ProgMotion: Zérak (CD-Präsentation) & Ivanhoe

ProgMotion: Zérak (CD presentation) & Ivanhoe

ZÉRAK:

Zérak - that's progressive metal like a force of nature. The songs of the six musicians from southern Germany transcend genre boundaries and create impressively expressive soundscapes. The sound of Zérak captivates with virtuoso guitars, underpinned by warm fretless bass and driving yet delicate drums. Atmospheric keyboard sounds round off the soundscapes. The exceptional voice of singer Meike Fischer holds the complex compositions together with catchy vocal lines and emotional lyrics. The band is the result of many years of musical collaboration between the two guitarists Chris Frank and Uwe Saussele. In 2017, the two wrote their first compositions together, incorporating numerous influences ranging from progressive rock and metal to jazz and classical music. They soon brought other experienced musicians on board: bassist Steffen Singler and drummer Christopher Carapetyan; keyboardist Christian Wick joined the ensemble in 2018. He lends the songs a characteristic vintage sound on the Hammond organ, piano or Mellotron. The band's line-up was completed for the time being with Alison Zick as frontwoman. In 2020, the band released their debut album, the EP "Serac". The sophisticated arrangements are characterized by almost classical motifs, complex harmonies, hard guitar walls and contrasting lyrical sections. The band produced their debut entirely themselves. In order to create the most authentic sound possible, the musicians recorded vocal parts in churches. They also largely dispensed with samples and relied on instruments such as historical grand pianos, violins, analog synthesizers and Hammond organ. After Alison Zick left the band in 2021, Zérak finally found a successor in Meike Fischer in early 2022, who was up to the task of implementing the complex arrangements and song ideas for the planned follow-up album.

IVANHOE:

Founded in 1986, Ivanhoe is one of Germany's longest-lived progressive metal bands and has been internationally renowned since its first release in 1993. 8 studio albums, covering all corners of the genre from playful, atmospheric sounds to dark, complex metal riffs, have made the band one of Germany's prog metal highlights. Ivanhoe have completed European tours and shows with Queensryche, the Scorpions or Nevermore and Iced Earth as well as appearances at major festivals such as "Bang your Head". The current line-up consists of Alex Koch (vocals), Giovanni Soulas (bass), Richie Seibel (keys), Chris Lorey (guitars) and Mathias Biehl (drums). Ivanhoe released their 9th studio album "Healed by the Sun" on May 10, 2024 via Massacre Records.