Metalium is a

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in co ...

band from

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding. The band was reactivated in 2023 by founding members Henning Basse and Matthias Lange. Their style of music is that of the traditional power metal sound which was pioneered by bands such as

Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. The band has at times been called one of the most influential European heavy metal bands of the 1980s. Its first ...

and

Blind Guardian Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 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. Nine musicians have been part of the band ...

History

The band was formed by bassist Lars Ratz (ex-Viva, Zed Yago, Velvet Viper), vocalist Henning Basse (ex- Burgeon Street, Brainstorm) and newcomer guitarist Matthias Lange. The German musicians got acquainted with drummer

Mike Terrana Mike Terrana (born January 21, 1960) is an American hard rock and heavy metal drummer. Career His first professional work was in 1984, with the MCA band Hanover Fist from Toronto, Canada. Between 1987 and 1997, he was based in Los Angeles a ...

and

Savatage Savatage () is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band was first called Avatar, but, shortly before the release of their debut album '' Sirens'' (1983), they changed t ...

guitarist Chris Caffery through Ratz's own management company during a European tour of the two Americans. The five musicians worked together on a single

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

project with a science fiction/fantasy storyline and

speed metal Speed metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) roots.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' (Berg Publishers, 2007), , p. 31. It is desc ...

style, to be released before the new millennium. The story is about Michael, a

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

fan, who drinks a magic potion and becomes the invincible warrior Metalian. The debut Metalium album ''

Millennium Metal – Chapter One ''Millennium Metal – Chapter One'' is the debut album by the German power metal band Metalium. It was released in 1999 by the German label Massacre Records and distributed in the USA by Pavement Music. ''Millennium Metal'' is a concept album a ...

'' was released in 1999 and was a success in Germany, peaking at No. 75 in the German chart and receiving positive reviews. The success of the first album ensured the continuation of the band's career, as well as new adventures for the Metalian, the main character of Metalium's ongoing saga. Jack Frost and Mark Cross replaced Caffery and Terrana respectively for the second album ''

State of Triumph – Chapter Two ''State of Triumph – Chapter Two'' is the second album recorded by the German power metal band Metalium. It was released in 2000, following their first release, ''Millennium Metal - Chapter One'' and continues the story which began in the first ...

'', released in 2000. Both Frost and Cross had left the band by the end of 2001, leaving Lange as the only guitarist for studio recordings and introducing Michael Ehré on drums in time for Metalium's third album of 2002. Still in 2001, the band released a DVD/Video titled ''Metalian Attack'' which included a 7-track live-CD and a full Metalium concept comic book by artist Markus Mayer. In the following years the band went on tour in Europe, Russia and South America, granting its presence at many important festivals. Metalium released another six albums until 2009 and a second live DVD called ''Metalian Attack pt. 2'' in 2006. On 13 September 2010, the band announced on its website that it would dissolve in 2011. On 18 April 2021, Lars Ratz died in a plane crash in Vilafranca de Bonany, Spain. He was 53 years old. On August 31 2021, the surviving members of the band released a single in memory of founder Lars Ratz which also featured Grave Digger bassist Jens Becker and

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

Don Airey Donald Smith Airey (born 21 June 1948) is an English musician. He came to prominence as the keyboardist of the rock band Rainbow during 1979–1982. He has been the keyboardist of Deep Purple, the band from which Rainbow was a spinoff, since 2 ...

on keyboards. After speculation the band would be fully reactivated, Henning Basse announced that he, Matthias Lange, and new guitarist Bruno Nunes would return as Metalium in 2023. Shortly after that, the band announced that bassist Fabio Carito and drummer Marcus Dotta completed the line-up.

Members

Current line-up

* Henning Basse - vocals * Matthias Lange - guitar * Bruno Nunes - guitar * Fabio Carito - bass * Marcus Dotta - drums

Former members

* Chris Caffery - guitars *

- drums * Jack Frost - guitars * Mark Cross – drums * Lars Ratz - bass, keyboards (died 2021) * Michael Ehré - drums, keyboards * Tolo Grimalt - guitar *John Osborn – drums (live 2000 tour) * Saeko Kitamae – vocals (live 2004 tour, guest As One - Chapter Four) *Christian Stöver – guitars (live 2009–2010)

Timeline

Discography

* ''

'' (1999) * ''

'' (2000) * '' Hero Nation – Chapter Three'' (2002) * ''

As One – Chapter Four Metalium is a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding. The band was reactivated in 2023 by founding members Henning Basse and Matthias Lange. Their style of music is that of the tradi ...

'' (2004) * ''

Demons of Insanity – Chapter Five ''Demons of Insanity – Chapter Five'' is the fifth studio album by the German power metal band Metalium Metalium is a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany, Hamburg, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding. T ...

'' (2005) * ''

Nothing to Undo – Chapter Six ''Nothing to Undo – Chapter Six'' is the sixth studio album by the German power metal band Metalium, released in 2007. Track listing #"Spineless Scum" - 1:12 #"Spirits" - 3:45 #"Mindless" - 4:54 #"Straight into Hell" - 3:44 #"Mental Blindness" ...

'' (2007) * ''

Incubus – Chapter Seven Metalium is a power metal band from Hamburg, Germany, who released eight albums from 1999 to 2011 before disbanding. The band was reactivated in 2023 by founding members Henning Basse and Matthias Lange. Their style of music is that of the tradi ...

'' (2008) * '' Grounded – Chapter Eight'' (2009)

Videography

*''Metalian Attack'' (2001) *''Metalian Attack pt. 2'' (2006)

References

External links

Metalium Official SiteDrummer Michael Ehre Official Site
* {{Authority control 1998 establishments in Germany 2011 disestablishments in Germany German musical quintets German power metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1998 Musical groups disestablished in 2011 Musical groups from Hamburg