Elegy | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Eindhoven, The Netherlands |
| Genres | Power metal, progressive metal |
| Years active | 1986-present |
| Labels | Shark Records, T&T, Locomotive Music |
| Members | Ian Parry Henk van der Laars Gilbert Pot Martin Helmantel Dirk Bruinenberg |
| Past members | Arno van Brussel Chris Terheijden Bert Burgers Ed Warby Eduard Hovinga Serge Meeuwsen Ton van de Stroom Gerrit Hager Chris Allister Patrick Rondat Joshua Dutrieux Bart Bisseling |
| Website | Elegy Official Site |
Elegy are a Dutch power metal band, founded in 1986 in Eindhoven. Their music is characterized by the fusion of power and progressive metal, which made them the pioneers of the 'progressive power metal' subgenre. The band was plagued by a continuing changing roster, which counts in the current line-up only one founding member. Elegy have currently suspended any recording or live activity.
The band was formed in 1986 by guitarists Hank van de Laars and Arno van Brussel, who recruited the first stable line-up of Elegy with vocalist Chris Terheijden, bassist Martin Helmantel and Bert Burgers on drums. [1] In 1986, the new band won a competition organized by the German magazine Metal Hammer and Polydor Records and recorded their first demo Metricide. [1] After recording their second demo, Better Than Bells, the band had already become known enough to tour with Angel Witch, Paul Di'Anno’s Battlezone, Hellion and King Diamond. The following year came the first changes in the band: Ed Warby and Eduard Hovinga joined the band on drums and vocals. This line-up recorded a third demo called Elegant Solution. [1]
In 1992 they recorded their first album (Labyrinth of Dreams) and ensured a contract with the German label Shark Records. The album was a success in Japan where it reached number 42 in the album charts. [2] Soon after the release of the album in 1993, Ed Warby left the band to join Gorefest and drummer Serge Meeuwsen was hired for a Japanese tour, along keyboard player Ton van de Stroom. Back from Japan, Meeuwsen, van de Stroom and founding member Arno van Brussel left Elegy, to be replaced by drummer Dirk Bruinenberg and guitarist Gilbert Pot. [1]
In the spring of 1994, Elegy released their second studio album, Supremacy, which received little promotion by their record label and was supported only by a small tour with Annihilator, Phantom Blue, The Gathering and Gorefest. [1]
In the summer of 1995, the album Lost is presented to the public, with new keyboard player Gerrit Hager. But shortly before going on tour with Yngwie Malmsteen, Hovinga, Pot and Hager left the band. [1] At the same the German record company Modern Music, home of T&T and Noise Records, offered the band a lucrative contract.
The following year, vocalist Ian Parry (ex-Hammerhead) joined the band and recorded the EP Primal Instinct, which contains acoustic versions of old Elegy songs. [3]
The album State of Mind saw the light in May 1997 with good reviews and sales, both in Europe and Japan. Elegy went on a European tour with the Finnish band Stratovarius to support the new album. [1]
Chris Allister joined on keyboards for the concept album Manifestation of Fear, released in the summer of 1998. The band co-headlined a European tour with American power metal band Kamelot the same year. [1]
After the tour in 1999, Parry started his side-project Consortium with Bruinenberg on drums. At the end of the year founding member Henk van de Laars and Chris Allister left Elegy. French guitar virtuoso Patrick Rondat joined the band during the same year and recorded Elegy's eight album Forbidden Fruit , released on September 18, 2000 and well received by critics. [4] [5] Forbidden Fruit was the last album released for Modern Music, leaving the band without a recording contract for more than a year. Meanwhile, the band members worked on side-projects or as touring and session musicians
Two years later Elegy released Principles of Pain with the Spanish label Locomotive Records. [6] Since then the band have not published any more albums and is currently on hiatus.
Ian Parry said in a 2012 interview that he would like to make one more Elegy album, if a record company would be prepared to invest in it. Guitar Player Henk van der Laars wrote an album full of songs but more effort is needed to get it ready. [7]
On Friday April 1st of 2023 news broke of the band's reunion, following relentless speculations. Reuniting in their strongest line-up, the band sees the return of their cherished founding member, guitarist Henk v/d Laars after decades of absence. Rumor has it the band reunited by popular demand and request of musicians globally. Helmantel joined ranks of Headless featuring Dario Parente and Walter Cianciusi and both guitarists are fans of Elegy's work. They sparked the flame, as did guitarist Bill Hudson (I am Morbid, Doro, Northtale), mentioning recently Elegy as a huge inspiration. Upon news dropping, Helmantel and Parry are touring with Headless supporting Geoff Tate on his 35th anniversary tour for 'Operation: Mindcrime', performing an inspired version of Elegy's praised classic "Visual Vortex".
Possessed is an American death metal band, originally formed in 1983. Noted for their fast style of playing and Jeff Becerra's growled vocals, they are often called the first band in the death metal genre, and paved the way for the 1980s Bay Area thrash metal scene, along with Metallica, Exodus, Testament and Death Angel. The band is also notable for featuring future Primus member Larry LaLonde, who was the guitarist for Possessed from 1984 to 1987.
God Dethroned is a Dutch extreme metal band from Beilen, originally formed in 1990.
Labyrinth is an Italian power metal band formed in 1994 in Massa, Tuscany. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.
Forbidden is an American thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. They formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, but would change their name in 1987. Since their formation, Forbidden have broken up and reformed twice with numerous line-up changes. After breaking up for the first time in 1997, Forbidden reunited once again in 2007, went into an indefinite hiatus in 2012, but reformed in 2023. The current line-up of the band is Norman Skinner (vocals), Craig Locicero (guitar), Matt Camacho (bass), Steve Smyth (guitar) and Chris Kontos (drums).
Gorefest was a Dutch death metal band from Goes in Zeeland. It was founded in 1989 by Jan-Chris de Koeijer, Frank Harthoorn, Alex van Schaik and Marc Hoogendoorn.
Edward R. Warby is a Dutch musician, best known as the drummer for death metal band Gorefest and progressive rock/metal project Ayreon.
Patrick Rondat is a French guitarist. He plays instrumental heavy metal associated with diverse influences such as new-age music, progressive metal, classical music and jazz. He has collaborated on various projects with Jean Michel Jarre and has taken part in some of his shows.
Picture is one of the first Dutch heavy metal bands. Formed in 1979, they were especially popular in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy for their live performances, and still have a fan base in South America, Mexico and Japan.
Cronos were an English heavy metal band formed in 1988 by Venom front man Conrad "Cronos" Lant.
State of Mind, released in 1997, is an album by Netherlands power metal band Elegy.
Glen Alvelais is an American heavy metal guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He was the lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Forbidden and has also played in Testament.
Forbidden Fruit, released in 2000, is an album by Dutch power metal band Elegy.
Dirk Bruinenberg 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 intricate drumming style and technical double bass patterns.
Place Vendome is a German melodic hard rock / AOR project, founded in 2004 at the direction of Frontiers Records president Serafino Perugino.
Labyrinth of Dreams, released in 1992, is the debut album by Dutch power metal band Elegy. It reached number 42 on the album charts in Japan.
Supremacy, released in 1994, is the second album by Dutch power metal band Elegy.
Lost, released in 1995, is the third album by Dutch power metal band Elegy.
The Gentle Storm is a Dutch musical project by singer and lyricist Anneke van Giersbergen and composer and musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen, founder and leader of other musical projects such as Star One, Ayreon, Guilt Machine and Ambeon. The duo has previously collaborated in Ayreon albums Into the Electric Castle and 01011001. The project's debut album, The Diary, was released on March 23, 2015, in Europe, and the following day in the US.
Ayreonauts Only is the first compilation album by Dutch progressive metal project Ayreon by Arjen Anthony Lucassen, released in 2000. Although categorized as a compilation album, it consists only of previously unreleased material, with alternate versions of Ayreon songs with different singers, demos, and of the song "Cold Metal" from Lucassen's then-upcoming project Ambeon.
Thomas Youngblood is an American metal guitarist, songwriter, and founding member of power metal band Kamelot.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
