Power Quest
Encyclopedia
Power Quest is a power metal
band based in the United Kingdom
.
, who had recently departed London
power metal band DragonHeart (later called DragonForce
). Steve Scott
(another former member of DragonHeart, and also ex-Shadowkeep
) was approached regarding bass duties. Steve was keen to work with his former colleague and accepted the offer. The original intention was for Power Quest to be entirely based in Southampton
, but other than guitarist Adam Bickers, no other interested musicians in the city could be found. For the second guitar slot they managed to secure the services of their former DragonHeart bandmate Sam Totman
, at least in a short-term capacity as his commitment lay with his own band.
The newly founded band recorded a two track demo which was uploaded onto MP3.com
in early 2001. Recording was supported by ZP Theart on vocals and Sam Totman
along with Adam Bickers on guitar and Steve Scott on bass.
In April 2002 vocalist Alessio Garavello was recruited to the Power Quest ranks. He was recommended to the band by Maurizio Chiarello, label manager at Underground Symphony Records. Alessio flew over for a photo session with the band in May 2002 and returned in June to lay down vocal tracks for the new album. He was accompanied by the guitarist of his band, Arthemis, Andrea Martongelli, who recorded a few guest solos on the album - now named Wings of Forever
. Following the album's release, he was recruited as a full-time member to replace Bickers who left to pursue a career as a doctor.
). His place was filled on the tour by Last Hours of Torment drummer Gavin Ward, and eventually on a more permanent basis by Francesco Tresca, another Italian. Sam Totman also left after the release of Neverworld because of increased activity in DragonForce
.
and Labyrinth
in London, and then later in the month the band headed back to Thin Ice studios to record three new songs for the "Magic Never Dies
" album. In November and December 2005, Power Quest toured on their 'Magic Never Dies
tour', playing various dates in the UK, notably The Marquis in London on November 25. The band followed this with a Magic Never Dies
Tour part II. In August, 2006 Power Quest announced that current Alessio Garavello would be taking up a second role as rhythm guitarist - the band had been without a second guitar player since Adam Bickers departed in 2003. In October 2007 an official Napalm Records
MySpace
blog post announced that Power Quest have signed to Napalm Records.
Steve Williams
had announced on the Official Power Quest forums that there would be five guest appearances on the forthcoming album, Master of Illusion
. The first of these was announced as guitarist Bill Hudson
from North American
power metal
band Cellador
, who will be providing guest instrumentation on the track "The Vigil". The second of these was announced as keyboardist Richard West
from British
progressive metal
band Threshold
, who will be providing a keyboard solo on the track "Human Machine". The third was revealed as Jorn Viggo Lofstad, from Norwegian
progpower metal band Pagan's Mind
who shared the stage with Power Quest in their 2006 tour. Fourth was announced as Chris Neighbour from UK thrash metal
band FourwayKill. The final guest was announced on the newly redesigned Power Quest website as Bob Katsionis
from Greek
power metal
band Firewind
who would provide guest instrumentation on "Save the World".
and current Coldera guitarist Bill Hudson
had joined as joint lead guitarist alongside Andrea Martongelli. Bill had previously contributed to the Master of Illusion
album on the track "The Vigil". In January 2009, bassist and founding member Steve Scott
decided to quit the band to remain more permanently in New Zealand
. The band found a replacement bassist in Oliver Holzwarth
from prominent power metal band Blind Guardian
. In April 2009, Steve Williams announced the departure of joint lead guitarist Bill Hudson
citing Bill's current location and costs as practical problems for the band. In July 2009, lead singer Alessio Garavello left the band after 7 years and 4 studio albums to pursue a different musical direction with newly formed alternative rock
band A New Tomorrow.
Following the previous departure of founding members, it was announced on September 21, 2009 that long standing members Andrea Martongelli and Francesco Tresca were also leaving Power Quest. Replacement bassist Oliver Holzwarth also left due to constraints with his tour with Tarja Turunen
. Steve Williams remained the only original member of the band until the announcement of a new lineup in late September 2009. The last gig with the long-standing lineup was at MetalFest in Dudley
on Saturday 26th, with Jon Hoare of Mercury Rain standing in for bass with Steve Scott unable to attend.
On September 28, 2009, the line up was revealed as Pete Morten on vocals - vocalist with My Soliloquy and touring guitarist for Threshold
and vocalist of Metalloid and Nightmare World, Andy Midgley - guitarist for female-fronted prog/symphonic metal band Liquid Sky
, Ben Randall - winner of the 2008 'Most Promising Young Guitarist Award' at the international Guitar Idol
competition, Paul Finnie - ex-stage manager for Power Quest and former bassist of post-punk band The Wake and Rich Smith - touring drummer with Vader
, Dark Funeral
, Old Man's Child
, Green Carnation
and The Blood Divine
also ex member of Thunder Force and electro-rock/industrial band Aphemia. The band ended 2009 touring the UK with the Michael Schenker Group.
Following a few gigs with the new line-up it was then announced on March 15, 2010 the sudden departure of front man Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to musical differences.
with demo recording for the record label to begin in March/April 2010 and with recording and production for the album in October 2010 at Foel Studios, Wales. In May 2010, it was announced that the new vocalist and guitarist are Chitral "Chity" Somapala and Gavin Owen. The album will be the first album to include the new lineup with Chitral "Chity" Somapala, Gavin Owen, Andy Midgley, Paul Finnie and Rich Smith. It has been announced in a press release in August 2010 that nine tracks will appear on the album with one Japanese bonus track. The tracklisting was confirmed on December 18, 2010. In November 2010, mixing for the album scheduled to occur at a studio in Vicenza
, Italy
was disrupted by floods to the area which damaged the studio, delaying production. On January 10, 2011 release dates were announced with the album available worldwide by April 5, 2011; earlier for some areas.
In March 2011 Power Quest joined American progressive metal
Symphony X
on the UK leg of their European tour and played at the Hammerfest III
festival before embarking on a small UK tour in May. This was followed by the 'Blood Alliance
European Tour' throughout June with support from Polish
symphonic power metal band Pathfinder and Sapiency. In July, Power Quest provided the main support act for American power metal
pioneers Crimson Glory
for an exclusive UK show in London
. The band also attended the Bloodstock Open Air
festival in August 2011. Currently, a second UK tour is scheduled for November 2011.
In October 2011, after 17 months and an album release (Blood Alliance
) with Power Quest, vocalist Chitral Somapala left the band on amicable terms. In November, the new vocalist was announced as Colin Callanan of Irish power metal band Karuna.
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 based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
The Power Quest Demo and Wings of Forever (2001-2002)
Power Quest was conceived in March 2001 by keyboardist Steve WilliamsSteve Williams (musician)
Steve Williams is the keyboardist for British power metal band Power Quest and former member of DragonForce.Williams formed Power Quest in 2001 after leaving DragonForce and has been their main songwriter and face of the band since then...
, who had recently departed London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
power metal band DragonHeart (later called DragonForce
DragonForce
DragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
). Steve Scott
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
(another former member of DragonHeart, and also ex-Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
) was approached regarding bass duties. Steve was keen to work with his former colleague and accepted the offer. The original intention was for Power Quest to be entirely based in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, but other than guitarist Adam Bickers, no other interested musicians in the city could be found. For the second guitar slot they managed to secure the services of their former DragonHeart bandmate Sam Totman
Sam Totman
Ian Samuel "Sam" Totman is a guitarist and main songwriter for the power metal band DragonForce. Totman was born in England, but moved to New Zealand at an early age...
, at least in a short-term capacity as his commitment lay with his own band.
The newly founded band recorded a two track demo which was uploaded onto MP3.com
MP3.com
MP3.com is a web site operated by CNET Networks providing information about digital music and artists, songs, services, community, and technologies. It is probably better known for its original incarnation, as a legal, free music-sharing service, popular with independent musicians for promoting...
in early 2001. Recording was supported by ZP Theart on vocals and Sam Totman
Sam Totman
Ian Samuel "Sam" Totman is a guitarist and main songwriter for the power metal band DragonForce. Totman was born in England, but moved to New Zealand at an early age...
along with Adam Bickers on guitar and Steve Scott on bass.
In April 2002 vocalist Alessio Garavello was recruited to the Power Quest ranks. He was recommended to the band by Maurizio Chiarello, label manager at Underground Symphony Records. Alessio flew over for a photo session with the band in May 2002 and returned in June to lay down vocal tracks for the new album. He was accompanied by the guitarist of his band, Arthemis, Andrea Martongelli, who recorded a few guest solos on the album - now named Wings of Forever
Wings of Forever
Wings of Forever is Power Quest's debut album, released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Prelude to Destiny " – 1:45#"Wings of Forever" – 5:33#"Far Away" – 4:50#"Glory Tonight" – 6:08#"Power Quest " – 7:39#"Beyond the Stars" – 4:45...
. Following the album's release, he was recruited as a full-time member to replace Bickers who left to pursue a career as a doctor.
Neverworld (2003)
In January 2003, drummer Andre Bargmann was recruited into the Power Quest ranks. Bargmann left the band in July that year, following the release of the second album (NeverworldNeverworld
Neverworld is Power Quest's second studio album, released in 2003 in Japan and 2004 in Europe.-Track listing:# "Neverworld " – 8:59# "Temple of Fire" – 4:08# "Edge of Time" – 5:51# "Sacred Land" – 5:27# "When I'm Gone" – 6:26...
). His place was filled on the tour by Last Hours of Torment drummer Gavin Ward, and eventually on a more permanent basis by Francesco Tresca, another Italian. Sam Totman also left after the release of Neverworld because of increased activity in DragonForce
DragonForce
DragonForce are an English power metal band from London. Formed in 1999, the group is known for its long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-based lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. Guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman are the only two...
.
Magic Never Dies (2004-2007)
In November 2004 the band played a show with Dream EvilDream Evil
Dream Evil is a heavy metal band from Sweden, assembled and integrated by renowned musical producer Fredrik Nordström in 1999.-Biography:Producer Fredrik Nordström had the ambition of creating a power metal band of his own for a long time, but had difficulty finding anyone with musical ideals...
and 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:...
in London, and then later in the month the band headed back to Thin Ice studios to record three new songs for the "Magic Never Dies
Magic Never Dies
Magic Never Dies is Power Quest's third studio album, released in 2005.-Track listing:# "Ascension" 2:04# "Find My Heaven" 4:12# "Galaxies Unknown" 5:02...
" album. In November and December 2005, Power Quest toured on their 'Magic Never Dies
Magic Never Dies
Magic Never Dies is Power Quest's third studio album, released in 2005.-Track listing:# "Ascension" 2:04# "Find My Heaven" 4:12# "Galaxies Unknown" 5:02...
tour', playing various dates in the UK, notably The Marquis in London on November 25. The band followed this with a Magic Never Dies
Magic Never Dies
Magic Never Dies is Power Quest's third studio album, released in 2005.-Track listing:# "Ascension" 2:04# "Find My Heaven" 4:12# "Galaxies Unknown" 5:02...
Tour part II. In August, 2006 Power Quest announced that current Alessio Garavello would be taking up a second role as rhythm guitarist - the band had been without a second guitar player since Adam Bickers departed in 2003. In October 2007 an official Napalm Records
Napalm Records
Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg....
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....
blog post announced that Power Quest have signed to Napalm Records.
Master of Illusion (2007-2008)
In December 2007 band keyboardistKeyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Steve Williams
Steve Williams (musician)
Steve Williams is the keyboardist for British power metal band Power Quest and former member of DragonForce.Williams formed Power Quest in 2001 after leaving DragonForce and has been their main songwriter and face of the band since then...
had announced on the Official Power Quest forums that there would be five guest appearances on the forthcoming album, Master of Illusion
Master of Illusion (album)
Master of Illusion is the 4th studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, which was recorded in November/December 2007 and has been released worldwide on 13 May 2008....
. The first of these was announced as guitarist Bill Hudson
Bill Hudson (guitarist)
Bill Hudson, born on January 13, 1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a heavy metal guitarist. He moved to the United States during the year of 2005 in order to join the Nebraskan power metal band Cellador, playing on their debut album Enter Deception and remaining in their line-up until early 2008...
from North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
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 Cellador
Cellador
Cellador is a power metal band from Omaha, Nebraska, formed by guitarist Chris Petersen in 2004. After a rotation of a few member try-outs in the band's earliest days, Cellador's album line-up was cemented in 2004. The band eventually signed to Metal Blade after playing a show with The Black Dahlia...
, who will be providing guest instrumentation on the track "The Vigil". The second of these was announced as keyboardist Richard West
Richard West (keyboardist)
Richard West is an English musician and producer, most widely known as the keyboard player and a songwriter for progressive metal band Threshold...
from British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 Threshold
Threshold (band)
Threshold is a progressive metal band, formed in Surrey, UK in the late 1980s.-History:Threshold began their career in 1988, initially playing covers of metal groups like Ratt and Testament. As they continued playing together, they began to write their own songs, and eventually stopped playing...
, who will be providing a keyboard solo on the track "Human Machine". The third was revealed as Jorn Viggo Lofstad, from Norwegian
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...
progpower metal band Pagan's Mind
Pagan's Mind
-Biography:Founded in 2000 from the band Silverspoon by Nils K. Rue, Thorstein Aaby, and Stian Kristoffersen. Pagan's Mind released their first album, Infinity Divine, that same year. The following album, Celestial Entrance, was released in 2002 and was a relatively big success even outside of...
who shared the stage with Power Quest in their 2006 tour. Fourth was announced as Chris Neighbour from UK 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 FourwayKill. The final guest was announced on the newly redesigned Power Quest website as Bob Katsionis
Bob Katsionis
Babis "Bob" Katsionis , born on February 17, 1977 in Athens, Greece, is the rhythm guitarist and keyboard player for the heavy metal/power metal bands Firewind, Revolution Renaissance and Outloud.-Appearances:...
from Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
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 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...
who would provide guest instrumentation on "Save the World".
Lineup Changes (2008-2010)
In June 2008 in a press release the band announced that former CelladorCellador
Cellador is a power metal band from Omaha, Nebraska, formed by guitarist Chris Petersen in 2004. After a rotation of a few member try-outs in the band's earliest days, Cellador's album line-up was cemented in 2004. The band eventually signed to Metal Blade after playing a show with The Black Dahlia...
and current Coldera guitarist Bill Hudson
Bill Hudson (guitarist)
Bill Hudson, born on January 13, 1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a heavy metal guitarist. He moved to the United States during the year of 2005 in order to join the Nebraskan power metal band Cellador, playing on their debut album Enter Deception and remaining in their line-up until early 2008...
had joined as joint lead guitarist alongside Andrea Martongelli. Bill had previously contributed to the Master of Illusion
Master of Illusion (album)
Master of Illusion is the 4th studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, which was recorded in November/December 2007 and has been released worldwide on 13 May 2008....
album on the track "The Vigil". In January 2009, bassist and founding member Steve Scott
Shadowkeep
Shadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
decided to quit the band to remain more permanently in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The band found a replacement bassist in Oliver Holzwarth
Oliver Holzwarth
Oliver Holzwarth is a German bass guitarist. He was born in Munich, Germany. He plays bass in Rhapsody of Fire along with his brother, drummer Alex Holzwarth. Oliver has been the live/studio bass player for Blind Guardian since 1998...
from prominent power metal band Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres...
. In April 2009, Steve Williams announced the departure of joint lead guitarist Bill Hudson
Bill Hudson (guitarist)
Bill Hudson, born on January 13, 1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a heavy metal guitarist. He moved to the United States during the year of 2005 in order to join the Nebraskan power metal band Cellador, playing on their debut album Enter Deception and remaining in their line-up until early 2008...
citing Bill's current location and costs as practical problems for the band. In July 2009, lead singer Alessio Garavello left the band after 7 years and 4 studio albums to pursue a different musical direction with newly formed alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band A New Tomorrow.
Following the previous departure of founding members, it was announced on September 21, 2009 that long standing members Andrea Martongelli and Francesco Tresca were also leaving Power Quest. Replacement bassist Oliver Holzwarth also left due to constraints with his tour with Tarja Turunen
Tarja Turunen
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
. Steve Williams remained the only original member of the band until the announcement of a new lineup in late September 2009. The last gig with the long-standing lineup was at MetalFest in Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
on Saturday 26th, with Jon Hoare of Mercury Rain standing in for bass with Steve Scott unable to attend.
On September 28, 2009, the line up was revealed as Pete Morten on vocals - vocalist with My Soliloquy and touring guitarist for Threshold
Threshold (band)
Threshold is a progressive metal band, formed in Surrey, UK in the late 1980s.-History:Threshold began their career in 1988, initially playing covers of metal groups like Ratt and Testament. As they continued playing together, they began to write their own songs, and eventually stopped playing...
and vocalist of Metalloid and Nightmare World, Andy Midgley - guitarist for female-fronted prog/symphonic metal band Liquid Sky
Liquid Sky (band)
Liquid Sky are an English progressive metal band from Manchester, UK. Their music combines progressive and symphonic elements, drawing influences from a wide variety of bands like Lacuna Coil, Paradise Lost, Dream Theater and Soilwork.-History:...
, Ben Randall - winner of the 2008 'Most Promising Young Guitarist Award' at the international Guitar Idol
Guitar Idol
Guitar idol is an international online talent competition for unknown guitarists. The guitarists compete through 3 online heats and one online knock-out round, for a chance to fill 12 places to play at the London International Music Show....
competition, Paul Finnie - ex-stage manager for Power Quest and former bassist of post-punk band The Wake and Rich Smith - touring drummer with Vader
Vader (band)
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...
, Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral
Dark Funeral is a black metal band from Stockholm, Sweden, founded by guitarists Blackmoon and Lord Ahriman in 1993. They are one of the bands to have emerged in Sweden during the Second wave of black metal....
, Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child
Old Man's Child is a black metal band from Norway. The band is the brainchild of Galder who is the only permanent member of the band now.-Formation:...
, Green Carnation
Green Carnation
Green Carnation is a band from Kristiansand, Norway formed in 1990 that has created songs from both the progressive rock and progressive metal genres. Some also describe their music as art rock...
and The Blood Divine
The Blood Divine
The Blood Divine was a British goth metal band, founded in the summer of 1995 by Paul Allender, brothers Paul and Benjamin Ryan, after the three left Cradle of Filth during the recording of the V Empire EP and ousted Anathema singer Darren White. They recruited drummer William A...
also ex member of Thunder Force and electro-rock/industrial band Aphemia. The band ended 2009 touring the UK with the Michael Schenker Group.
Following a few gigs with the new line-up it was then announced on March 15, 2010 the sudden departure of front man Pete Morten and guitarist Ben Randall due to musical differences.
Blood Alliance (2010-present)
Previously, in February 2009 it was announced that writing had begun on Power Quest's 5th studio albumBlood Alliance
Blood Alliance is the fifth studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, with recording between September/October 2010 at Foel Studios, Wales with producer Chris Fielding and released worldwide by April 2011....
with demo recording for the record label to begin in March/April 2010 and with recording and production for the album in October 2010 at Foel Studios, Wales. In May 2010, it was announced that the new vocalist and guitarist are Chitral "Chity" Somapala and Gavin Owen. The album will be the first album to include the new lineup with Chitral "Chity" Somapala, Gavin Owen, Andy Midgley, Paul Finnie and Rich Smith. It has been announced in a press release in August 2010 that nine tracks will appear on the album with one Japanese bonus track. The tracklisting was confirmed on December 18, 2010. In November 2010, mixing for the album scheduled to occur at a studio in Vicenza
Vicenza
Vicenza , a city in north-eastern Italy, is the capital of the eponymous province in the Veneto region, at the northern base of the Monte Berico, straddling the Bacchiglione...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
was disrupted by floods to the area which damaged the studio, delaying production. On January 10, 2011 release dates were announced with the album available worldwide by April 5, 2011; earlier for some areas.
In March 2011 Power Quest joined American progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
Symphony X
Symphony X
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...
on the UK leg of their European tour and played at the Hammerfest III
Hammerfest (festival)
Hammerfest is an indoor music festival held annually at Pontin's Holiday Village, Prestatyn, Wales. The festival is owned by emc3i Ltd, sponsored by their music magazine Metal Hammer and run by the orgnisers of the Hard Rock Hell festival...
festival before embarking on a small UK tour in May. This was followed by the 'Blood Alliance
Blood Alliance
Blood Alliance is the fifth studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, with recording between September/October 2010 at Foel Studios, Wales with producer Chris Fielding and released worldwide by April 2011....
European Tour' throughout June with support from Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
symphonic power metal band Pathfinder and Sapiency. In July, Power Quest provided the main support act for American 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...
pioneers Crimson Glory
Crimson Glory
Crimson Glory is an American progressive metal band that formed in 1982. They broke up in 1992, but decided to reform six years later.-Formation and debut album :...
for an exclusive UK show in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. The band also attended the Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air
Bloodstock Open Air is a heavy metal festival held annually at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, England, since 2005. Previous line-ups have included bands such as Opeth , Children of Bodom , Nightwish , Cradle of Filth , Testament , Arch Enemy , Europe and Twisted Sister .Originally on one stage...
festival in August 2011. Currently, a second UK tour is scheduled for November 2011.
In October 2011, after 17 months and an album release (Blood Alliance
Blood Alliance
Blood Alliance is the fifth studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, with recording between September/October 2010 at Foel Studios, Wales with producer Chris Fielding and released worldwide by April 2011....
) with Power Quest, vocalist Chitral Somapala left the band on amicable terms. In November, the new vocalist was announced as Colin Callanan of Irish power metal band Karuna.
Band members
- Colin Callanan - Vocals
- Steve WilliamsSteve Williams (musician)Steve Williams is the keyboardist for British power metal band Power Quest and former member of DragonForce.Williams formed Power Quest in 2001 after leaving DragonForce and has been their main songwriter and face of the band since then...
- 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...
(2001-) - Andy Midgley - 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...
s - backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2009-) - Paul Finnie - Bass (2009-)
- Rich Smith - DrumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s (2009-) - Gavin Owen - Guitars (2010-)
Former members
- Adam Bickers - guitars (2001–2003)
- Sam TotmanSam TotmanIan Samuel "Sam" Totman is a guitarist and main songwriter for the power metal band DragonForce. Totman was born in England, but moved to New Zealand at an early age...
- guitars (2001–2003) - Andre Bargmann - drums (2003)
- Gavin Ward - drums (2003)
- Steve ScottShadowkeepShadowkeep is a British heavy metal band, formed in Guildford, England, in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson .-Early recordings, concerts and festival appearances:...
- bass (2001–2009) - Bill HudsonBill Hudson (guitarist)Bill Hudson, born on January 13, 1987 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a heavy metal guitarist. He moved to the United States during the year of 2005 in order to join the Nebraskan power metal band Cellador, playing on their debut album Enter Deception and remaining in their line-up until early 2008...
- guitars (2008–2009) - Alessio Garavello - 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...
(2001–2009, also rhythm guitar 2006-2008) - Andrea Martongelli - 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...
s - backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(2003–2009) - Oliver HolzwarthOliver HolzwarthOliver Holzwarth is a German bass guitarist. He was born in Munich, Germany. He plays bass in Rhapsody of Fire along with his brother, drummer Alex Holzwarth. Oliver has been the live/studio bass player for Blind Guardian since 1998...
- bass guitar (2009) - Francesco Tresca - 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...
(2003–2009) - Pete Morten - VocalSingingSinging 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...
s (2009–2010) - Ben Randall - 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...
s (2009–2010) - Chitral Somapala - Vocalist (2010–2011)
Discography
- Power Quest Demo (2001)
- Wings of ForeverWings of ForeverWings of Forever is Power Quest's debut album, released in 2002.-Track listing:#"Prelude to Destiny " – 1:45#"Wings of Forever" – 5:33#"Far Away" – 4:50#"Glory Tonight" – 6:08#"Power Quest " – 7:39#"Beyond the Stars" – 4:45...
(2002) - NeverworldNeverworldNeverworld is Power Quest's second studio album, released in 2003 in Japan and 2004 in Europe.-Track listing:# "Neverworld " – 8:59# "Temple of Fire" – 4:08# "Edge of Time" – 5:51# "Sacred Land" – 5:27# "When I'm Gone" – 6:26...
(2003 Japan release, 2004 European release) - Magic Never DiesMagic Never DiesMagic Never Dies is Power Quest's third studio album, released in 2005.-Track listing:# "Ascension" 2:04# "Find My Heaven" 4:12# "Galaxies Unknown" 5:02...
(2005) - Master of IllusionMaster of Illusion (album)Master of Illusion is the 4th studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, which was recorded in November/December 2007 and has been released worldwide on 13 May 2008....
(2008) - Blood AllianceBlood AllianceBlood Alliance is the fifth studio album of the power metal band Power Quest, with recording between September/October 2010 at Foel Studios, Wales with producer Chris Fielding and released worldwide by April 2011....
(2011)