Horizon (band)
Encyclopedia
Horizon was a German progressive metal
/power metal
band.
After a self-produced debut, they were introduced to Massacre Records
by Kosta Zafiriou of Pink Cream 69
and had their first worldwide release, “The Sky’s the Limit”, in 2002, with the help of German producer Achim Kohler
. The album, mixing AOR elements with intense riffing and brilliant guitar solos, was critically acclaimed http://www.rockhard.de/index.php?smod=p209Wz1iMUIfo2qAo2D9pz9wn2uupzDhpzI2nJI3pl5xMKEunJkJnJI3Wzqlo3IjFHD9pzuspzI2nJI3WzAioaEyoaEWEQ0lAwpkBFL%3Dhttp://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=693 and was released in Japan through King Records.
The band started then to audition lead singers to allow Patrick Hemer more freedom to dedicate to his guitar playing http://www.rockunited.com/oldnewsnovember.htm and a few names leaked out like that of Chitral Somapala
(Firewind
, Avalon) and Jakob Samuel (Talisman
, The Poodles
), but 2004 saw the release of “Worlds Apart” with Patrick Hemer on lead vocals once again.
Much heavier than its predecessor, especially due to Hemer’s use of a seven-string guitar
, “Worlds Apart” was more or less well regarded by some of the European media that had praised “The Sky’s The Limit”http://www.rockhard.de/index.php?smod=p209Wz1iMUIfo2qAo2D9pz9wn2uupzDhpzI2nJI3pl5xMKEunJkJnJI3Wzqlo3IjFHD9pzuspzI2nJI3WzAioaEyoaEWEQ0mAQN4AlMmqJAbp3ElnJ5aCFL%3Dhttp://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=615 but received a warm welcome in Japan (where the famous Burrn!
magazine labelled Horizon a “legendary band”) and started to gain the group a cult following.
2005 was supposed to see the band back in the studio to start working on a follow-up to “Worlds Apart” http://www.getreadytorock.com/rising_stars/horizon.htm but this album never saw the light of the day. Although no official break-up has ever been announced, “Worlds Apart” remains the last recording of the band to date.
Today, Patrick Hemer seems to be the only former member of Horizon to pursue an active musical career as a studio musician, guitar clinician and solo artist. http://www.myspace.com/patrickhemer
Melody and Power - Massacre Records compilation with Firewind
, Silent Force
, Edenbridge
,... (2003)
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
/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.
History
Horizon was formed in 1998 by drummer Krissy Friedrich and guitarist Patrick Hemer.After a self-produced debut, they were introduced to Massacre Records
Massacre Records
Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany.The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. The label is specialized on bands of the harder varieties of metal...
by Kosta Zafiriou of Pink Cream 69
Pink Cream 69
Pink Cream 69 is a German hard rock band founded in 1987 in Karlsruhe, Germany by Andi Deris, Dennis Ward, Kosta Zafiriou and Alfred Koffler. The band gained their first contract by winning music magazine Metal Hammer 's newcomer competition in Ludwigsburg one year after forming. In 1994, Andi...
and had their first worldwide release, “The Sky’s the Limit”, in 2002, with the help of German producer Achim Kohler
Achim Kohler
Achim Köhler is a music producer and sound engineer, mostly known for his longtime collaboration with the German power metal band Primal Fear but he has been involved in production process of lots of other albums mostly in heavy metal genre....
. The album, mixing AOR elements with intense riffing and brilliant guitar solos, was critically acclaimed http://www.rockhard.de/index.php?smod=p209Wz1iMUIfo2qAo2D9pz9wn2uupzDhpzI2nJI3pl5xMKEunJkJnJI3Wzqlo3IjFHD9pzuspzI2nJI3WzAioaEyoaEWEQ0lAwpkBFL%3Dhttp://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=693 and was released in Japan through King Records.
The band started then to audition lead singers to allow Patrick Hemer more freedom to dedicate to his guitar playing http://www.rockunited.com/oldnewsnovember.htm and a few names leaked out like that of Chitral Somapala
Chitral Somapala
Chitral "Chity" Somapala is a Sri Lankan hard rock and heavy metal vocalist and former lead singer of power metal band Power Quest. He is better known for his work with the now disbanded European Power Metal band Civilization One...
(Firewind
Firewind
Firewind is a Greek power metal band. Formed in 1998, the group is currently signed to Century Media Records and was originally a small project created by guitarist, Gus G. to showcase his demo, Nocturnal Symphony in 1998. Firewind later became a full band over three years later when they recorded...
, Avalon) and Jakob Samuel (Talisman
Talisman (band)
Talisman was a Swedish hard rock band characterized by an international melodic/powerful sound.-1980s - Getting together:Talisman was formed by bass player Marcel Jacob, who had previously played with Rising Force, John Norum Group and Power.While Jacob was playing with John Norum, he started...
, The Poodles
The Poodles
The Poodles are a glam metal/heavy metal band from Sweden.They are best known for their hits "Metal Will Stand Tall" and "Night of Passion", the latter of which was played in the Swedish Melodifestivalen in 2006....
), but 2004 saw the release of “Worlds Apart” with Patrick Hemer on lead vocals once again.
Much heavier than its predecessor, especially due to Hemer’s use of a seven-string guitar
Seven-string guitar
A seven-string guitar is a guitar with seven strings instead of the usual six. Some types of seven-string guitars are specific to certain cultures . The standard 7-string guitar tuning is BEADGbe...
, “Worlds Apart” was more or less well regarded by some of the European media that had praised “The Sky’s The Limit”http://www.rockhard.de/index.php?smod=p209Wz1iMUIfo2qAo2D9pz9wn2uupzDhpzI2nJI3pl5xMKEunJkJnJI3Wzqlo3IjFHD9pzuspzI2nJI3WzAioaEyoaEWEQ0mAQN4AlMmqJAbp3ElnJ5aCFL%3Dhttp://www.rockreport.be/review.asp?id=615 but received a warm welcome in Japan (where the famous Burrn!
Burrn!
Burrn! is a monthly Japanese magazine, published since 1984, for fans of heavy metal music. It is published by Shinko Music in Tokyo. The magazine's content is in Japanese, but the covers are predominantly in English.-References:* Japanavision...
magazine labelled Horizon a “legendary band”) and started to gain the group a cult following.
2005 was supposed to see the band back in the studio to start working on a follow-up to “Worlds Apart” http://www.getreadytorock.com/rising_stars/horizon.htm but this album never saw the light of the day. Although no official break-up has ever been announced, “Worlds Apart” remains the last recording of the band to date.
Today, Patrick Hemer seems to be the only former member of Horizon to pursue an active musical career as a studio musician, guitar clinician and solo artist. http://www.myspace.com/patrickhemer
Members
- Patrick Hemer - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Bruno J. Frank - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, background vocals - Vinnie Angelo - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, background vocals (1999–2002) - JP “Giam” Giraldi - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, background vocals (2003–2005) - Krissy Friedrich - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, background vocals
Albums
- Breaking Away – self-production (1999)
- The Sky's the LimitThe Sky's the Limit (Horizon album)The Sky’s the Limit is an album by the German Progressive metal band Horizon.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Patrick Hemer: guitars, vocals*Vinnie Angelo : keyboards and background vocals*Bruno J. Frank : bass and background vocals...
- Massacre Records (2002)
Melody and Power - Massacre Records compilation with Firewind
Firewind
Firewind is a Greek power metal band. Formed in 1998, the group is currently signed to Century Media Records and was originally a small project created by guitarist, Gus G. to showcase his demo, Nocturnal Symphony in 1998. Firewind later became a full band over three years later when they recorded...
, Silent Force
Silent Force
Silent Force is a German power metal band with neo-classical and progressive influences, founded by German guitarist Alex Beyrodt.-Members:* D. C...
, Edenbridge
Edenbridge (band)
Edenbridge is a symphonic metal band from Austria.-History:Edenbridge was formed in 1998 by guitarist and keyboardist Lanvall, his girlfriend - vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher - and bassist Kurt Bednarsky. The line-up was completed when drummer Roland Navratil joined the band...
,... (2003)
- Worlds ApartWorlds Apart (Horizon album)Worlds Apart is an album by the German Progressive/Power Metal band Horizon.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Patrick Hemer: guitars, bass, keyboards, lead and background vocals*J.P. “Giam” Giraldi : keyboards*Krissy Friedrich: drums and background vocals...
- Massacre Records (2004)