Labyrinth (band)

Labyrinth
Labyrinth performing live at Evolution Festival, July 14, 2006.
Background information
Origin	Massa, Italy
Genres	Power metal, progressive metal
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Arise Records
Associated acts	Vision Divine, A Perfect Day
Website	Labyrinthband.com
Members	Andrea Cantarelli Carlo Andrea Magnani Roberto Tiranti Oleg Smirnoff John Macaluso Nik Mazzucconi
Past members	Fabio Lione Franco Rubulotta Luca Contini Andrea Bartoletti Cristiano Bertocchi Andrea de Paoli Mattia Stancioiu Morby Pier Gonella Alessandro Bissa Sergio Pagnacco Mark Boals

Labyrinth is an Italian power metal band formed in 1991 in Massa, Italy. The band underwent a change in style and themes after the departure of Olaf Thorsen in 2002.

Labyrinth formed in 1991 with a lineup of Franco Rubulotta (Frank Andiver-drums), Luca Contini (Ken Taylor-keyboards), Andrea Bartoletti (bass guitar), Andrea Cantarelli (Anders Rain-lead guitar), Carlo Andrea Magnani (Olaf Thorsen-lead guitar), Fabio Tordiglione (Joe Terry-vocals).

The band released their first demo "Midnight Resistance". The demo got enthusiastic reviews in major metal magazines in Italy and Germany and that gave them the chance to sign with Underground Symphony, a new indie record label. Andrea Bartoletti left the band and was replaced by Chris Breeze (Cristiano Bertocchi). "Piece of Time", their first EP, marked the direction the band was taking: pure melodic speed metal with a keyboards-background.

In 1995, "No Limits" was released and the interest in the band grew among metal fans and independent labels. The popularity of the band increased not only in the Italy and in Europe, but also overseas where some labels (Teichiku Records in Japan) offered to distribute the album. The band was in the metal magazine Burrn!'s top ten charts for almost six months. Joe Terry (Fabio Tordiglione) left the band and later becoming the frontman with Rhapsody of Fire.

In 1997, Frank Andiver (Franco Rubulotta) and Ken Taylor (Luca Contini) left the band (however they took part in the composing of "Return to Heaven Denied"); and Rob Tyrant (Roberto Tiranti), Mat Stancioiu (Mattia Stancioiu) and Andrew McPauls (Andrea De Paoli) were brought in as their replacements. All the while, some of the big metal labels showed an interest on the band's new demo and finally Metal Blade Records made an offer and the band joined the label. It took six months to record the second album Return To Heaven Denied and before its release the band took part in that summer's metal main event: "Gods of Metal", together with some of heavy metal's biggest acts such as Black Sabbath, Pantera, Helloween, Blind Guardian, etc. Return To Heaven Denied was a success among fans and metal magazines alike, and it gave a strong push not only to the career of the band, but also to the Italian metal scene as a whole.