Mesmerize - Biography
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Biography
In 1988, Andrea Garavaglia (drums), Piero Paravidino (guitar), Folco Orlandini (vocals) and Paolo Chiodini (guitar) and Luca Valisi (bass guitar) join together to form The Mesmerizers. The latter leaves a few months later to be replaced in 1990 by Paolo Fiori. The name of the band is inspired by the animal magnetism theory introduced by doctor F. A. Mesmer in the late XVIII century.
After experiencing the first live gigs, in November 1991 they issue the first demo-tape RIP Mesmerized, which will be followed by the more serious Tregenda in September 1993: the six songs show a more defined style which reveals the band's love for classic heavy metal.
In December 1994, the new bass player Andrea Tito joins in. With him the band finds fresh enthusiasm and starts to collect ideas for new songs, always proudly written in a classic heavy metal style, yet keeping an open eye on the modern features brought forth by new metal bands. In the meantime they keep on playing around in north Italy, increasing the number of their live performances, one of the band's stronghold.
In 1995 the vocalist Folco collaborates with the Italian prog band Time Machine, singing on their album Act II: Galileo and so showing his non-common skills to a wider audience. He is also with them in two concerts, in the latter of which he sings along with Angra's vocalist Andre Matos. In 1997, Folco also appears in a couple of songs on the Italian metal band White Skull's album Embittered.
In spring 1997 the band shortens its name to Mesmerize and signs a contract for two albums with Underground Symphony. The recording sessions for the first one are held in November-December 1997. The debut-album Tales Of Wonder is ready to be released in February 1998, but various delays of the label postpone its release to summer.
Meanwhile, Folco collaborates with Eddy Antonini (from the Italian metal band Skylark) on his solo album, When Water Became Ice, singing on half of the tracks.
The full-lenght album Tales Of Wonder is finally released in July 1998 and gets excellent reviews on magazines and fanzines worldwide, often followed by an interview to the band. An extensive serie of successful live gigs in North Italy follows the release of the album.
In February 1999 Mesmerize are offered by the young Italian label Adrenaline Records to partecipate to Children Of The Damned, a tribute to Iron Maiden, one of the band which influenced Mesmerize the most. The double CD, featuring the cover of the classic "The Prisoner" plus a remastered original composition taken from Tales Of Wonder, is released in July 1999 and distributed worldwide by important partner companies.
In October 1999 Folco appears on the newly released concept album Divine Gates Part I: Gate Of Hell by Skylark, playing the Guardian Angel character, while in March 2000 he features as the lead vocalist for the prog metal project band Khali, made up mostly by former Time Machine members. Folco also appears in Skylark's Divine Gates Part II: Gate Of Heaven, released in Summer 2000.
The second Mesmerize CD is recorded in June-July 2000: it's a double-mini-CD called Vultures Paradise, including four new original tracks plus four cover songs, which ends the collaboration with Underground Symphony.
In the same year, Mesmerize record a bunch of cover songs for some tribute CDs (which are released mostly by American labels) to Manowar, Savatage, Black Sabbath and Queensrÿche. Tribute CDs to Metal Church and Warlord featuring Mesmerize are still unreleased.
In February 2001 a new record deal for three CDs is signed with Dragonheart Records, after they have heard a promo with four new tracks.
The recording sessions for the new full lenght album Off The Beaten Path take place in May-June 2001.
In the same year a new tribute CD featuring Mesmerize, this time to the French cult band Trust, is released by Axe Killer Records.
The first months of 2002 see the release of both the new Mesmerize CDs: the double EP Vultures Paradise is released on January 16th, while the official release date for the new full-lenght Off The Beaten Path is February 25th.
Both the new works get excellent reviews on a number of Italian and international magazines and webzines, paving the way of a promising future for Mesmerize.
The band is actually promoting the albums with a series of live gigs in Italy; in the meanwhile, they are already gathering ideas to compose the new songs which will appear on the fourth CD, that is planned to be recorded in 2003.
After experiencing the first live gigs, in November 1991 they issue the first demo-tape RIP Mesmerized, which will be followed by the more serious Tregenda in September 1993: the six songs show a more defined style which reveals the band's love for classic heavy metal.
In December 1994, the new bass player Andrea Tito joins in. With him the band finds fresh enthusiasm and starts to collect ideas for new songs, always proudly written in a classic heavy metal style, yet keeping an open eye on the modern features brought forth by new metal bands. In the meantime they keep on playing around in north Italy, increasing the number of their live performances, one of the band's stronghold.
In 1995 the vocalist Folco collaborates with the Italian prog band Time Machine, singing on their album Act II: Galileo and so showing his non-common skills to a wider audience. He is also with them in two concerts, in the latter of which he sings along with Angra's vocalist Andre Matos. In 1997, Folco also appears in a couple of songs on the Italian metal band White Skull's album Embittered.
In spring 1997 the band shortens its name to Mesmerize and signs a contract for two albums with Underground Symphony. The recording sessions for the first one are held in November-December 1997. The debut-album Tales Of Wonder is ready to be released in February 1998, but various delays of the label postpone its release to summer.
Meanwhile, Folco collaborates with Eddy Antonini (from the Italian metal band Skylark) on his solo album, When Water Became Ice, singing on half of the tracks.
The full-lenght album Tales Of Wonder is finally released in July 1998 and gets excellent reviews on magazines and fanzines worldwide, often followed by an interview to the band. An extensive serie of successful live gigs in North Italy follows the release of the album.
In February 1999 Mesmerize are offered by the young Italian label Adrenaline Records to partecipate to Children Of The Damned, a tribute to Iron Maiden, one of the band which influenced Mesmerize the most. The double CD, featuring the cover of the classic "The Prisoner" plus a remastered original composition taken from Tales Of Wonder, is released in July 1999 and distributed worldwide by important partner companies.
In October 1999 Folco appears on the newly released concept album Divine Gates Part I: Gate Of Hell by Skylark, playing the Guardian Angel character, while in March 2000 he features as the lead vocalist for the prog metal project band Khali, made up mostly by former Time Machine members. Folco also appears in Skylark's Divine Gates Part II: Gate Of Heaven, released in Summer 2000.
The second Mesmerize CD is recorded in June-July 2000: it's a double-mini-CD called Vultures Paradise, including four new original tracks plus four cover songs, which ends the collaboration with Underground Symphony.
In the same year, Mesmerize record a bunch of cover songs for some tribute CDs (which are released mostly by American labels) to Manowar, Savatage, Black Sabbath and Queensrÿche. Tribute CDs to Metal Church and Warlord featuring Mesmerize are still unreleased.
In February 2001 a new record deal for three CDs is signed with Dragonheart Records, after they have heard a promo with four new tracks.
The recording sessions for the new full lenght album Off The Beaten Path take place in May-June 2001.
In the same year a new tribute CD featuring Mesmerize, this time to the French cult band Trust, is released by Axe Killer Records.
The first months of 2002 see the release of both the new Mesmerize CDs: the double EP Vultures Paradise is released on January 16th, while the official release date for the new full-lenght Off The Beaten Path is February 25th.
Both the new works get excellent reviews on a number of Italian and international magazines and webzines, paving the way of a promising future for Mesmerize.
The band is actually promoting the albums with a series of live gigs in Italy; in the meanwhile, they are already gathering ideas to compose the new songs which will appear on the fourth CD, that is planned to be recorded in 2003.