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>Template:Cite 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.
History
The band was formed by bassist Lars Ratz (ex-Viva, Zed Yago, Velvet Viper),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> vocalist Henning Basse (ex- Burgeon Street, Brainstorm)<ref>Template:Cite 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" >Template:Cite 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" >Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> and receiving positive reviews.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite 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>Template:Cite web</ref> Metalium released another six albums until 2009 and a second live DVD called Metalian Attack pt. 2 in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 13 September 2010, the band announced on its website that it would dissolve in 2011.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 18 April 2021, Lars Ratz died in a ultralight crash in Vilafranca de Bonany, Spain. He was 53 years old.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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>Template:Cite 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.
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)
- Christian Stöver – guitars (live 2009–2010)
Timeline
<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>
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)