Elegy (Band)
Elegy is a Dutch power and progressive metal band from Eindhoven, which was founded in 1986.
History
The band was founded by guitarist Henk van der Laars as an untitled project in 1985. A short time later met drummer Gerry and singer Theo to fill. As a second guitarist came a little later Arno van Brussel to the band. Gerry and Theo were soon replaced by drummer Bert Burgers and singer Chris Terheijden. Terheijden gave the band, inspired by the book The Legend of Elegy, the name Elegy. Meanwhile, they were already in the middle of the recording of the first demo Matricide in 1986. Having the post of bassist changed hands several times, was found with Martin Helmantel, who was a guitar player, a suitable occupation.
In 1987, the group took part in a band contest, which was organized by Metal Hammer and by Polydor Records. The band over 450 applicants came in the top nine. The final took place in April in Bochum, where the band won the competition. In 1988, the band opened concerts by groups like Angel Witch, Paul Di'Anno 's Battlezone, Hellion and King Diamond. Meanwhile as the new drummer Ed Warby came to occupy. In addition, in 1989, appeared with Elegant Solution another demo. After Chris Terheijden was replaced by the 17 -year-old singer Eduard Hovinga in 1990, appeared in a further demonstration Labyrinth of Dreams. This labels were aware of the band. A label financed the production of a further demos on which the songs Guiding Light, All Systems Go and The Grand Change were included, but the band decided against a contract with the label.
After a few weeks, Metal Mike from Aardschok magazine aware of the band who offered a contract with Shark Records the band. In 1992 the debut album Labyrinth of Dreams was recorded and released the following year. The album reached the eighth place in the Japanese album charts. Meanwhile, Ed Warby left the band to perform with Gorefest, which initially Serge Meeuwsen joined the band as a replacement.
After a stay in Japan Arno van Brussel left the band and was replaced by Gilbert pot. Even drummer Serge Meeuwsen left the band and was replaced in late 1993 by Dirk Bruinenberg. During the last few weeks also material was written for the album Supremacy. After Bruinenberg had taught the songs in six weeks, the band then went into the studio one weeks. During the recording of keyboardist Ton van de Stroom was fired, so Henk van der Laars and Gilbert Pot grossed most keyboard recordings. Van der Laars also played a some bass recordings as bassist Martin Helmantel was absent due to the birth of his child. The album was released in May 1994. After a few gigs together with Annihilator, Phantom Blue, The Gathering and Gorefest the band was already writing new material for another album.
In April 1995, began recording for Lost after Gerrit Hager was welcomed as the new keyboardist. The album was released in the summer of the same year worldwide. After a tour with Yngwie Malmsteen singer Hovinga, keyboardist and guitarist Pot Hager left the band. The remaining members Martin Helmantel, Henk van der Laars and Dirk Bruinenberg reached during which a contract with Modern Music Records. After some singers were heard, came as a new member Ian Parry to fill. Together, they took old songs in a new acoustic version. The EP was published in 1996 under the name Primal Instinct. During the recording, the band was already working on new songs, so the band after the release of the EP entered the studio again to record the album State of Mind. The album was released in summer 1997. 40,000 copies of the album were sold worldwide. To promote the album, the band also did a tour of Europe together with Stratovarius, where they played in ten different countries. In addition, Elegy also played concerts in Japan, as happened in Osaka and Tokyo. Later that year, the band played in Milan, Italy on the Psycho Festival.
In 1998, in the German Area 51 Studios to record the concept album manifestation of Fear. As a new keyboardist on Chris Allister was heard. The album was released in the summer of the same year. In September, a European tour with Kamelot followed. After the tour, the band took a break. In early 1999 left founder Henk van der Laars the band for a short time until he returned to fill a couple of weeks later. In the following months, the band worked on the next album. While the work of the Frenchman Patrick Rondat joined as the second guitarist. Shortly after the shooting began to Forbidden Fruit, before leaving the van Laar, however, the band permanently. This Rondat played all the guitar parts one on the album. The album was released in September 2000.
Since the band had fulfilled the three- album contract with Modern Music, the band was again without a contract. While the band was looking for a label, the members other projects devoted. The band reached an agreement with the Spanish label Locomotive Records and another with Marquee Records for the Asian region. At this time the band worked on the new album Principles of Pain. The album recording started in January 2002 in Madrid. The album was released in April and early May in Asia for the rest of the world. A video clip was also recorded in Dutch Den Bosch, as well as in Aruba for the title song Principles of Pain. After the release in Europe, sales rose to 20,000 units only in Europe. It was followed by an appearance on the Spanish rock Machina Festival on July 26 in Moncofa. This was the first appearance with new guitarist and keyboardist Patrick Rondat Joshua Dutrieux. At the same time it was the last performance of drummer Dirk Bruin Mountain, which should be replaced by Bart Bisseling. In 2003, followed by other appearances, with a concert in Zeist was the first for Bruinenberg. Then the band played at several festivals in France ( Hirson festival ), the Netherlands ( Bakel Street Rock Festival ) and for the first time in the U.S. on the first Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles Six - Pack Weekend in Cleveland. In the same year, the band also played on the ProgPower Europe in Baarlo.
Style
The band plays a technically sophisticated blend of power and progressive metal.