Symphonic metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that combines the heavy drums and guitars of metal with different elements of orchestral classical music, such as symphonic instruments, choirs and sometimes a full orchestra, or just keyboard orchestration.
Dream Evil is a heavy metal band from Sweden, assembled by producer Fredrik Nordström in 1999.
Firewind is a Greek power metal band. Formed in 1998, the group is currently signed to Century Media Records and was originally a small project created by guitarist Gus G. to showcase his demo, Nocturnal Symphony in 1998. Firewind later became a full band over three years later when they recorded their debut album, Between Heaven and Hell. To date, the band has released nine studio albums and has been met with international success.
Spiritual Beggars is a stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage. The band is heavily influenced by 1970s hard rock and incorporates elements of psychedelia into its music.
Nightrage is a Greek/Swedish melodic death metal band, originally from Thessaloniki. They later re-located to Gothenburg, Sweden.
Konstantinos Karamitroudis, better known as Gus G, is a Greek heavy metal guitarist. He currently plays with his band Firewind. He has also played in Mystic Prophecy, Nightrage, Arch Enemy, Dream Evil and for Ozzy Osbourne.
Between Heaven and Hell is Firewind's first album released in 2002 through Massacre Records in Europe, Leviathan Records in the US, EMI in Japan and Rock Brigade in South America. There were 3 different versions of the cover art, European, Japanese and American. The album was re-released on 10 October 2007 with the European artwork originally designed by Kristian Wåhlin and with 2 bonus demo tracks.
Forged by Fire is the third full-length album by Greek power metal band Firewind and their first released through Century Media. From this album onwards, Gus G is the sole ever-present in their professional discography, following the replacement of Stephen Fredrick with Chitral "Chity" Somapala. It is also the first album to feature keyboardist Bob Katsionis.
Evil Masquerade is a Scandinavian band formed in 2003. Their wide range of musical influences make them difficult to categorize. Evil Masquerade themselves claim to be playing 'Devilish Rock'n'Roll'. But since that is a self-invented genre they are usually filed under heavy metal by the music industry.
Babis "Bob" Katsionis is the rhythm guitarist and keyboard player for the heavy metal/power metal bands Outloud, and Serious Black; until recently he was part of Firewind but as of 2020 he has since left due to personal reasons. He is considered to be Greece's most successful rock/metal keyboard player, being the only musician to ever win the same category "Best Keyboardist" in Greek Metal Hammer's Annual Readers' Polls for 5 years in a row (2006–2011). He is founder of Progressive Vision Group, a videoclip making company, which has produced more than 90 videos for rock and metal artists since 2002.
Allegiance is the fourth full-length studio album by Firewind, first released on 10 July 2006. Vocalist Chitral Somapala was replaced by Apollo Papathanasio and Stian L. Kristoffersen made way for Mark Cross on drums, ending the previous tradition of changing line-up between albums. It was recorded at JM Studio, Mölnlycke, Sweden, in February 2006, mixed by Fredrik Nordström with Patrik J. Sten in Studio Fredman, Göteborg, Sweden, in March 2006, then mastered by Peter In de Betou at Tailor Maid productions in Stockholm.
Mark Cross is an English hard rock and heavy metal drummer. He has played in many bands in his career and is currently based in Athens, Greece. Mark recorded in 1992 an album with Greek singer/songwriter Michalis Rakintzis named "Etsi Maresei".
Apostolos "Apollo" Papathanasiou is a Swedish heavy metal vocalist of Greek descent, who is currently with the band Spiritual Beggars. He has also sung for Firewind, Meduza, Evil Masquerade, Gardenian, and Richard Andersson's projects Majestic and Time Requiem.
The Premonition is the fifth full-length album by Firewind and their only album to feature the same line-up as its predecessor. Gus G. said "we basically kept the Allegiance 'winning team' together" much to the apparent surprise of fans.
"Falling to Pieces" was the first single by Greek power metal band Firewind, released on 13 June 2006 through Century Media Records. The music video was directed by Patric Ullaeus and the song peaked at #11 in the Greek Singles Chart. The song Falling to Pieces is also featured on the metal album "Metal for the Masses".
Live Premonition is the first live DVD by Greek heavy metal band Firewind. It had 22 songs and is released on 2 CDs or 1 DVD. There is also a combo pack available. Songs 3-10 are from the Firewind album The Premonition. All the other tracks with exception of the solos are from prior Firewind albums. The show was filmed on 12 January 2008 and subsequently released on 28 November 2008.
Days of Defiance is the sixth studio album by Greek heavy metal band Firewind. It was released on 25 October 2010 in Europe and 26 October in North America.
"World on Fire" is the second track off Firewind's sixth studio album Days of Defiance, released on 25 October 2010. It was released on digital music platforms on 17 August 2010 in the U.S. and 23 August in Europe. It is the only Firewind single to only have one track.
Few Against Many is the seventh studio album by Greek heavy metal band Firewind. It is the first album to feature ex-Nightrage, Meridian Dawn drummer Johan Nunez. It was released on 21 May 2012 in Europe and 22 May in North America. This would be Firewind's last album with Apollo Papathanasio as their Vocalist before he decided to quit on 15 January 2013.
Immortals is the eighth studio album by Greek heavy metal band Firewind. It is the only album to feature new vocalist Henning Basse and the final album by the band to have longtime keyboardist Bob Katsionis before he departed in 2020. It was released on 20 January 2017 in Europe.
