Vision Divine
Encyclopedia
Vision Divine is a progressive
power metal
band formed in Italy
in 1998.
(born Carlo Andrea Magnani). Soon, Fabio Lione
rejoined him after the first Labyrinth
period ("No Limits"), and then what was supposed to be a solo project quickly turns into a band, taking its new name from Labyrinth's previous name ("Vision") and from the title that was supposed to be given to Olaf's first solo album ("Divine"). Completing the line up Mat Stancioiu (drums), Andrew McPauls (keyboards) and Andrea "Tower" Torricini (bass).
In its first three years the band released two albums, and started touring (South American Tour in December 2000), where for the first time an Italian heavy metal
band got the chance to play (and sold-out) in countries like Argentina
, Chile
, Brazil
, Panama
and Mexico
.
In 2001, the band started writing and recording the new album, titled "Send Me An Angel", that was released in January 2002. At the end of the same year, Olaf decided to leave Labyrinth, to focus just on Vision and also deciding to stop any rumours from some magazine, pretending to consider Vision as nothing but a "side project". For the same reason Andrew and Mat split from the band and were replaced by Oleg Smirnoff at keyboards (ex Eldritch
) and Matteo Amoroso at drums (ex Athena
). In 2003 the band started the songwriting for the third album, when Fabio started having some problem regarding the co-existence of his career and Vision Divine related duties. After a few months, they mutually agreed to split. They then proceeded to add new singer Michele Luppi, a vocalist with a previous experience in live performances. With this new line-up they completed the final songs for the album that was to be titled "Stream of Consciousness
". The album was released in April 2004.
With a brand new line-up and with renewed ambitions the band canceled any previous deal, deciding to join Scarlet Records
for the Italian territory, King Records for the Japan
ese territory and Metal Blade for the rest of the world. In 2005, the band released their latest album titled "The Perfect Machine
", which was recorded at Goldenworks Mixing Suite studio and produced by Stratovarius
' leader Timo Tolkki
.
In 2006, Andrea "Tower" Torricini left the band for not being able to guarantee full-time dedication to the band, and Cristiano Bertocchi replaced him. By September, "The Perfect Machine", according to their website "was immediately described as one of the best Italian metal releases ever, becoming one of Scarlet's all time best-sellers". A new digipack was released containing four bonus tracks. Also, Riccardo "Ricky" Quaggliatto left the band due to personal problems, replaced by new drummer Alessandro Bissa.
In 2007 Vision Divine recorded their album, "The 25th Hour", along with Timo Tolkki
and Alessandro Bissa in New Sin Studios. It was released on June 29, 2007.
In April 2008 Vision Divine announced Michele Luppi is no longer singing with Vision Divine, and in May 2008 Olaf Thörsen
announced that Fabio Lione rejoined the band as a full time vocalist.
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 formed in 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...
in 1998.
History
Originally a solo project from Olaf ThörsenOlaf Thörsen
Olaf Thörsen is an Italian guitarist and founding member of a progressive power metal band Vision Divine. He is also known as a founding member, guitarist, and lyricist of Labyrinth until his departure in 2002.-Biography:...
(born Carlo Andrea Magnani). Soon, Fabio Lione
Fabio Lione
Fabio Tordiglione is an Italian singer who has sung with many music bands including Rhapsody of Fire, Labyrinth, Ayreon, Vision Divine and Athena, and as a touring lead singer with American band Kamelot...
rejoined him after the first 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:...
period ("No Limits"), and then what was supposed to be a solo project quickly turns into a band, taking its new name from Labyrinth's previous name ("Vision") and from the title that was supposed to be given to Olaf's first solo album ("Divine"). Completing the line up Mat Stancioiu (drums), Andrew McPauls (keyboards) and Andrea "Tower" Torricini (bass).
In its first three years the band released two albums, and started touring (South American Tour in December 2000), where for the first time an 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 got the chance to play (and sold-out) in countries like Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
In 2001, the band started writing and recording the new album, titled "Send Me An Angel", that was released in January 2002. At the end of the same year, Olaf decided to leave Labyrinth, to focus just on Vision and also deciding to stop any rumours from some magazine, pretending to consider Vision as nothing but a "side project". For the same reason Andrew and Mat split from the band and were replaced by Oleg Smirnoff at keyboards (ex Eldritch
Eldritch
Eldritch may refer to:* Andrew Eldritch , frontman, singer, songwriter and the only remaining original member of The Sisters of Mercy* Eldritch , an Italian heavy metal band* Eldritch Wizardry, a Dungeons & Dragons supplement...
) and Matteo Amoroso at drums (ex Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
). In 2003 the band started the songwriting for the third album, when Fabio started having some problem regarding the co-existence of his career and Vision Divine related duties. After a few months, they mutually agreed to split. They then proceeded to add new singer Michele Luppi, a vocalist with a previous experience in live performances. With this new line-up they completed the final songs for the album that was to be titled "Stream of Consciousness
Stream of Consciousness (album)
Stream of Consciousness is a concept album by the Italian progressive power metal band Vision Divine. The album was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records.-Track listing:# Chapter I: Stream of Unconsciousness...
". The album was released in April 2004.
With a brand new line-up and with renewed ambitions the band canceled any previous deal, deciding to join Scarlet Records
Scarlet Records
Scarlet Records is an Italian independent record label based in Milan. It is most notable for featuring two side projects from Soilwork front-man Björn "Speed" Strid, as well as band like Agent Steel, Royal Hunt, Skyclad, Eldritch, Hatesphere, Primevil, Labyrinth, Dark Moor and more. Born in 1998,...
for the Italian territory, King Records for the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese territory and Metal Blade for the rest of the world. In 2005, the band released their latest album titled "The Perfect Machine
The Perfect Machine
The Perfect Machine is a 2005 album by Vision Divine. It is a concept album dealing with a scientist who is able to put an end to death and disease for all mankind, and thus make the human race immortal...
", which was recorded at Goldenworks Mixing Suite studio and produced by Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
' leader Timo Tolkki
Timo Tolkki
Timo Tapio Tolkki is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, songwriter, and producer of the power metal band Stratovarius. He left Stratovarius in 2008 and formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance. To this day, with his tenure extending for more than twenty years, Tolkki was the...
.
In 2006, Andrea "Tower" Torricini left the band for not being able to guarantee full-time dedication to the band, and Cristiano Bertocchi replaced him. By September, "The Perfect Machine", according to their website "was immediately described as one of the best Italian metal releases ever, becoming one of Scarlet's all time best-sellers". A new digipack was released containing four bonus tracks. Also, Riccardo "Ricky" Quaggliatto left the band due to personal problems, replaced by new drummer Alessandro Bissa.
In 2007 Vision Divine recorded their album, "The 25th Hour", along with Timo Tolkki
Timo Tolkki
Timo Tapio Tolkki is a Finnish musician best known as the former guitarist, songwriter, and producer of the power metal band Stratovarius. He left Stratovarius in 2008 and formed a new band, Revolution Renaissance. To this day, with his tenure extending for more than twenty years, Tolkki was the...
and Alessandro Bissa in New Sin Studios. It was released on June 29, 2007.
In April 2008 Vision Divine announced Michele Luppi is no longer singing with Vision Divine, and in May 2008 Olaf Thörsen
Olaf Thörsen
Olaf Thörsen is an Italian guitarist and founding member of a progressive power metal band Vision Divine. He is also known as a founding member, guitarist, and lyricist of Labyrinth until his departure in 2002.-Biography:...
announced that Fabio Lione rejoined the band as a full time vocalist.
Albums
- 1999 - Vision Divine
- 2002 - Send me an Angel
- 2004 - Stream of ConsciousnessStream of Consciousness (album)Stream of Consciousness is a concept album by the Italian progressive power metal band Vision Divine. The album was released in 2004 on Metal Blade Records.-Track listing:# Chapter I: Stream of Unconsciousness...
- 2005 - The Perfect MachineThe Perfect MachineThe Perfect Machine is a 2005 album by Vision Divine. It is a concept album dealing with a scientist who is able to put an end to death and disease for all mankind, and thus make the human race immortal...
- 2007 - The 25th HourThe 25th Hour (album)The 25th Hour is a studio album released by Italian band Vision Divine. The album is a conceptual work based on their past album Stream of Consciousness.- Track listing :# My Angel Died# The 25th Hour# Out of a Distant Night # Alpha & Omega...
- 2009 - 9 Degrees West Of The Moon
Current members
- Fabio LioneFabio LioneFabio Tordiglione is an Italian singer who has sung with many music bands including Rhapsody of Fire, Labyrinth, Ayreon, Vision Divine and Athena, and as a touring lead singer with American band Kamelot...
- Vocals - Olaf ThörsenOlaf ThörsenOlaf Thörsen is an Italian guitarist and founding member of a progressive power metal band Vision Divine. He is also known as a founding member, guitarist, and lyricist of Labyrinth until his departure in 2002.-Biography:...
- Guitar - Cristiano Bertocchi - Bass
- Federico Puleri - Guitar
- Alessio "Tom" Lucatti - Keyboard
- Alessandro "Bix" Bissa - Drums
Former members
- Michele Luppi - Vocals
- Andrew Mc Pauls - Keyboard
- Oleg Smirnoff - Keyboard
- Andrea "Tower" Torricini - Bass
- Mat Stancioiu - Drums
- Ricky Quagliato - Drums
- Matteo Amoroso - Drums
- Danil Morini - Drums
External links
- Official Web site
- Vision Divine at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace 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....
- Official Japanese Web site