At Vance
Encyclopedia
At Vance is a German
power metal
/Neo-classical metal
band. They were formed by vocalist Oliver Hartmann
(ex-Centers) and guitarist Olaf Lenk (ex-Velvet Viper) in 1998.
and guitarist Olaf Lenk on their résumés, At Vance easily obtained a deal with Shark Records. Rainald König (guitar), Uli Müller (keyboards), Jochen Schnur (bass), and Spoony (drums) rounded out the lineup that recorded 1999's debut No Escape. European fans lapped it up, and the group's second release, 2000's Heart of Steel (featuring new drummer Jurgen Lucas) was a surprise hit in Japan and encouraged At Vance to quickly issue a followup in 2001's Dragonchaser. Barely pausing for breath, the next year saw the band switching to AFM Records
, losing their bassist and keyboard player, releasing their fourth album Only Human, and then hitting the road across Europe with Rhapsody
and Angel Dust
. A number of personnel changes ensued in 2003, as At Vance welcomed new vocalist Mats Levén
and bassist Sascha Feldmann before recording their next LP The Evil in You. A tour with Kamelot
followed the release.
Later, Lenk fired König and Feldmann, replacing the latter with bassist John ABC Smith (born Dario Trobok) (ex-Scanner, ex-Gallows Pole). All guitar work was performed by Lenk, and drums by Mark Cross (ex-Helloween). This formation released a new record, Chained, which transpired to be the album with Mats Levén on lead vocals. In April 2007, At Vance's MySpace
webpage announced a new record would be released in May 2007 entitled VII, introducing young singer Rick Altzi on vocals. The album was mastered at Finnvox by Mika Jussila.
Several of At Vance's albums contain transcriptions of classical pieces such as the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven
's Fifth Symphony and "Spring" and "Summer" from Antonio Vivaldi
's "The Four Seasons." Their new lineup was announced on the band's webpage, adding Alex Landenburg (from Annihilator
) on drums and Manuel Walther on bass.
In May 2009, the band announced via their MySpace page that Manuel Walther left At Vance and would be replaced by Wolfman Black of the German band Justice. On July 2009, AFM Records announced that the band's latest album, entitled Ride The Sky, would be released on September 18.
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...
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...
/Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
band. They were formed by vocalist Oliver Hartmann
Oliver Hartmann
Oliver Hartmann is a German metal vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer who performed in various acts, either as guitarist, solo or choir singer...
(ex-Centers) and guitarist Olaf Lenk (ex-Velvet Viper) in 1998.
Biography
With the combined credentials of vocalist Oliver HartmannOliver Hartmann
Oliver Hartmann is a German metal vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer who performed in various acts, either as guitarist, solo or choir singer...
and guitarist Olaf Lenk on their résumés, At Vance easily obtained a deal with Shark Records. Rainald König (guitar), Uli Müller (keyboards), Jochen Schnur (bass), and Spoony (drums) rounded out the lineup that recorded 1999's debut No Escape. European fans lapped it up, and the group's second release, 2000's Heart of Steel (featuring new drummer Jurgen Lucas) was a surprise hit in Japan and encouraged At Vance to quickly issue a followup in 2001's Dragonchaser. Barely pausing for breath, the next year saw the band switching to AFM Records
AFM Records
AFM-Records GmbH is a music label based in Schwalmstadt, Germany. They focus on the heavy metal musical genre, signing bands such as U.D.O., Doro, Kotipelto, Masterplan, Nostradameus, and Annihilator....
, losing their bassist and keyboard player, releasing their fourth album Only Human, and then hitting the road across Europe with Rhapsody
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...
and Angel Dust
Angel Dust (band)
Angel Dust are a German heavy metal band. Initially active from 1984 to 1990 as speed and thrash metal band, they dropped their thrash roots in favor of a power/progressive metal sound upon reforming in 1998....
. A number of personnel changes ensued in 2003, as At Vance welcomed new vocalist Mats Levén
Mats Levén
Mats Levén is a singer. His most notable recent collaborations have been with symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Krux.-Biography:...
and bassist Sascha Feldmann before recording their next LP The Evil in You. A tour with Kamelot
Kamelot
Kamelot is an American symphonic power metal band from Tampa, Florida. The band was formed by Thomas Youngblood and Richard Warner in 1991. Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album Siége Perilous, and shared song-writing duties with Youngblood until his departure in April 2011.As of 2010,...
followed the release.
Later, Lenk fired König and Feldmann, replacing the latter with bassist John ABC Smith (born Dario Trobok) (ex-Scanner, ex-Gallows Pole). All guitar work was performed by Lenk, and drums by Mark Cross (ex-Helloween). This formation released a new record, Chained, which transpired to be the album with Mats Levén on lead vocals. In April 2007, At Vance's MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
webpage announced a new record would be released in May 2007 entitled VII, introducing young singer Rick Altzi on vocals. The album was mastered at Finnvox by Mika Jussila.
Several of At Vance's albums contain transcriptions of classical pieces such as the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
's Fifth Symphony and "Spring" and "Summer" from Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
's "The Four Seasons." Their new lineup was announced on the band's webpage, adding Alex Landenburg (from Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
) on drums and Manuel Walther on bass.
In May 2009, the band announced via their MySpace page that Manuel Walther left At Vance and would be replaced by Wolfman Black of the German band Justice. On July 2009, AFM Records announced that the band's latest album, entitled Ride The Sky, would be released on September 18.
Current Lineup
- Rick Altzi - Vocals
- Olaf Lenk - GuitarsGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
- Wolfman Black - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Alex Landenburg - DrumsDrummerA 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...
Former members
- Mats LevénMats LevénMats Levén is a singer. His most notable recent collaborations have been with symphonic metallers Therion and doom metallers Krux.-Biography:...
- Vocals - Oliver HartmannOliver HartmannOliver Hartmann is a German metal vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer who performed in various acts, either as guitarist, solo or choir singer...
- Vocals - Rainald König - GuitarsGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
- Uli Müller - KeyboardsMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
- Spoony - DrumsDrummerA 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...
- Jochen Schnur - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Sascha Feldmann - Bass
- Jürgen Lucas - Drums
- John ABC Smith (born Dario Trobok) - Bass
- Mark Cross - Drums
- Manuel Walther - Bass
Discography
- No Escape (1999)
- Heart of Steel (2000)
- Dragonchaser (2001)
- Early Works - Centers (2001)
- Only Human (2002)
- The Evil In You (2003)
- Chained (2005)
- VII (2007)
- Ride the Sky (2009)
External links
- At Vance Official Homepage
- At Vance MySpace Music homepage
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtHa65GXEBsEvil in You Live Video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
] - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmYSEWaMZSwHeart Of Steel Live Video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
]