| Pythia | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Power metal Symphonic metal |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Website | www.pythiamusic.com |
| Members | |
| Emily Ovenden (vocals) Marc Dyos (drums) Ross White (guitars) Mark Harrington (bass) Tim Neale (guitars) Richard Holland (keyboards) |
|
| Past members | |
| Andy Nixon-Corfield (bass) |
|
Pythia is a heavy metal band from London, England.
Pythia is a group of classically and heavy-metal inspired musicians. Lead singer Emily Ovenden is also a member of the classical group the Mediaeval Baebes and Celtic Legend.[1] Drummer Marc Dyos and guitarist Ross White are originally from the thrash metal group Descent. Tim Neale, formerly of Abgott and currently of Faith of the Few, is on lead guitar. Richard Holland is on keyboards and Mark Harrington from prog band To-Mera on bass replacing Andy Nixon-Corfield who performed on the first album.
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The name Pythia is taken from ancient Greece. Pythia was the priestess at Apollo's oracle in Delphi who operated as a vehicle for Apollo's will. In keeping with this, Ovenden's lyrics explore the darker side of life, love, and passion, and the supernatural.[2]
Pythia have performed with such acts as Tarja Turunen, Arch Enemy, Ministry, Scorpions, Fields of the Nephilim and Theatre of Tragedy.
Pythia's debut show was at the Electric Ballroom in Camden, supporting ex-Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen in December 2007.
In 2008 they went on to support Fields of the Nephilim at the Shepherds Bush Empire, and Ministry, at the Kentish Town Forum.
On 26 September 2008 Pythia played their first headline show at The Underworld in Camden. The following day they played the Dames of Darkness festival in Birmingham before taking a break from live performances to complete their debut album and honour commitments to other projects.
Pythia performed at Bloodstock Open Air festival in August 2009, headlining the Sophie Lancaster stage, and performed on the acoustic stage earlier in the day.
On 14 March 2010 they performed at The Underworld in Camden along with The Mariana Hollow, To-Mera and Where Angels Fall supporting Norwegian Gothic metal pioneers Theatre of Tragedy.
In April 2010, Pythia supported Norwegian group Pagans Mind on a short tour of The Netherlands. During that tour Pythia performed at the Power Prog & Metal festival in Mons, Belgium, headlined by Scorpions.
In the same month Pythia were studio guests for the Bruce Dickinson rock show on BBC 6 Music, talking to Bruce and playing a few songs from Beneath the Veiled Embrace.
After a few shows back home in England, the band concentrated on writing and recording material for their second album.
The band did however venture back to the Netherlands in October 2010, as main support for Arch Enemy in Heerhugowaard, Holland, then performing the next day at the Metal Female Voices Festival in Belgium.
Their final show of 2010 was performing at Hard Rock Hell festival in Prestatyn, alongside bands such as Stratovarius, Skid Row, and Helloween.[3]
Their debut album, Beneath the Veiled Embrace, was released 12 October 2009, through Golden Axe Records. The album was mixed by Jacob Hansen, and features Brian Blessed on the song "Army Of The Damned", with a reading of the poem Suicide in the Trenches by Siegfried Sassoon.
The first single from the album was "Sarah (Bury Her)", released in August 2009, which included as a B-side an acoustic version of "Tristan", and a cover of the Gary Moore classic "Thunder Rising". The second single, "Army Of The Damned", was released in April 2010, featuring an acoustic version of "Sarah (Bury Her)".
Beneath the Veiled Embrace has been well received by magazines such as Terrorizer 8/10, PowerPlay 8/10, Metal Hammer 7/10, Classic Rock 7/10, and various webzines across the world.
Pythia have been featured in magazines such as Classic Rock Prog and Terrorizer, and have received airplay on Bruce Dickinson's Friday night rock show on BBC 6 Music, and TV channel Scuzz.
Emily Ovenden was 'Miss December' in Metal Hammer's 2010 calendar, included in the December 2009 issue.
In 2010 the song "Army Of The Damned" was chosen for the new Rockband game for the Xbox.
At the start of 2011 the band signed a two album deal with Japanese label 'Spinning', with Beneath the Veiled Embrace due for release in February 2011, complete with bonus tracks and alternative artwork.
In September 2011 Beneath the Veiled Embrace was issued as a vinyl picture disc. The picture disc was available separately or as part of a deluxe box set containing a t-shirt, the Japanese version of the CD, signed poster, letter and print.
The first single from the band's 2nd album The Serpent's Curse is Betray My Heart released 19th December 2011, with the video launched on the 13th December 2011. The video to "Betray My Heart" was featured on the Metal Hammer blog. [4]
On the 25th of November 2011 Pythia anniunced that their new album The Serpent's Curse will be released on 27th February 2012 on Golden Axe via Genepool/Universal in the UK