Metalium

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Metalium is a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 and Blind Guardian.

HistoryEdit

The band was formed by bassist Lars Ratz (ex-Viva, Zed Yago, Velvet Viper),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> vocalist Henning Basse (ex- Burgeon Street, Brainstorm)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="rules" >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The five musicians worked together on a single concept album project with a science fiction/fantasy storyline and speed metal style, to be released before the new millennium.<ref name="rules" /> The story is about Michael, a metal fan, who drinks a magic potion and becomes the invincible warrior Metalian.<ref name="kings" >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref> and receiving positive reviews.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="rules" /> Jack Frost and Mark Cross replaced Caffery and Terrana respectively for the second album State of Triumph – Chapter Two, released in 2000.<ref name="kings" /> 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.<ref name="kings" /> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the following years the band went on tour in Europe, Russia and South America, granting its presence at many important festivals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Metalium released another six albums until 2009 and a second live DVD called Metalian Attack pt. 2 in 2006.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 13 September 2010, the band announced on its website that it would dissolve in 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 18 April 2021, Lars Ratz died in a plane crash in Vilafranca de Bonany, Spain.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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's Don Airey on keyboards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.

MembersEdit

Current line-upEdit

Henning Basse - vocals
Matthias Lange - guitar
Bruno Nunes - guitar
Fabio Carito - bass
Marcus Dotta - drums

Former membersEdit

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)

TimelineEdit

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:16 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:60 top:0 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1998 till:06/23/2011 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1999

Colors=

id:vocals  value:red      legend:Vocals
id:guitar  value:green    legend:Guitar
id:bass    value:blue     legend:Bass
id:drums   value:orange   legend:Drums
id:lines   value:black    legend:Studio_album

LineData=

at:06/25/1999 color:black layer:back
at:06/26/2000 color:black layer:back
at:02/25/2002 color:black layer:back
at:03/29/2004 color:black layer:back
at:04/25/2005 color:black layer:back
at:02/20/2007 color:black layer:back
at:02/22/2008 color:black layer:back
at:09/25/2009 color:black layer:back

BarData=

bar:Basse    text:"Henning Basse"
bar:Mathias  text:"Mathias Lange"
bar:Chris    text:"Chris Caffery"
bar:Jack     text:"Jack Frost"
bar:Tolo     text:"Tolo Grimalt"
bar:Lars     text:"Lars Ratz"
bar:Mike     text:"Mike Terrana"
bar:Mark     text:"Mark Cross"
bar:Ehré     text:"Michael Ehré"

PlotData=

 width:10
bar:Basse      from:01/01/1998 till:end        color:vocals
bar:Mathias    from:01/01/1998 till:end        color:guitar
bar:Chris      from:01/01/1998 till:12/31/1999 color:guitar
bar:Jack       from:01/01/2000 till:12/31/2000 color:guitar
bar:Tolo       from:01/01/2008 till:end        color:guitar
bar:Lars       from:01/01/1998 till:end        color:bass
bar:Mike       from:01/01/1998 till:12/31/1999 color:drums
bar:Mark       from:01/01/2000 till:12/31/2000 color:drums
bar:Ehré       from:01/01/2002 till:06/23/2011 color:drums

</timeline>

DiscographyEdit

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)

VideographyEdit

Metalian Attack (2001)
Metalian Attack pt. 2 (2006)

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Metalium Official Site
Drummer Michael Ehre Official Site
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