Ulysses is a German progressive rock band from the early 1990s with an international line-up. They were part of a colourful scene of new bands, labels and magazines that emerged in Germany at that time. Musically, they were less influenced by the German "

Krautrock Krautrock (also called , German for ) is a broad genre of experimental rock that developed in Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It originated among artists who blended elements of psychedelic rock, avant-garde composition, and electron ...

" phenomenon but initially oriented strongly towards the second generation of British progressive rock bands (E.g.

Marillion Marillion are a British neo-prog band, formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock, becoming the mo ...

, IQ,

Pendragon Pendragon, or (, ''pen dragon''; composed of Welsh , 'head, chief, top' and / ''dragon'', 'dragon; warrior'; borrowed from the Greco-Latin word , plural , 'dragon , ; ) literally means 'chief dragon' or 'head dragon', but in a figurative sense ...

). Hegarty & Halliwell would have classified them as part of third wave of progressive rock bands, who can also be described as a second generation of neo-progressive bands. So one might not wonder that most reviewers heard similarities to

Galahad Galahad (), sometimes referred to as Galeas () or Galath (), among other versions of his name (originally ''Galaad'', ''Galaaz'', or ''Galaaus''), is a knight of King Arthur's Round Table and one of the three achievers of the Holy Grail in Ar ...

and

Änglagård Änglagård is a Swedish progressive rock band, with influences including King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, Trettioåriga Kriget, Schicke Führs Fröhling, and Van der Graaf Generator. The band was established in 1991 by Tord Lindman (gui ...

in their music which is characterised by a strong emphasis on melodies and the integration of folkloristic elements, abrupt changes of moods (mostly melancholic and sombre) and partly complex and ever changing arrangements often moving towards a climax.

History

Ulysses was established in 1990 in Wiesbaden by bassist Ender Kilic, guitarist Mirko Rudnik and keyboarder Thomas Diehl. Their name refers both to the ancient Greek hero Οδυσσέας and to James Joyce's best-known work Ulysses. Joined by Dane drummer Jasper Stannow and Australian singer Gerard P. Hynes, Ulysses recorded their first studio demos in December 1991. After Stannow left the band, Ulysses found their permanent drummer in Robert Zoom. With this line-up they recorded their debut album "Neronia" produced by renowned British musicians

Clive Nolan Clive Nolan (born 30 June 1961) is a British musician, composer and producer who has played a prominent role in the development of progressive rock. He has been the regular keyboard player in Pendragon (band), Pendragon (1986–present), Shadowla ...

(

Arena An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, Music, musical performances or Sport, sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for specta ...

, Shadowland) and

Karl Groom Karl Groom is a British guitarist and record producer. He is best known as a founding and the only constant member of the progressive metal band Threshold (band), Threshold. His production and mixing credits are mainly with progressive and power ...

(

Threshold Threshold may refer to: Science Biology * Threshold (reference value) * Absolute threshold * Absolute threshold of hearing * Action potential * Aerobic threshold * Anaerobic threshold * Dark adaptation threshold * Epidemic threshold * Flicke ...

) in 1993. Guest vocalist on two tracks was

Tracy Hitchings Tracy Hitchings (11 October 1962 – 10 December 2022) was an English musician and the former lead vocalist for the progressive rock band Landmarq. Her musical credits spanned from 1989 to 2022 with many notable sessions with various bands and ...

(

Quasar A quasar ( ) is an extremely Luminosity, luminous active galactic nucleus (AGN). It is sometimes known as a quasi-stellar object, abbreviated QSO. The emission from an AGN is powered by accretion onto a supermassive black hole with a mass rangi ...

, Strangers On A Train,

Landmarq Landmarq (pronounced like "landmark") are a British neo-prog band. Since forming in 1990, they have so far released a total of ten albums, four of which were recorded live at various concerts in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, plus two full con ...

). Ulysses' "Neronia" CD was released on Michael Schmitz's and Thomas Waber's renowned

Inside Out Music Inside Out Music is a German progressive rock record label originally based in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and dedicated to the publication of progressive rock, progressive metal and related styles. In 2009, it formed a partnership with Cen ...

label. A cassette edition was licensed to Metal Mind Production/

Massacre Records Massacre Records is an independent record label based in Abstatt, Germany, specializing in bands from the heavier genres of metal. The label was founded in 1991 by Torsten Hartmann. Associated with Massacre Records are the marketing and music ...

. With their new singer, Marc Jost, Ulysses promoted the Neronia album throughout Europe, playing shows and festivals in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands, and opening for

on their "The Window of Life" European tour in 1994. In 1995 Ulysses played in the final of Germany's oldest and best-known rock festival for young talent, the 1822-Rock Festival. Due to a looming naming rights dispute, Ulysses changed their band name to Neronia in 1995 and after many line-up changes released their second album "Nerotica" in 2004. At the end of 2011, the Ulysses album Neronia was voted into Germany's Prog Top 40 by the German rock magazine Eclipsed. In 2021, Ulysses reunited with most of the original line-up name
Ulysses Resurrection Project
A remastered and expanded 2CD set of the band's debut album was released in October 2023 on the Polish label GAD Records/chickadisc to mark the 30th anniversary of the first release.

Discography

Studio albums

* 1992: ''Ulysses'' (Ulysses/self release/Cassette-E
Ulysses (20) - Ulysses
* 1993: ''Neronia'' (Ulysses/Pyramusic CD-Albu
Ulysses – Neronia (1993, CD)
* 1994: ''Neronia'' (Ulysses/SPV/InsideOut CD-Albu
Neronia
* 1994: ''Neronia'' (Ulysses/Metal Mind Productions Records/Massacre Records Cassette-Albu
Ulysses – Neronia (Cassette)
* 2002: w/o title (Neronia/Nova Entertainment CD-EP) * 2003: ''Nerotica'' (Neronia/Nova Entertainment CD-Albu
Nerotica by Neronia
* 2023: ''Neronia'' 30th Anniversary Edition (Ulysses/GAD Records/chickadisc; 2CD-Set)

Compilations

* 1992: ''Music for a Better World'' (Bamot Island Film & Records) Ulysses - Teenage Sweethearts - Demo * 1992: ''The Secret World - Skelletons in the Cupboard II'' (Clive Nolan Cassette-Sampler, Fan Club release) Ulysses - Teenage Sweetheart
(Demo)
* 1995: ''1822-Rock Festival Finale 5. März 1995'' (Frankfurter Sparkasse) Ulysses - She-Cat (liv
1822-Rock-Festival Finale 5. März 1995 (1995, CD)
*2004: Empire Art Rock 71 (Empire Music) Neronia - Drenched In Tear
Empire Art Rock 71 (2004, CD)
*2004: Music From Time And Space Vol. 8 (Eclipsed) Neronia - One Momen
Music From Time And Space Vol. 8 (2004, CD)

Music videos

* 1994: ''Forever Lost''

Members

Original members

* Ender Kilic – bass (1990–present) * Mirko Rudnik – guitars (1990–present) * Thomas Diehl – keyboards (1990-1995) * Jasper Stannow – drums (1991-1992) * Gerard Hynes – vocals (1991-1993)

Current members

* Ender Kilic – bass, keyboards (1990–present) * Mirko Rudnik – guitars, keyboards, b-vox (1990–present) * Robert Zoom – drums, keyboards, b-vox (1992–present) * Gerard Hynes – vocals (1991-1993, 2021–present)

Former members

* Andreas Simon – drums (1990) *Peter Lerch – drums (1991) *Marc Jost – vocals, guitars (1994-1995) * Thomas Cordey – keyboards (1995)

External links

Ulysses Rersurrrection Project

References

{{Reflist German progressive rock groups Musical groups established in 1990 Metal Mind Productions artists Inside Out Music artists Massacre Records artists