ARK (band)
Encyclopedia
Ark is a progressive metal
band from Norway
resulting from the friendship and musical collaboration of guitarist Tore Østby
(Conception
, DC Cooper
, Frankie's Playground, Redrum) and drummer John Macaluso
(TNT
, Riot
, Spread Eagle, Alex Masi
, Yngwie Malmsteen, Powermad
), who later joined up with singer Jørn Lande
to record two acclaimed albums.
Lande, Østby and Macaluso were joined by Randy Coven (Steve Vai
, Steve Morse
) on bass and Mats Olausson
(Yngwie Malmsteen) on keyboards for their second effort.
to Dio
to Bjork
, the band utilized its previous musical relationships with temperamental guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen as a springboard for this opus. After touring to support Burn the Sun, Ark went on hiatus and eventually broke up, with Jørn Lande joining Roland Grapow
and Uli Kusch
in the classic power metal band Masterplan, as well as pushing his own solo career.
, screenshots confirming the project were posted. It has been confirmed that all original members other than Jorn will be on the new album, however his successor has yet to be revealed.
Macaluso has stated several times on his personal Facebook
profile that Ark was working with the new album and a new line-up. But his last post concerning the subject has put an end on the band's history, with his confirmation of the cancellation of the production and the beginning of a new band.
The band officially disbanded in 2011.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
resulting from the friendship and musical collaboration of guitarist Tore Østby
Tore Østby
Tore Østby was a founder, songwriter, producer and guitarist for Norwegian progressive metal band Conception from 1989 to 1998. After the band stopped playing on a permanent basis he, along with John Macaluso and Jørn Lande formed progressive metal band Ark.Tore is currently working as a senior...
(Conception
Conception (band)
Conception is a power/progressive metal band from Raufoss, Norway.-Formation and record label:The band was formed in Norway in 1989 by guitarist Tore Østby, singer Dag Østby, drummer Werner Skogli and bassist Freddy Samsonstuen. In 1990, after a demo tape, Arve Heimdal replaced Werner Skogli and...
, DC Cooper
D. C. Cooper
Donald Christopher "D.C." Cooper is an American singer and musician.-Biography:He started out playing in several area bands and touring the local club circuit in Pittsburgh while he studied singing under renowned opera coach Charlotte Coleman...
, Frankie's Playground, Redrum) and drummer John Macaluso
John Macaluso
John Macaluso is an American drummer born in 1968, who has played for Ark, TNT, Yngwie J. Malmsteen among others. Born in Commack, New York, John started playing drums at age 11. Now having recorded on 32 records and playing on multiple world tours, John continues to write and record music,...
(TNT
TNT (band)
TNT is a Norwegian hard rock/glam metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation...
, Riot
Riot (band)
Riot is an American heavy metal band founded in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching a peak in popularity in the early 80s, the band has continued a long-running successful career....
, Spread Eagle, Alex Masi
Alex Masi
Alex Masi is an Italian guitarist.He was born in Venice, and studied at the Conservatory of Music in Verona. He formed the heavy rock band Dark Lord in 1984 and recorded two EPs with them...
, Yngwie Malmsteen, Powermad
Powermad
Powermad has been called "An innovative and often forgotten speed metal band...who infused progressive metal styles and European styles into abstract American speed metal." The band's intricate riff formulations were heavily influenced by thrash metal acts like Metallica and Testament, but vocalist...
), who later joined up with singer Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande is a Norwegian hard rock and heavy metal singer who has sold over 2 million records worldwide. He is probably best known for being the lead singer of the power metal band Masterplan.-Biography:...
to record two acclaimed albums.
Lande, Østby and Macaluso were joined by Randy Coven (Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
, Steve Morse
Steve Morse
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
) on bass and Mats Olausson
Mats Olausson
Mats Olausson is a Swedish keyboard player known from bands like Yngwie Malmsteen, Ark, Evil Masquerade, Kamelot, John Norum and many others. He now lives in Thailand where he is active as a musician, composer and producer. Mats plays 'Korg Trinity pro tri pbs' and 'Yamaha sy-99, sy-77 , cs-80'...
(Yngwie Malmsteen) on keyboards for their second effort.
Biography
Ark's self-titled debut album was released in 1999. Musically, the band explored many distinct themes and sounds such as flamenco inspired guitars to bass n' drums driven songs, with vocalist Lande proving popular with the audience. ARK quickly developed a strong cult following. The band's follow-up album, Burn the Sun, is considered to be an underground progressive metal landmark. Drawing from a variety of influences, from Dream TheaterDream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
to Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
to Bjork
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, the band utilized its previous musical relationships with temperamental guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen as a springboard for this opus. After touring to support Burn the Sun, Ark went on hiatus and eventually broke up, with Jørn Lande joining Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow
Roland Grapow, born 30 August 1959 in Hamburg, Germany is a professional guitarist and music producer. Roland is best known for his time in the power metal band Helloween, who he played with for 12 years after replacing founding member Kai Hansen...
and Uli Kusch
Uli Kusch
Ulrich Kusch, born 11 March 1967, is a heavy metal drummer. He is best known for playing with Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Masterplan. He is known for his technical style of playing, fast-paced speed metal-like rhythm and capable songwriting abilities.-Biography:...
in the classic power metal band Masterplan, as well as pushing his own solo career.
Reunion and disband
John Macaluso updated his discography to include a new Ark album, called Aradiokaos. Very little has been heard thus far, but when the news broke on Metal StormMetal Storm (webzine)
Metal Storm is a webzine specializing in various forms of heavy metal music. It is based in Tallinn, Estonia but caters to an international audience, symbolically recognized by the acquisition of an EU domain in 2008...
, screenshots confirming the project were posted. It has been confirmed that all original members other than Jorn will be on the new album, however his successor has yet to be revealed.
Macaluso has stated several times on his personal Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
profile that Ark was working with the new album and a new line-up. But his last post concerning the subject has put an end on the band's history, with his confirmation of the cancellation of the production and the beginning of a new band.
The band officially disbanded in 2011.
Ark (1999)
- Burning Down - 5:26
- Where The Wind Blows - 5:06
- The Hunchback Of Notre Dame - 8:53
- Singers At The World's Dawn - 6:56
- Mother Love - 8:43
- Center Avenue - 5:54
- Can't Let Go - 9:44
Burn the Sun (2001)
- Heal The Waters - 6:37
- Torn - 3:51
- Burn The Sun - 4:34
- Resurrection - 5:31
- Absolute Zero - 6:05
- Just A Little - 4:36
- Waking Hour - 4:15
- Noose - 5:03
- Feed The Fire - 3:56
- I Bleed - 4:03
- Missing You - 9:04
- Silent is the Rain - 2:46 (Japanese bonus track)