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Biography : Ekpyrosis (AUT)

EKPYROSIS was formed in Austria, in 1988, around CHRISTIAN GRUBER, vocalist and guitar player, his brother MARTIN, Stefan Ebner, Markus Kronsteiner and drummer HELMUT WINTER. Less than 12 months later MARTIN and another member already threw in the proverbial towel. After the initial line-up changes, and the ensuing growing number of gigs, the first 6-track demo, entitled ALONE, was unleashed in 1990.

The next few years were spend playing clubs in and around Austria, and occasionally being offered the opening-act spot for mores established bands such as KREATOR, and even for heavy rock legends; DEEP PURPLE. A second 4-track subsequently went largely unnoticed by all except the loyal hardcore following EKPYROSIS had built up over the years.

In the summer of 1995 EKPYROSIS camped out in the ACADEMY RECORDING STUDIOS in Lubljana, Slovenia, where they recorded their first full-fledged CD album baptized LAST AND ONLY. ROCK HARD, one of the better German music magazines took notice, and gave them a good review.

The underground also took notice, especially in Caracas, and they were subsequently booked for a two-week tour of Venezuela – of all places. The relative rise in popularity also travelled back to Europe, and resulted in more and better concerts, and opening-act-gigs for the likes of METAL CHURCH, PAUL Di’ANNO, KINGDOM COME, SKYCLAD, GOTTHARD and HELLOWEEN.

In 1998 EKPYROSIS decided to broaden their musical spectrum by adding keyboard player RICHARD EDLINGER as a fulltime 5th member of the band.

In March 1999 EKPYROSIS entered the COSMIX STUDIOS in Vienna, where they recorded GREY, their second album, for SLEDGEHAMMER/ RADIATION, a NUCLEAR BLAST distributed label. The album was released in 34 countries all over the world!!

In August of 2002 EKPYROSIS underwent another line-up change and guitarist MARKUS REICHL and bass-player MARKUS KRONSTEINER were respectively replaced by MARIO SCHEIBER and THOMAS PRETHALER. In the meantime the band had completed their third album, which they originally christened FIRE, but was renamed AFTER WAR once they inked a new agreement with MAUSOLEUM RECORDS.

A lot of Interviews with the national and international press were following. Ekpyrosis played also concerts inter alia with JBO at the „DONAUINSEL – FESTIVAL“ 2004 in Vienna. The co – operation with Mausoleum – Records ended after a short time, because the sale wasn’t just how the label imagined it. There were also some differences between Ekpyrosis and the label, and that was another reason why the band left them.

In no case Ekpyrosis didn’t let themselves be shaken. 2005 they recorded their fourth album called „IRRATIONAL“.National and international music magazines gave them very good reviews but they couldn’t find a label! That was just irrational !!!

The Band still went their own way and were concentrated in playing concerts.They played opening – act – gigs at the „Kaltenbach open air“ with bands like „DESTRUCTION“ and „DISSECTION“, and a completely sold out show with „MACHINE MAN“ and „SONATA ARCTICA“ at the „PLANET MUSIC“ in vienna.

Since spring 2006 Ekpyrosis worked at their new album, which they wanted to release probably in 2007.

During recording the new album EKPYROSIS played some gigs in Austria. Mainly in Graz and Vienna. At the Donauinselfestival in June, 24th 2007 they supported "HEAVEN SHALL BURN" and “CALIBAN”. The band had so much good new song material, that they decided to make a double - album. The album includes 16 songs, so it was impossible to release this album 2007. EKPYROSIS worked more than 2 years on it. "ALL YOU CAN EAT" was presented in October,18th 2008 in Kapfenberg, the home town of the band.

Source : Official Website