Alex Holzwarth
Encyclopedia
Alex Holzwarth was born on 4 October 1968 in Landshut
, Germany
and is a professional drummer
, and current member of italian
symphonic power metal
band Rhapsody of Fire
. He is also the brother of the band's bassist
Oliver Holzwarth
.
He started playing drums at the age of ten. The first instrument that he bought was a Troyan Drum with Paiste
hi-hats. His first drumming teacher was Seppl Niemeyer.
In 2000 he joined Italian
symphonic
/power metal
band Rhapsody Of Fire
with the release of Dawn of Victory
, succeeding Daniele Carbonera. He was also the drummer of German
progressive metal
band Sieges Even
, in which his brother played bass, until the band's separation in 2008.
In 2001 Alex was a session drummer for both Tobias Sammet
's Avantasia
symphonic/power metal operas. The Metal Opera
features many musicians from the power metal scene, but Holzwarth is credited for all drums in the first two Avantasia releases (with the exception of track 10 on The Metal Opera Part II
). He also served as session drummer for several songs on Avantasia's new albums The Wicked Symphony
and Angel of Babylon
(released April, 2010).
He also has played and recorded with other bands such as; Angra
, Paradox
, Dol Ammad
, Looking Glass Self
, Sieges Even
, Hexfire, Pergana.
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and is a professional drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, and current member of italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
symphonic power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Rhapsody of Fire
Rhapsody of Fire
Rhapsody of Fire is an Italian symphonic power metal band led by Alex Staropoli. Since forming in 1993, the band has released eight studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and a live DVD...
. He is also the brother of the band's bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Oliver Holzwarth
Oliver Holzwarth
Oliver Holzwarth is a German bass guitarist. He was born in Munich, Germany. He plays bass in Rhapsody of Fire along with his brother, drummer Alex Holzwarth. Oliver has been the live/studio bass player for Blind Guardian since 1998...
.
He started playing drums at the age of ten. The first instrument that he bought was a Troyan Drum with Paiste
Paiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
hi-hats. His first drumming teacher was Seppl Niemeyer.
In 2000 he joined Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
symphonic
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
/power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Rhapsody Of Fire
Rhapsody of Fire
Rhapsody of Fire is an Italian symphonic power metal band led by Alex Staropoli. Since forming in 1993, the band has released eight studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and a live DVD...
with the release of Dawn of Victory
Dawn of Victory
Dawn of Victory is the third album studio released by Rhapsody in 2000. Like the previous albums, it centers on the story of Algalord and the "Emerald Sword Saga". It has been produced and engineered by Sascha Paeth and Miro...
, succeeding Daniele Carbonera. He was also the drummer of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Sieges Even
Sieges Even
Sieges Even was a progressive metal band from Munich, Germany. The band was originally formed under the name Sodom in the early 80s and released their first demo in 1983 before becoming Sieges Even in 1985. In the summer of 2008 the band decided to split due to internal differences...
, in which his brother played bass, until the band's separation in 2008.
In 2001 Alex was a session drummer for both Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet
Tobias Sammet is the vocalist and primary songwriter of the German Power metal band Edguy, as well as the creator of the metal opera Avantasia and a member of the metal project Final Chapter. He also made guest appearances on the Rob Rock album Holy Hell and the metal opera Aina...
's Avantasia
Avantasia
Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the band Edguy. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" and describes "a world beyond human imagination"...
symphonic/power metal operas. The Metal Opera
The Metal Opera
The Metal Opera is the first full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here.- Track listing :All music and lyrics by Tobias Sammet...
features many musicians from the power metal scene, but Holzwarth is credited for all drums in the first two Avantasia releases (with the exception of track 10 on The Metal Opera Part II
The Metal Opera Part II
The Metal Opera Pt. II is the second full-length album by Tobias Sammet's side project opera, Avantasia. It is a concept album and a rock opera, and further information on the story can be found here. The songs carry on the story begun in The Metal Opera, with the same characters...
). He also served as session drummer for several songs on Avantasia's new albums The Wicked Symphony
The Wicked Symphony
-Track listing: -Personnel:* Tobias Sammet - Lead vocals, Bass guitar, Keyboards, Organ * Sascha Paeth - Guitars, Keyboards, Bass guitar Producer* Eric Singer - Drums * Miro - Keyboards, Orchestration...
and Angel of Babylon
Angel of Babylon
Angel of Babylon is the fifth full-length Avantasia album by German power metal vocalist Tobias Sammet, released on April 3, 2010 along with The Wicked Symphony...
(released April, 2010).
He also has played and recorded with other bands such as; Angra
Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its symphonic interludes, highly technical instrumental playing and Brazilian regional elements.- Biography :...
, Paradox
Paradox
Similar to Circular reasoning, A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition...
, Dol Ammad
Dol Ammad
Dol Ammad is a heavy metal band formed in 2000 by Greek keyboard player Thanasis Lightbridge. Dol Ammad is characterizeded with instrumentation which layers conventional metal instrumentation , synthesizers, and the vocal support of a fourteen member four-part choir...
, Looking Glass Self
Looking glass self
The looking-glass self is a social psychological concept, created by Charles Horton Cooley in 1902 , stating that a person's self grows out of society's interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others. The term refers to people shaping themselves based on other people's perception, which...
, Sieges Even
Sieges Even
Sieges Even was a progressive metal band from Munich, Germany. The band was originally formed under the name Sodom in the early 80s and released their first demo in 1983 before becoming Sieges Even in 1985. In the summer of 2008 the band decided to split due to internal differences...
, Hexfire, Pergana.