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Theatres des Vampires

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Theatres des Vampires
Background information
OriginRome, Italy
GenresGothic metal,[1][2]
Black metal[1](early)
Years active1994–present
LabelsScarlet Records
Aural Music/Dreamcell
Plastic Head/Blackend
Garden of Grief
MembersGabriel Valerio
Zimon Lijoi
Sonya Scarlet
Flavio Gianello
Past membersAlessandro Nunziati
Fabian Varesi
Robert Cufaro
Enrico de Dominicis
Karlenstein
Justine Consuelo
Alessandro Pallotta
Strigoi
Mortifer
Stephan Benfante
Giorgio Ferrante

Theatres des Vampires is an Italian gothic metal band with strong black metal influences,[3] mostly noted for the predominant theme of vampirism within their lyrics.

History and background

Theatres des Vampires was formed in 1994 by Alessandro "Lord Vampyr" Nunziati, after leaving the band VII Arcano because of stylistic differences. Problems with the initial lineup of Theatres des Vampires meant that the first full-length studio album, Vampyrìsme, Nècrophilie, Nècrosadisme, Nècrophagie (1996) was recorded single-handedly by Alessandro "Lord Vampyr" Nunziati.

By 1999 the band had a stable lineup, and recorded The Vampire Chronicles as a group effort. The promotion for which saw Theatres des Vampires employing movie effects to create spectacular live shows. The band's members expressed a fascination with vampires and anything connected to them, earning themselves and their music the title "vampiric metal" from their contemporaries. The band created an image of vampirism in their stage performance and within the lyrical themes and atmospheres of their music, which contributed heavily to the gaining of their fanbase.[4]

The third album 'Bloody Lunatic Asylum' was delivered in 2001 with live work including dates with Iron Maiden, Children of Bodom and In Flames amongst others.[4]

The band has produced ten albums in ten years with the English label Plastic Head, and has gained more recognition within the metal scene in Europe, South America and Russia, partially because of the band's participation in various festivals around the world. These include Vampyria III in London in 1999, Gods of Metal in Italy in 2000, Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig in 2003 and in 2006, Gotham in London in 2004, and Female Voices Festival in Wieze, Belgium in 2006.

In 2003 the band toured with Christian Death throughout Europe, and recorded an album with Valor of Christian Death and Gian Pyres of Cradle of Filth as special guests.

Since 2004 Sonya Scarlet has remained the solo vocalist and front of the band, replacing her previous role as backing vocals.

Scarlet sometimes cuts herself with razors at performances, freely letting fans drink her blood. In 2005 several English clubs forbade her performing the display of bloodletting, because it violates English laws against the incitement to commit suicide.[5]

On 28 November 2005 Aural Music released the album Pleasure and Pain. Distributors throughout Europe bought the album and it was published with permission in Europe, South America, the USA, Russia, and Japan.

On 19 March 2007 they released Desire of Damnation. It is a double CD, with live songs from The Addiction Tour 2006 and some new studio songs and remixes.

Guitarist Robert Cufaro ("Morgoth") left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Stephan Benfante.

On May 2008 Aural Music released the album Anima Noir.

On 14 January 2011 Aural Music released the album Moonlight Waltz.

Moonlight Waltz is the ninth studio album studio album. A music video for the song "Carmilla" was filmed on August 28 and 29, directed by David Bracci, who worked on most of Dario Argento's films in the past decade, and has also directed the "Lilith Mater Inferorum" music video.[6]

On 14 October 2016 the band released its tenth studio album, Candyland, via Scarlet Records, which counted with a guest appearance by Fernando Ribeiro, the vocalist of Portuguese gothic metal band Moonspell.

Musical Style

Theatres des Vampires in 2011

Theatres des Vampires is noted for the vast spectrum of styles they have encompassed during their career. At the beginning of their career Theatres des Vampires were widely regarded as melodic black metal. On their 1999 album, The Vampire Chronicles they began to introduce a more gothic approach to their music. Along with Moonspell and Cradle of Filth, Theatres des Vampires is often regarded as one of the pioneers in combining gothic and black metal. Over time the black metal influences decreased, being dropped completely on the 2004 studio album Nightbreed of Macabria, which is symphonic/gothic metal. The 2008 album, Anima Noir saw the biggest change in the band's style with the introduction of electronic sounds. This album can be regarded as Gothic/Industrial metal. Their most recent album Moonlight Waltz took a turn in the symphonic direction, utilising a full orchestra, resulting in the most bombastic sound in the band's history.

One of the most distinguishable features of the band is the vocal style of Sonya Scarlet, ranging from her unique emotive tones to her use of lyric soprano. Male and female vocals are often used together, creating the familiar beauty and the beast effect.

Line-up

Current line-up

  • Zimon Lijoi – bass (1997–present)
  • Gabriel Valerio – drums (1997–present)
  • Sonya Scarlet – female/backing vocals (1999–2004), lead vocals (2004–present)
  • Flavio Gianello - guitars (2017–present)

Former members

  • "Agaharet" (Enrico De Dominicis) – drums (1994–1996)
  • "Incubus" (Alessandro Pallotta) – guitars (1999–2002)
  • "Strigoi" – guitars (1999–2001)
  • "Mortifer" – guitars (2001)
  • "Justine" (Anna Consuelo Cerichelli) – female, backing vocals (1999–2002)
  • "Lord Vampyr" – guitars (1994–1998), vocals (1994–2004)
  • "Count Morgoth" (Roberto Cufaro) – keyboards (1994–1996), guitars (2002–2006)
  • Stephan Benfante - guitars (2006–2016)
  • Fabian Varesi "Necros" – keyboards (1997–2016)
  • Giorgio Ferrante – guitars (2016–2017)

Timeline

Discography

Full-length albums

Other releases

Movie Soundtracks

  • The Edge of Darkness (DVD, 2004)
  • Mornau the Vampire (DVD, 2006)
  • The Vampires of Bloody Island (Theatrical, 2009. DVD, 2010)
  • The Cult of Lamia (TBA, 2012)

References

  1. ^ a b Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Theatres des Vampires". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2010-12-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry. "Sepolcrum". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04. Retrieved 2008-08-19. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Theatres des Vampires". Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  4. ^ a b "TDV Biography". MusicMight. Archived from the original on 2016-02-02. Retrieved 2012-05-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Interview with Fabian and Sonya Scarlet". Rock eyez. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  6. ^ Theatres des Vampires announce Moonlight Waltz Archived 2009-02-07 at the Wayback Machine
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