Labyrinth

BIO:

Labyrinth is an Italian power metal band formed in 1991.

The initial line-up included Frank Andiver on drums, Andrea Bartoletti on bass, Andrea Cantarelli and Olaf Thorsen (stage name of Carlo Andrea Magnani) on guitars and Fabio Tordiglione (aka Fabio Lione) behind the microphone. Their first demo titled “Midnight Resistance” dates back to 1994. The band then produces the first EP “Piece of Time” and finally the first LP entitled “No Limits” a year later, released by Underground Symphony.

In 1997 Fabio Lione (who will leave the band to join Rhapsody) and Roberto Tiranti (from New Trolls) were alternating at the microphone. The group then released “Return To Heaven Denied” in 1998. The record earned them their first participation in the Gods of Metal, 1998 edition. Tiranti left the band momentarily and was replaced for a few months between 1998 and 1999 for the tour by Morby (Sabotage, Domine). The band participates in the main summer metal festivals: Gods of Metal, Dynamo Open Air, Wacken Open Air. Tiranti then returns to Labyrinth to release “Sons of Thunder”, a record that reaches number 26 in the Italian sales charts.

This is the last album with Olaf Thorsen: his parallel project Vision Divine becomes his main band starting in 2002. The band therefore loses the main “mastermind” and steers towards harsher sounds than the very melodic power / prog of the beginnings. The members of the band decide to abandon the pseudonyms used up to now in favour of their real names. Later, in 2003 they start the recordings of a new album, also seen like a new beginning, so they decide to simply call it “Labyrinth”. The guitars are replaced by Pier Gonella. This was followed in 2004 by a tour in Japan, the Banzai tour, and a show in London with Dream Evil, events that lead to the agreement with Arise Record label.

In the autumn, the recordings of the successor of “Labyrinth” begins, which comes out in March 2005 with the name of “Freeman” and on whose cover stands a disturbing mannequin tied with his hands behind his back, while in the photos the members of the group are locked in straitjackets; this look will also be used for the live scenography of the following tour. The package is further enriched in the extra version by a bonus DVD containing the concerts of Tōkyō and London, the promotional videos with making of “L.Y.A.F.H.” and “Freeman”. Following the headlining tour, they perform on 3 support dates for Dream Theater and Angra and subsequently participate in the Metal Way Festival in Bilbao.

In 2006 Cristiano Bertocchi leaves the band (to join Vision Divine), and instead of hiring another bass player the bass is entrusted to the same Tiranti and with this line-up they performed at the Evolution Festival. In 2007 they release the album “6 Days to Nowhere”. Subsequently Pier Gonella leaves the band to devote himself permanently to Necrodeath and his solo projects including Mastercastle. Olaf Thorsen rejoins the band for the release of “Return to Heaven Denied, Pt. 2 – A Midnight Autumn Dream”. In 2009 Sergio Pagnacco, the historic bassist of Vanexa, also joined the line-up.

In September 2014 Tiranti quits the band and gets replaced by Mark Boals, best known for his collaborations with the Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen.

In the spring of 2016 the band participates in the Frontiers Metal Festival recording new bluray live playing the full Return To Heaven Denied.

On this occasion the new line-up is presented: Roberto Tiranti is back on vocals, John Macaluso on drums, Nick Mazzuconi on bass, Oleg Smirnoff on keyboards, Andrea Cantarelli and Olaf Thorsen on guitar.

In 2017 a new album, “Architecture of a God”, was released accompanied by several live shows (tour in Japan – South America).

In 2019 drummer Matt Peruzzi joins the band to replace John Macaluso.

In 2021 the band releases a new album Welcome to the Absurd Circus.