Pier Gonella
Encyclopedia
Pier Gonella is a guitarist
and a founder member of the Italian heavy metal
band Mastercastle
and the thrash metal
band Necrodeath
also.
and Deep Purple
.
From 1993 to 1997 he studied jazz guitar in many Italian schools, and in the same time, not finding any teacher specialized in rock guitar, he studied it by himself. In particular he started studying many scores of some guitar hero as Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani
, Vinnie Moore
, Joey Tafolla
and many others.
Than he studied theory and in the June 1998 he had the diploma of " Teoria and Solfeggio" at the Conservatory of music " Nicolo' Paganini" of Genoa, where the same year enrolls and studies 4 years of basson.
band Labyrinth
.With them he played in many Italian and European festival (as Gods Of Metal
, Metalway) and on 2005 he made a tour in Japan, China and Taiwan (6 gigs). On that tour he recorded the DVD Live in Tokyo that was included at the album Freeman
, released on 2006.
In March 2007 he release with Labyrinth the album “6 Days to Nowhere
”, and in the same year he was in tour in Japan again.
first time on 2006 as guest guitarist. In the same year the band made a European tour (20 gigs) supporting the band Marduk
and on 2007 Pier recorded the guitars of the album Draculea
. Than he left the band because he was too busy with his other bands.
He joined again Necrodeath
on 2008, but this time definitively. On 2009 he recorded the album Phylogenesis
and on 2010 the album Old Skull
. Both albums were followed by a European tour. He is still playing with this band.
decided to make a pause. During that time Pier started a collaboration with the singer Giorgia Gueglio
. They wrote many songs and sent a demo to the label Lion Music
that offered them a deal. In the meantime the bass player Steve Vawamas and the drum player Alessandro Bissa joined the band. They chose the name Mastercastle and released the album The Phoenix
on April 2009. The album was well reviewed especially in the USA and the band continued composing music. On June 2010 they released the album Last Desire
, under the label Lion Music
. Pier Gonella is still playing in this band.
On April 2005, during his militance in Labyrinth, he published his solo album Odyssea - Tears in floods.
Guitarist
A 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...
and a founder member of the Italian heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Mastercastle
Mastercastle
Mastercastle is a heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Italy by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio-History:Mastercastle were founded in January 2008 by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio. The pair had several music projects in the past and...
and the thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Necrodeath
Necrodeath
Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
also.
Biography
Pier Gonella began playing guitar at the age of 15, following his passion for bands as ScorpionsScorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
and Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
.
From 1993 to 1997 he studied jazz guitar in many Italian schools, and in the same time, not finding any teacher specialized in rock guitar, he studied it by himself. In particular he started studying many scores of some guitar hero as Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, Vinnie Moore
Vinnie Moore
Vinnie Moore is a guitarist and a member of the English hard rock band UFO. Along with Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, and others, Moore is known as one of the most influential guitarists to emerge out of the shredder boom in the mid 1980s.-Biography:Moore was born in New Castle, Delaware...
, Joey Tafolla
Joey Tafolla
Joey Tafolla is an American guitarist. Initially a member of the heavy metal band Jag Panzer from 1984 to 1985, he joined Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records label soon after; releasing his debut album Out of the Sun in 1987, alongside the releases of other shred players such as Marty Friedman, Jason...
and many others.
Than he studied theory and in the June 1998 he had the diploma of " Teoria and Solfeggio" at the Conservatory of music " Nicolo' Paganini" of Genoa, where the same year enrolls and studies 4 years of basson.
Labyrinth
From 2003 to 2008 he played with the power metalPower 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 Labyrinth
Labyrinth (band)
Labyrinth is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.-1990s:...
.With them he played in many Italian and European festival (as Gods Of Metal
Gods of Metal
Gods of Metal is the biggest Italian metal festival, held annually since 1997. It takes place in early summer, usually on the first or second weekend of June...
, Metalway) and on 2005 he made a tour in Japan, China and Taiwan (6 gigs). On that tour he recorded the DVD Live in Tokyo that was included at the album Freeman
Labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos...
, released on 2006.
In March 2007 he release with Labyrinth the album “6 Days to Nowhere
Labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos...
”, and in the same year he was in tour in Japan again.
Necrodeath
He joined the band NecrodeathNecrodeath
Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
first time on 2006 as guest guitarist. In the same year the band made a European tour (20 gigs) supporting the band Marduk
Marduk (band)
Marduk is a black metal band from Norrköping, Sweden. The band formed in 1990 and released their first record in 1991. Their name is derived from the Babylonian god Marduk, patron deity of Babylon.-Musical style:...
and on 2007 Pier recorded the guitars of the album Draculea
Necrodeath
Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
. Than he left the band because he was too busy with his other bands.
He joined again Necrodeath
Necrodeath
Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
on 2008, but this time definitively. On 2009 he recorded the album Phylogenesis
Necrodeath
Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
and on 2010 the album Old Skull
Necrodeath
Necrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
. Both albums were followed by a European tour. He is still playing with this band.
Mastercastle
On 2008 LabyrinthLabyrinth (band)
Labyrinth is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.-1990s:...
decided to make a pause. During that time Pier started a collaboration with the singer Giorgia Gueglio
Giorgia Gueglio
Giorgia gueglio is an Italian singer and founding member of the heavy metal band Mastercastle.-Biography:She started singing from 1990, following his passion for singers like David Coverdale, Robert Plant, Ian Gillan....
. They wrote many songs and sent a demo to the label Lion Music
Lion Music
Lion Music is a production company and record label founded in 1989 by composer and artist Lars Eric Mattsson.-History:Lion Music was founded in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson as a production company to handle production and licensing for his records in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a...
that offered them a deal. In the meantime the bass player Steve Vawamas and the drum player Alessandro Bissa joined the band. They chose the name Mastercastle and released the album The Phoenix
Mastercastle
Mastercastle is a heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Italy by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio-History:Mastercastle were founded in January 2008 by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio. The pair had several music projects in the past and...
on April 2009. The album was well reviewed especially in the USA and the band continued composing music. On June 2010 they released the album Last Desire
Mastercastle
Mastercastle is a heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Italy by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio-History:Mastercastle were founded in January 2008 by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio. The pair had several music projects in the past and...
, under the label Lion Music
Lion Music
Lion Music is a production company and record label founded in 1989 by composer and artist Lars Eric Mattsson.-History:Lion Music was founded in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson as a production company to handle production and licensing for his records in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a...
. Pier Gonella is still playing in this band.
Other projects
On 2001 he recorded the guitars of the album Athlantis and on 2003 he recorded the guitar and bass part of the album Wild Steel. Both were published under the label Underground Symphony.On April 2005, during his militance in Labyrinth, he published his solo album Odyssea - Tears in floods.
Discography
- 2001: Athlantis (with the band Athlantis)
- 2003: Wild Steel (with the band Wild Steel)
- 2004: Tears in floods (with the band Odyssea)
- 2005: FreemanLabyrinth (band)Labyrinth is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.-1990s:...
(with the band Labyrinth) - 2007: DraculeaNecrodeathNecrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
(with the band Necrodeath) - 2007: 6 days to nowhereLabyrinth (band)Labyrinth is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.-1990s:...
(with the band Labyrinth) - 2008: Amazing Maze (with the band Amazing Maze)
- 2009: PhylogenesisNecrodeathNecrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
(with the band Necrodeath) - 2009: The PhoenixMastercastleMastercastle is a heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Italy by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio-History:Mastercastle were founded in January 2008 by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio. The pair had several music projects in the past and...
(with the band Mastercastle) - 2010: Old SkulNecrodeathNecrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
(with the band Necrodeath) - 2010: Last DesireMastercastleMastercastle is a heavy metal band formed in 2008 in Italy by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio-History:Mastercastle were founded in January 2008 by the guitar player Pier Gonella and the singer Giorgia Gueglio. The pair had several music projects in the past and...
(with the band Mastercastle) - 2011: As Time Goes By...Labyrinth (band)Labyrinth is a power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.-1990s:...
(with the band Labyrinth) - 2011: The Age of FearNecrodeathNecrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
(with the band Necrodeath) - 2011: IdiosyncrasyNecrodeathNecrodeath is an Italian extreme metal band from Liguria. It is one of the first extreme metal bands originating in Italy. They take inspiration from Slayer, Possessed, Kreator, Celtic Frost and Bathory...
(with the band Necrodeath)