Asgard (band)

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Asgard is a German-Italian heavy metal band with classical and medieval influences. The music could also be included in the progressive metal genre.

The band's name comes from the Nordic myth of Asgard, the fortress of the Gods.

[edit] Biography

In 1984, Ambrosi formed a band in Treviso, Italy with Max Michieletto, Marco Michieletto and Glauco Giacchello. The band, Fire Dusk, recorded an LP entitled Italian Rock Invasion in 1986 with former Pink Floyd producer Nick Griffiths.

Shortly after recording, the band changed its name to Asgard and replaced Giacchello with Bianchi d'Espinosa and vocalist Kikko Grosso.

The new lineup toured Italy and recorded the album Exposure. This album was followed shortly after by Concerts, a live album released in 1990. These two albums helped the band sign a recording contract with German record label WMMS.

With the new label, the band released Götterdämmerung in 1991 and Esoteric Poem and Arkana in 1992. During this period, Marco Michieletto left the band and was replaced by drummer Marco Ferrero.

This lineup recorded Imago Mundi in 1993 and was the last to include vocalist Kikko Grosso. He was replaced by Franco Violo. At the end of 1994, guitarist Max Michieletto left the band, two years after his brother. Guitarist Andrea Stefani temporarily joined the band to fill Michieletto's role.

In the summer of 1995, Bianchi d'Espinosa chose to take the band in a different direction and began looking for new members. Musicians Michael Brandt, Markus Hinzmann and Dietrich Kühne joined the band through 1998, when Asgard terminated its agreement with WMMS. After ending the contract, the band relocated to Germany.

The band began recording the album Drachenblut with a variety of session musicians, including Peter Bachmayer and Ivo Gallo. The album was released in 2000. After release, the band's lineup again changed, this time to the current one. Asgard is working on their next album, Ragnarøkkr.