoeia of this s ...

influences.

Members

Current * Stéphan Forté – guitar (2000–present) * Franck Hermanny – bass guitar (2000–present) * Kévin Codfert – keyboards (2003–present) * Kelly Sundown Carpenter – lead vocals (2011–present) * Jelly Cardarelli – drums (2016–present) * Mayline Gautié – violin (2016–present) Former *

David Readman David Readman (born 6 July 1970) is an English singer best known as the vocalist of hard rock band Pink Cream 69 and former vocalist of progressive metal band Adagio. He released a solo album in 2007 and was part of German guitarist Alex Beyr ...

– vocals (2000–2004) *

Dirk Bruinenberg Dirk Bruinenberg (born 21 August 1968) is a Dutch musician known as the former drummer of several European progressive metal and power metal bands, including: Elegy, Ian Parry's Consortium Project and Adagio. He is often recognized for his intr ...

– drums (2000–2004) *

Richard Andersson Richard Andersson (born 28 March 1972) is a Swedish musician and the founding father of several neoclassical metalbands in Sweden including Majestic and Time Requiem. Biography As a kid, Andersson taught himself how to play the keyboard. At ...

– keyboards (2000–2003) * Éric Lebailly – drums (2004–2013) * Gus Monsanto – vocals (2004–2008) *

Christian Palin Christian Palin (born 1 February 1978) is the lead singer of the metal bands Random Eyes and Panorama. He is also the former lead singer of the neoclassical metal band Adagio, among others. The son of a Finnish father and Uruguayan mother, Palin ...

– vocals (2008–2010) * Guillaume Bergiron – drums (2016) Touring * Kelly Sundown Carpenter – vocals (2008) *

Mats Levén Mats Leven is a Swedish singer. Some of his most notable collaborations have been with guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Candlemass. In 2011, due to family issues on the part of Firewind's lead singer ...

– vocals (2010–2011)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums *''

Sanctus Ignis ''Sanctus Ignis'' is the debut album by French progressive/ neoclassical metal band Adagio, released on 8 May 2001 in France by Nothing to Say and in Europe by Limb Music. Track listing Reception ''Sanctus Ignis'' was well received by c ...

'' (2001) *''

'' (2003) *''

'' (2005) *''

'' (2009) *''

Life Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for Cell growth, growth, reaction to Stimu ...

'' (2017) Live albums *''

A Band in Upperworld ''A Band in Upperworld'' is the first live album and the third release by French progressive metal band Adagio. Track listing # "Introitus" – 1:22 # "Second Sight" – 6:07 # "Chosen" – 8:43 # "The Stringless Violin" ...

'' (2004)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Adagio French power metal musical groups French progressive metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2000 Musical quartets Organizations based in Montpellier Musical groups from Occitania (administrative region) Locomotive Music artists Listenable Records artists