Trick or Treat is an Italian

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

band formed in 2002 in Modena. The group's line-up has been mostly the same since its inception, except for the drummer position, which underwent changes in 2006 and 2011, and in 2014 guitarist and founding member Luca Cabri left the band and was replaced by Luca Venturelli. So far, they have released seven studio albums.

History

The band started in 2002 as a

Helloween Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg by members of bands Iron Fist, Gentry, Second Hell and Powerfool. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Wei ...

tribute band. After some years performing in clubs around Italy, they recorded a four-track demo (''Like Donald Duck'') and signed a deal with Valery Records, through which they have released their debut album in 2005, ''Evil Needs Candy Too''. A subsequent tour was started, with shows in Europe and USA. In the meanwhile, Mirko Virdis substituted Luca Tomei at the drums. In 2008 Trick or Treat recorded their second album, ''Tin Soldiers'', featuring former

singer

Michael Kiske Michael Kiske (born January 24, 1968) is a German singer and lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween. Kiske has released four solo albums, two albums with the hard rock band Unisonic, has participated on various metal and rock ...

and former Vision Divine vocalist

Michele Luppi Michele Luppi (born 7 April 1974) is an Italian musician, producer, and vocal coach. Career 1990s In 1994, Luppi joined his first band Mr. Pig. Michele debuted as frontman singer. Became a famous live act in Italy, performing songs from Mr. Big ...

. The album reached the 260th position in the Japanese charts. In 2010 Trick or Treat were chosen via internet pool as part of the "emergent section" of the ''Italian Gods of Metal'' festival.TrueMetal.it pool
/ref> Between December 2010 and January 2011, the band opened several of the dates of the European leg of ''The 7 Sinners World Tour 2010/2011'', with

and

Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released sixteen studio albums, five DVDs and six live albums. In its history, the band has gone through many chaotic lineup changes, and after fo ...

. On 26 November 2012, they released their third album, ''Rabbits' Hill, Pt 1'', with guest performances of

Andre Matos Andre Coelho Matos (14 September 1971 – 8 June 2019) was a Brazilian singer and musician. He was involved in the heavy metal bands Viper, Angra, Shaman and Symfonia. Since 2006, Matos had been dedicating his time to his solo career. In 20 ...

(

Viper The Viperidae (vipers) are a family of snakes found in most parts of the world, except for Antarctica, Australia, Hawaii, Madagascar, and various other isolated islands. They are venomous and have long (relative to non-vipers), hinged fangs tha ...

Avantasia Avantasia is a German supergroup metal opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy. It has been characterized as a rock opera, as it features the contributions of various vocalists and musicians and it consists of concep ...

, ex- Angra, ex-

Symfonia Symfonia was a short-lived symphonic power metal supergroup formed in 2010 by Andre Matos (vocals), Timo Tolkki (guitars), Jari Kainulainen (bass), Mikko Härkin (keyboards) and Uli Kusch (drums). On February 18 of 2011, the band made its debut ...

), Fabio Dessi ( Arthemis),

Damnagoras Davide "Damna" Moras (born 18 August 1981) is an Italian singer who is the lead vocalist of the Italian folk/power metal band Elvenking and rock n' roll band Hell in the Club. Biography His musical career goes back to 1996, when he started p ...

( Elvenking) and Maurizio (Folkstone). The album is a concept album inspired by Richard Adams' novel ''

Watership Down ''Watership Down'' is an adventure novel by English author Richard Adams, published by Rex Collings Ltd of London in 1972. Set in Berkshire in southern England, the story features a small group of rabbits. Although they live in their natura ...

''. In October 2014, guitarist and founding member Luca Cabri left the band for personal reasons; he was subsequently replaced by Luca Venturelli, from Mad Maze. In 2016, they released the second part of the story started in their third album: ''Rabbits' Hill, Pt 2'', with guest performances of Sara Squadrani ( Ancient Bards),

Tim "Ripper" Owens Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens (born September 13, 1967) is an American heavy metal singer who currently performs with KK's Priest, Spirits of Fire, the Three Tremors and A New Revenge. He first gained attention as the lead singer of Judas Priest ...

(ex- Judas Priest, ex-

Iced Earth Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band formed in Tampa, Florida and currently based in Columbus, Indiana. They were formed in 1984 under the name the Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer and original drummer ...

, ex-

Yngwie Malmsteen Yngwie Johan Malmsteen ( ; born Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck, 30 June 1963) is a Swedish guitarist. He first became known in the 1980s for his neoclassical playing style in heavy metal, and has released 22 studio albums in a career spanning ov ...

) and

Tony Kakko Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko (born 16 May 1975) is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative lead of the band Sonata Arctica since 1996. Biography Kakko was born in Kemi, Finland and ...

(

Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, Finland. Created as a hard rock band named Tricky Beans, they later changed to Tricky Means and finally to Sonata Arctica, when they shifted to power metal. The current lineup c ...

). On 7 March 2020 former drummer Mirko Virdis died at age 38 after crashing his car in

Formigine Formigine ( Modenese: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. As of 2007, Formigine had an estimated population of 31,643. History Formigine originates from the foundation of its castle in 1201 by the Comune of ...

. On 28 April of the same year, they released their fifth all-original studio album, ''The Legend of the XII Saints'', containing songs inspired by ''

Saint Seiya , also known as ''Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac'' or simply ''Knights of the Zodiac'' (translated from the French title ''Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque''), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Kurumada. It w ...

'' and based on each of the

Zodiac signs In Western astrology, astrological signs are the twelve 30-degree sectors that make up Earth's 360-degree orbit around the Sun. The signs enumerate from the first day of spring, known as the First Point of Aries, which is the vernal equinox. ...

. In January 2022, they announced their seventh studio album, ''Creepy Symphonies'', which should be released on 1 April. The first, self-titled single was released on 28 February.

Members

Current

* Alessandro Conti – vocals (2002–present) * Guido Benedetti – guitar (2002–present) * Luca Venturelli – guitar (2014–present) * Leone Villani Conti – bass (2002–present) * Luca Setti – drums (2011–present)

Former

* Nicola Tomei – drums (2002–2006) * Mirko Virdis – drums (2006–2011; died 2020) * Luca Cabri – guitar (2002–2014)

Timeline

Discography

Tribute

*2003 – ''Italian Helloween Tribute''

Demo

*2004 – ''Like Donald Duck''

Studio albums

*''Evil Needs Candy Too'' (2006) *''Tin Soldiers'' (2009) *''Rabbits' Hill, Pt. 1'' (2012) *''Rabbits' Hill, Pt. 2'' (2016) *''Re-Animated'' (2018) *''The Legend of the XII Saints'' (2020) *''Creepy Symphonies'' (2022)

Singles

*2009 – "Paper Dragon" *2010 – "Robin Hood (Italian anime theme)" *2010 – "David Gnomo" feat. Elvenking *2011 – "Heavy Metal Bunga Bunga" *2022 – "Creepy Symphony"

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Trick or Treat Italian power metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2002 2002 establishments in Italy