Empyria

Empyria is a progressive power metal band, formed in 1991 by Mike Kischnick, Paul Falcon, and Simon Adam in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The band relocated to Kelowna, B.C. in 2003.

Empyria
Empyria 2019 line up
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, CA
GenresProgressive metal, power metal
Years active1991-present
LabelsNightmare Records, Scrape Records, Noise Records
Associated actsThor, Life, Ten2Nine, Severed Serenity
Websitewww.empyria.ca
MembersMike Kischnick
Phil Leite
Scott Gamble
John Buck
Steve Bifford
Past membersPaul Falcon
Simon Adam
Ken Firomski
Troy Taillon

History

The first album (8-song cassette), Ornamental Ironworks (Independent), was released in 1993, featuring a progressive rock influence. Behind Closed Doors, which featured a more progressive metal sound and was their first actual label release, was released in 1996 on T & T / Noise Records (Germany) record label.

In 1997, original singer/bassist Falcon left the band and was replaced by Phil Leite (vocals) and Ken Firomski (bass). The third album, Changing Currents, was released in 1998 independently and distributed by Nightmare Records (U.S.A.) & Rising Sun (Germany).

A progressive metal compilation album, The Awakening, was released in 1998 by KMI Ent., which featured Empyria's title track Changing Currents.

In 2000, The Legacy was released by Nightmare Records (USA). It featured for the first time all four parts of Empyria's The Lighter Sides of Darkness as a continuous 25-minute epic, plus a cover of The Police's "Synchronicity II".

A compilation album, Westcoast Canadian Metal Feast, was released in 2001, just prior to Empyria's Sense Of Mind album and featured the title track.

The next album, Sense Of Mind, from 2002, continued the vein of the previous album in general, adding more melody to the songs.

In 2003, Empyria took a long hiatus due to Kischnick's involvement in 12 albums and 2 tours with Canadian Metal band Thor and various other projects.

In 2009, Empyria re-united and released The Long Road Home[1][2] through Nightmare Records, with the return of Falcon (bass), Phil Leite (vocals), Kischnick (guitars/synth) and new drummer Scott Gamble. The album saw a return to their progressive rock & metal influences.[3]

A New Digital Only Single "The Sheltering ( 2011 A.D.)" was released July 1 (CANADA DAY) 2011 with former bassist Ken Firomski.

The band continued to play occasional shows with bands like Sabaton, Firewind, Warrel Dane, and Nickleback.

EMPYRIA released a "NEW" Digital Only Single "Beyond The Doors" & B-side "Green Manalishi" March 28, 2014. First release featuring all current Empyria members.

EMPYRIA released "DIVIDED" EP July 16th, 2019 on Scrape Records. 7 Track EP contains: 2 "BRAND NEW" Tracks + 2 Classic EMPYRIA Tracks (Revitalized) & Instrumental with all current EMPYRIA members. Plus 2 (Bonus Tracks) from previously Digital Only "Beyond The Doors"single & B-Side "The Green Manalishi"(cover).

EMPYRIA will appear on Scrape Records "The Label" Vol. II Ltd. Edit. Vinyl & CD Compilation. Street Date: May 29th, 2020

  • (First time the band has appeared on Vinyl)*

Discography

Studio albums
  • Ornamental Ironworks (1993 (8-song cassette))
  • Behind Closed Doors (1996)
  • Changing Currents (1998)
  • The Legacy (EP) (2000)
  • Sense Of Mind (2002, DVD format Limited Edition)
  • The Long Road Home (2009)
  • The Sheltering (2011 A.D.) (2011, FREE Digital Single)
  • Beyond The Doors (2014, Digital Release Only Single w/ B-Side)
  • Divided (Mini-Album) (2019)

Compilation albums
  • Powerquest (compilation) - The Awakening (1998)
  • Westcoast Canadian Metal Feast (compilation) - Scrape Records (2001)
  • BW&BK Knuckletracks XXVI (compilation) - BW&BK (2001)
  • Nightmare Records Sampler (compilation) - Nightmare Records (2010)
  • Armstrong Metalfest Sampler (compilation) - Armstrong Metalfest (2012)
  • Scrape Records"The Label" Sampler Vol. II (compilation) - Scrape Records Ltd. Edit. Vinyl & CD (2020)

Band members

Current members
  • Mike Kischnick: guitars/synth (1991–present)
  • Phil Leite: vocals (1997–present)
  • John Buck: bass (2011–present)
  • Scott Gamble: drums (2008–present)
  • Steve Bifford: guitars (2010–present)

Former members
  • Paul Falcon: bass (1991–97; 2008–2010)
  • Simon Adam: drums (1991–2008)
  • Ken Firomski: bass (1997–2008)
  • Troy Taillon: drums (1993 & 1995)

Special guests
  • Troy Taillon: drums ("Forever" 2002)
  • Rob Matharu (Mongoose): guitar (solos on "Heaven's Cry" and "Sense Of Mind" (2002)
  • Neville Bowman: keyboard (solo on "The Endless Circle" (2009)
  • Pat Brown (Ten2Nine): vocals (bg's on "No Other Way" (2009)
  • Sean Stubbs: (Numb, Bif Naked) drums ("2 Song Demo" 1994)

References
  1. Empyria discography at allmusic
  2. Empyria at last.fm
  3. Empyria Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine at Rockdetector
  • Garry Sharpe-Young (2003). The A-Z of POWER METAL. Cherry Red Books. pp. 135–136. ISBN 1-901447-13-8.
  • Martin Popoff (1997). The Collectors Guide to Heavy Metal. Collectors Guide Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-896522-32-7.

https://www.reverbnation.com/empyria

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