Asgard (band)

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Asgard
General information
origin Treviso , Italy
Genre (s) skirt
founding 1983
Current occupation
singing
 Franco Violo
Vocals, bass, a-guitar
 Chris Bianchi d'Espinosa
guitar
 Yorick
Keyboard, flute,
backing vocals
 Albert Ambrosi
Drums
 Tom Kocher

Asgard is a German - Italian rock band .

Style and name

Asgard's music is melodic metal with a classic and medieval tinge. One can also speak of Progressive Metal or Pagan Metal . All Asgard members enjoyed a classical and jazz-oriented education. The name Asgard comes from Norse mythology and means "The Castle of the Gods", which was built in heaven. The texts reflect a strong passion for medieval legends and build bridges to today's problems.

history

First phase

In 1983 the student Albert Ambrosi wanted to set up a band in Treviso (northern Italy). The aim was to bring the romantic rock of bands like Genesis , Camel and Saga to new life and to introduce it to the audience through more modern sounds and arrangements, whereby the focus of activity was only on original compositions from the start. While searching for like-minded musicians, Albert found his first three bandmates in 1984: Max Michieletto (guitar), Marco Michieletto (drums), Max's brother, and Glauco Giacchello (vocals, bass and guitar). With this line-up, the band took part in some festivals and rock competitions under the name "Fire Dusk". The young band usually came first on such occasions and was able to gain experience, because the prizes were often studio recordings or participation in well-known festivals with well-known artists. An example is the recording of their music in Ibiza (Spain) in 1986 under the production of Nick Griffiths (former producer of Pink Floyd ). Italian Rock Invasion , a sample LP of the best Italian bands of the time, is testimony to the collaboration with Nick Griffiths in Ibiza.

In the summer of 1986 the band had already changed their name to "Asgard". In 1988 Glauco Giacchello was replaced by Chris Bianchi d'Espinosa and Kikko Grosso due to disagreements with the rest of the band on goal. Asgard began touring enthusiastically, at first only in northeastern Italy, shortly afterwards in all of northern Italy, and gained more and more fans, so that the media became interested in the band. The first reactions abroad can be traced back to this time. Another sample LP is the result: Exposure 88 released by a Dutch label, where Asgard is represented with the track The Tale . In 1990 the Demo Concerts was created : 70 minutes of Asgard recorded live digitally. Various radio stations broadcast the demo, which made the German record company WMMS aware of it. A French and an Italian label also made a contract offer to Asgard at the same time, but Asgard decided on WMMS.

Second phase

In 1991 the first work Götterdämmerung was published , at the beginning of 1992 it was Esoteric Poem's turn and in autumn 1992 Arkana , all three recorded and produced in Germany. In the meantime, tours and radio and TV interviews followed. Between Esoteric Poem and Arkana , Marco Michieletto dropped out for personal reasons. Marco Ferrero from Padua was then hired as the drummer. In 1993 Imago Mundi was recorded in Trento , northern Italy , and then published. Shortly after the recording, the singer Kikko Grosso left the band to devote himself to agriculture. His distinctive voice shaped the first four Asgard CDs. A new singer is found in Franco Violo, who has a very similar voice to Kikko.

The next two years were marked by enthusiastic reactions and tours. The band's CDs are distributed all over the world by WMMS, which has resulted in very positive feedback from all over Europe, America and Asia. The live dimension has always been very important for Asgard, but in these years the show reaches its highest level, with imaginative backdrops, fire effects and other show interludes. Loyal fan communities are formed v. a. in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, America and Spain, which is also a result of the numerous concerts throughout Europe. At the end of 1994 guitarist Max Michieletto also left the band. Andrea Stefani plays guitar for Asgard for a few months.

Third phase

In the summer of 1995 on tour in Europe, the composer and lyricist of the band Ambrosi and the former member Bianchi d'Espinosa decide to live in Northern Germany. The WMMS label offers them a job with the contractually stipulated wish that the two of them should keep Asgard alive. The other band members stay in northern Italy, and their ways separate from Asgard. The search for new suitable musicians is proving difficult. Michael Brandt, Markus Hinzmann and Dietrich Kühne perform with Asgard, but for the time being there will be no further CD projects. In 1998 Ambrosi and d'Espinosa move to southern Germany. Once there, they push ahead with the preparations for the new CD Drachenblut . Two session musicians are recruited for the recording: Peter Bachmayer (drums) and Ivo Gallo (vocals). The guitarist is Sergio Ghiotto from Northern Italy, a former member of the prog band "Top Left Corner". 2000 Dragon's Blood is recorded and ceremoniously presented to the public in April. After the obligatory "Dragon's Blood Tour" it is decided to look for permanent band members. Michael Brandt (drums) from Northern Germany is recorded for the second time at Asgard. After further line-up changes, the current line-up will take place in 2004. The band is working on the new work Ragnarøkkr and is planning further performances from summer 2005.

Discography

  • 1991: Götterdämmerung
  • 1992: Esoteric Poem
  • 1992: Arkana
  • 1993: Imago Mundi
  • 2000: Dragon's Blood

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ ASGARD - What takes a long time turns out to be good after all? . jesters-news.de. Retrieved May 28, 2012.