Serenity

LINE UP
Lead Vocals : Georg Neuhauser
Guitars : Thomas Buchberger
Bass Guitar : Simon Holzknecht
Keyboards : Mario Hirzinger
Drums : Andreas Schipflinger


BIOGRAPHY

Serenity's history has its beginning in January 2001 when the first complete line up - Mario Hirzinger (v, k), Matthias Anker (g, v), Stefan Schipflinger (g), Stefan Wanker (b) and Andreas Schipflinger (dr, v) - after several personal changes and more than a year of rehearsal started to work hard on writing and performing melodic metal with some progressive influences. Being quite successful in playing live and receiving fine reviews for the first demo established Serenity as one of the leading melodic metal bands of their home region, which is Tyrol, Austria. They seemed to be ready for reaching higher grounds when in late 2003/early 2004 three founding members left the band. In February 2004 Serenity got in contact with a guitarist, a singer and a bass player who were in search of musicians to join their metal project.

Thus since March 2004 Serenity consists of Georg Neuhauser (lead vocals), Thomas Buchberger (lead & rhythm guitars), Simon Holzknecht (bass), Mario Hirzinger (keys, vocals) and Andreas Schipflinger (drums, vocals). The new line up brought some subtle musical changes, too. Besides introducing a new lead voice the songs were now based on a more 'metal' riffing, yet a high demand on melodies, orchestral parts and arrangements for several voices surely remained. 'New' Serenity's crucial test took place on 2nd of August 2004 when they successfully supported Ronnie James DIO facing an unbelievable raging crowd. This first proof of the band's good work was followed by other strong gigs which finally granted Serenity the approving respect by the local metal scene.

In the meantime they had begun to produce the new demo 'Engraved Within' on their own. After being mixed by Jan Vacik at Dreamscape Studios in Munich/Germany 'Engraved Within' was released in spring 2005 and received outstanding reviews all over Europe, among them 'Demo of the month' in german Rock Hard and Metal Hammer magazines.

Although some labels were interested to work with the band, Serenity decided to produce a self-financed full-length album which would increase the chances for a more valuable deal including touring activities. 'Words Untold & Dreams Unlived' can be called an all-over european project, for it was recorded at Dreamscape Studios/Munich as well as at home in Austria, mixed and mastered at Finnvox Studios/Helsinki, orchestral parts were produced by Hans Valter in Czech Republic and the whole artwork was done by Seth-Design in Athens/Greece. This token of self-confidence and a strong will caught the attention of Austrian based Napalm Records. After fruitful negotiations a deal was signed on December 1st 2006. The album was finally released on April 27th in Europe and on May 8th in North America, followed by releases in Russia, Japan and south-east Asia.

In 2007 the band had been on the road with MORGANA LEFAY and SACRED STEEL (March), THRESHOLD, MACHINE MEN and COMMUNIC (September) and KAMELOT and ADAGIO (September/October). Unfortunately and due to personal reasons Thomas and Mario could not leave for the THRESHOLD-tour, they were replaced by Mario Sterns (g) and Franz Josef Hauser (k). On these tours Serenity travelled ten european countries and gained a bunch of new fans and friends all over Europe. Expectations concerning the follow-up album increased.

Once again the band gathered a strong team around them, including Oliver Philipps (EVERON/orchestral production), Lanvall (EDENBRIDGE/vocal recordings), Jacob Hansen (mix and mastering), Gustavo Sazes (artwork) and Jan Vacik (drum & bass recordings, arranging and editing) who in the meantime has become some 'mentor' for Serenity. The production started in December 2007 at Dreamscape Studios and was finished in April 2008, the album is entitled 'Fallen Sanctuary' and hit stores on the 29th of August in Europe and on the 9th of September in the USA/Canada.


DISCOGRAPHY


- Words untold & dreams unlived (2007)
01 - Canopus 3
02 - Reduced to nothingness
03 - Words untold
04 - Circle of my 2nd life
05 - Engraved within
06 - Forever
07 - Dreams unlived
08 - Dead man walking
09 - From where the dark is born
10 - Thriven


- Fallen sanctuary (2008)



LINKS

- Site officiel
- Myspace


SEE & LISTEN

- Trailer Fallen Sanctuary


- Velatum (Fallen Sanctuary)



WHAT I THINK

I've just bought their new album and I must say that it is amazing. Special mentions to the following songs : Velatum, All lights reserved and To stone she turned