Artension
Encyclopedia
Artension was a North American
neo-classical
progressive metal
band, founded in 1993 by keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij
.
They soon founded their band "Atlantis Rising", which played several instrumental gigs in Switzerland. After having recorded some demos, they got in touch with Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records, who showed great interest in the band but suggested to add some vocal lines to their songs.
Vitalij had already known stunning drummer Mike Terrana from one of Yngwie Malmsteen's tours. His friend, bassist Kevin Chown, also joined the band and enriched their sound with solid experience and great musicianship, and Artension was born.
Mike Varney introduced Vitalij and Roger to several musicians, one of them being John West, whose soaring vocals, along with Vitalij's and Roger's lightning-fast solos, became the trademark for Artension's neo-classical and aggressive music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
neo-classical
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-...
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, founded in 1993 by keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij
Vitalij Kuprij
Vitalij Kuprij is a Ukrainian pianist, composer, music teacher, and keyboardist of the defunct neo-classical progressive metal band Artension. He resides in Reading, Pennsylvania when he is not touring.-Music career:...
.
History
It was sometime in '92/'93, when Vitalij Kuprij, who was studying classical music in Switzerland at that time, met Roger Staffelbach, a Swiss guitarist who was also studying at the Jazz School in Lucerne.They soon founded their band "Atlantis Rising", which played several instrumental gigs in Switzerland. After having recorded some demos, they got in touch with Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records, who showed great interest in the band but suggested to add some vocal lines to their songs.
Vitalij had already known stunning drummer Mike Terrana from one of Yngwie Malmsteen's tours. His friend, bassist Kevin Chown, also joined the band and enriched their sound with solid experience and great musicianship, and Artension was born.
Mike Varney introduced Vitalij and Roger to several musicians, one of them being John West, whose soaring vocals, along with Vitalij's and Roger's lightning-fast solos, became the trademark for Artension's neo-classical and aggressive music.
Current members
- John WestJohn West (singer)John West is an American musician.He was born in Syracuse, New York on October 29 and has sung for such bands as Artension, Royal Hunt, Badlands, Lynch Mob, Cozy Powell, Michael Lee Firkins, Yngwie Malmsteen, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, James Murphy, Marc Ferrari, Sun Red Sun, Many Moons, Rider and...
- Vocals (1996–2005) - Roger StaffelbachRoger StaffelbachRoger Staffelbach was born on February 19, 1972 in Sursee, Switzerland. At the age of 7 he started learning to play the trumpet, which he continued until he was 14. Having been a fan of rock from an early age, he then turned to guitar after hearing Yngwie Malmsteen's "Trilogy"...
- Guitar (1993–2005) - Vitalij KuprijVitalij KuprijVitalij Kuprij is a Ukrainian pianist, composer, music teacher, and keyboardist of the defunct neo-classical progressive metal band Artension. He resides in Reading, Pennsylvania when he is not touring.-Music career:...
- Keyboard (1993–2005) - Steve DiGiorgioSteve DiGiorgioSteve DiGiorgio is an American bassist and musician.DiGiorgio has played bass guitar in heavy metal bands such as Death, Autopsy, Control Denied, Testament, Vintersorg, Iced Earth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Obituary, and is a founding member of Sadus. He is widely renowned for...
- Bass (2004–2005) - Mike TerranaMike TerranaMike Terrana is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer. His first professional work was in 1984 with the MCA band Hanover Fist from Toronto, after which he recorded and toured with other bands, playing many styles of music in Western New York state...
- Drums (1996–1998, 2001–2005)
Former members
- Kevin Chown - Bass (1996–1998, 2001–2004)
- John Onder - Bass (1999–2000)
- Shane Gaalaas - Drums (1999–2000)
Discography
- Into the Eye of the Storm (1996)
- Phoenix RisingPhoenix Rising (Artension album)Phoenix Rising is the second album by progressive metal band Artension. It contains the second song in the "Don't Care" trilogy, "I Really Don't Care", with "I Don't Care" on the preceding album and "I Really, Really Don't Care" on their latest album....
(1997) - Forces of NatureForces of Nature (album)Forces of Nature is an album released by neo-classical progressive metal band Artension in 1999.-Track listing:All songs by Vitalij Kuprij and John West, except "Wild Trip" by Vitalij Kuprij.# "The Forces of Nature" – 6:29# "Ride Like the Wind" – 5:10...
(1999) - MachineMachine (Artension album)Machine is an album released by neo-classical progressive metal band Artension in 2000.-Track listing:All songs by Vitalij Kuprij and John West# "Machine" – 5:24# "The Way" – 5:54# "Madness Calling" – 5:00# "Mother Earth" – 5:16...
(2000) - Sacred PathwaysSacred PathwaysSacred Pathways is an album released by neo-classical progressive metal band Artension in 2001. The album has a definite Aztec or Mayan feel to it, as well as links with the Nazca civilization, with aspects such as the cover art and various tracks, for example "Silent Temple", "Sacred Pathways" and...
(2001) - New DiscoveryNew DiscoveryNew Discovery is an album released by neo-classical, progressive metal band Artension in 2002.-Track listing:All tracks by Vitalij Kuprij and John West except track 11 by Vitalij Kuprij# "New Discovery" – 6:16# "Remember My Name" – 4:31...
(2002) - Future World (2004)