Stormlord

Stormlord is a blackened epic metal (or epic black metal) band from Italy, created in 1991. The group uses keyboards and orchestrations to give their songs an epic, melodic atmosphere. This, combined with long and powerful guitar riffs, various vocal styles (harsh, opera and growled), extremely fast, and aggressive drums, gives their songs a feeling of both peace and power. Stormlord are: -Christiano Borchi (vocals since the beginning - 1991 - and bass '91 - '96) -Pierangelo Giglioni (guitar since '97) -Gianpaolo Caprino (guitar, keyboard, opera vocals) -Francesco Bucci (bass since '97) -David Folchitto (drums since '99) Opera vocals on the albums are performed by A.G. Volgar from Deviate Damaen. Occasionally, they had a female singer to add a "Gothic" feel to the music. The powerful screams and growling from Christiano Borchi are occasionally replaced by the opera-styled singing of Gianpaolo Caprino. This is quite uncommon for a metal band. Some might describe their sound as 'Iron Maiden meets Emperor'. The band has released following albums: -"Where My Spirit Forever Shall Be" 1998 MCD -"The Supreme Art of War" 1999 -"Ate the Gates of Utopia" 2001 -"The Gorgon Cult" 2004 -"Mare Nostrum" 2008 Quite a lot of Stormlord's songs are inspired by some books, wars or poems. For example, 'The Curse of Medusa' ("At the Gates of Utopia") describes the matter of punishing ancient Medusa by turning her into a monster. "And the Wind Shall Scream My Name" ("Mare Nostrum") is based on Dante Alighieri's 'Divine Comedy (Hell)'. "I Am Legend" ("At the Gates of Utopia"), has the same title as Richard Matheson's book. And "Xanadu (A Vision In the Dream)" ("At the Gates of Utopia") is based on Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem 'Kubla Khan - A Vison In the Dream'. Stormlord's music video for the song 'Under the Boards' from "The Gorgon Cult" was banned from TV, because apparently there was too much of blood and gore in it.