The Slovak metal band GALADRIEL was founded in July of 1995 by vocalist and bass player Dodo Datel, guitarist Voloda Zadrapa and drummer Dr. Victor Gieci. This trio built this band from the ruins of heavy metal band Trojan Warrior. The musical direction of these members moved more to doom metal, which was a very strong style in the middle of the 90s. The early beginnings were signed by looking for the right people to complete the line-up. And therefore there were often personal changes. In the beginning of summer 1996 enter the band female vocalist Sona Witch Kozakova. In this 4-member line-up GALADRIEL recorded their first promo CD in August 1996. The keyboards were recorded by friendly King (in that time the member of Lunatic Gods). In autumnal days enter the band the rhythm guitarist Chulo Malachovsky. With his help band wrote next three songs and recorded them in January 1997. In that time Unknown Territory (a new small british label) offer the contract for GALADRIEL. So, both recordings were completed and finaly released in September 1997 as a debut CD called "Empire Of Emptiness". But in the summer of 1997 the band overcame the personal exchange on the post of lead guitarist. Voloda Zadrapa left the band and his place took young guitar talent Tomax Gabris. GALADRIEL found their first keyboard player Erik Schmer. In this line-up band prepeared their new material and it was recorded in November of 1997. Two more songs were recorded in the spring of 1998 already without keyboardist Erik Schmer. New keyboard player was J.S.K. All these songs were released in the January 1999 as a second CD "The Mirror Of Ages" by the same label Unknown Territory. The break of years was signed by the next exchange in the band. Chulo Malachovsky left the band and his place was ready for new guitarist Gabriel Holenka. In 1999 GALADRIEL wrote and record all songs for their third CD "Oblivion" which was released in March 2000. It was the last record for the Unknown Territory. The band was not satisfied with their work, and in the summer of 2000 left this label. In spring of 2001 GALADRIEL recorded their cover version of Blind Guardian's "Bard's Song - The Hobbit" for the tribute compilation "Tales from the Underground" (already without Gabriel Holenka). The atmosphere in the band was not very good in that time, but the result of this song helps to put members together again. New songs were finalized very soon and few months later GALADRIEL recorded their fourth CD "From Ashes & Dust". We can said that this record was a turning point for the band. The sound and arrangements of this record were more better than before. With this record GALADRIEL soon signed the contact with Metal Age Productions (Slovak label) which released this album in 2002. In the end of 2002 enter the band new rhythm guitarist Matus Hanus. But in the beginning of 2003 the still old pesonal problems surfaced and the band was near the tragical extinction. Three old-years members left the band (Sona Witch Kozakova, J.S.K. and Dr. Victor). After this hurricane the band (Dodo Datel, Tomax Gabris and Matus Hanus) prepeared new songs and in autumnal days recorded their next album with many guest musicians. This CD called "World Under World" was released in March of 2004 by Metal Age Productions again. The line-up of the band was for next months completed with drummer Pyros (ex-Orkrist), guest keyboard player Andrej Kutis (Castaway) and few gigs played bassist Ian Porkert. In September of 2004, after 20 months of chaotic existence of GALADRIEL, came the hurricane back and the line-up was extremly changed again. Lead guitarist Tomax Gabris left the band together with bassist Ian Porkert. Drummer Pyros end his musical carreer. The sign of old times, the female vocalist Sona Witch Kozakova, returned to the band together with his brother J.S.K. (keys). GALADRIEL found new fantastic drummer Hoyas (thanks to Pyros). The band started play gigs again in 2005 and after long search of the adequate compensation after Tomax Gabris they found the right person for the post of lead guitarist. It was Skkipi Skuppin...
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taken from http://www.galadriel.sk