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Apocalypse
Apocalypse is a progressive rock band from Brazil that plays symphonic rock with strong electronic keyboard orientation. Many influences can be noticed among their discography, but Genesis, ELP, Yes, Jethro Tull and Marillion are the most present.
The lineup of Apocalypse consisted of Eloy Fritsch (electronic keyboards), Magoo Wise(bass), Ruy Fritsch (guitars), Fábio Schneider(drums) and Gustavo Demarchi (lead vocal and flute).
The progressive rock band Apocalypse was born in 1983, in Caxias do Sul, Southern Brazil, founded by Eloy Fritsch and some school friends at the Colégio Nossa Senhora do Carmo who got together for a student music contest. After this first concert, guitar player Ruy Fritsch and drummer Chico Fasoli joined their ranks, playing with the band at the Festival 1º Ópera Rock. From the beginning, they presented a very different style, compared to the other local groups. They made use of organ, synthesizers, classical vocals and created songs influenced by Uriah Heep, Yes, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rush and Genesis. From 1984 to 1988, the line-up changed several times.
In 1992, the line-up stabilized with Eloy Fritsch (keyboards), Ruy Fritsch (guitar), Chico Fasoli (drums) and Chico Casara (bass, vocals). Apocalypse was now signed to Musea, the most prestigious progressive rock label in the world. The album "Perto do Amanhecer" was released in France in 1995. The good reviews from abroad soon started to arrive, which led to a rise in the band's popularity and another invitation from Musea, this time for the compilation "Le Melleur du Progressif Instrumental". This CD was edited in the end of 1995 with several European bands and Apocalypse representing Brazil. With its baroque influences and a beautiful interplay of minimoog and guitar solos, the chosen song was “Notre Dame”. In their following album, “Aurora dos Sonhos”, Apocalypse created several progressive rock masterpieces, such as "Do Outro Lado da Vida" and "Vindo das Estrelas", both of them complex and long tracks in the best prog tradition. “Aurora dos Sonhos” was again released in France by Musea and was hailed as a great album by many progressive rock magazines around the globe. In 1998, the band was invited to play at the greatest music festival in Southern Brazil, the Planeta Atlântida festival.
After this show, they signed with Atração, a Brazilian label and released a CD entitled "The Best of Apocalypse", with tracks from their French CDs. To promote this CD, they decided they should tour other parts of Brazil. In April, they are invited by the Rock Symphony label and travel to Rio de Janeiro to take part in the Rio ArtRock Festival third edition, playing together with English band Pendragon at the Teatro João Caetano. One year later, in 1999, they are invited to play in the USA, at the longest running progressive rock festival in the world: Progday. This show would make history, because it was the first time a Brazilian band recorded a show in the USA for a CD release The album “Live in USA" was released as a double CD with a CD-ROM track containing a videoclip and a gorgeous booklet with many photographs from the US trip. The CD saw the light of day in 2000 and Rock Symphony took over the distribution.
The CD “Refúgio” was released in 2003 by the Rock Symphony and Musea labels with new tracks such as “Viagem no Tempo”, “Amazônia”, “Lembranças Eternas”, “Refúgio”, “Liberdade”, “Terceiro Milênio” and the epic “Cachoeira das Águas Douradas”. As a bonus, it also includes two songs from the “Live in USA” double CD. Coming 2004, Chico Casara (vocal and bass) leaves Apocalypse, and the other musicians decide to go on with a new line-up.
Singer Gustavo Demarchi and bass player Magoo Wise are invited to join the band. Apocalypse takes on a new project: to record some of their old hits in English and also to start writing in the new language. In September 2005, Apocalypse is invited to another festival in Rio, this time the Rock Symphony For The Record festival at the Teatro Municipal de Niterói, Rio de Janeiro.
The band's concert, on September 8, was released in DVD through Rock Symphony label together with Musea Record Company. After this show, the band made yet another appearance in Rio, in 2006, playing together with English band Uriah Heep at the Canecão as part of the Rock in Concert Brazil
Released in Brazil in 2008 by Free Mind Records and in Europe and Asia by Musea Records, The Bridge Of Light won several indications as Best of 2008: "Best Album", "Best Cover", "Best Show" and "Best Keyboardist" to Eloy Fritsch. In early 2009, the band also received the trophy Vasco Prado in honor of its 25 year career and Eloy Fritsch received the "Azorean Music Award - Honorable Mention" for his contribution to the south Brazilian music scene.
In 2009, the band undertook two tours in promotion of The Bridge Of Light including shows in the states of São Paulo and Parana. In addition to touring, the band performs with frequency in Rio Grande do Sul, the band´s home state. For the second consecutive year, the keyboardist and composer Eloy Fritsch is also indicated as "Brazilian Best Rock Keyboardist" in 2009 by the renowned Brazilian rock site Whiplash.
The National Grape Party in Caxias do Sul, south of Brazil was the first show of the new drummer of the band, Fábio Schneider. He joins the band in substitution of the old drummer, Chico Fasoli.
In 2011 the group release the 25th Anniversary Box Set. Unpublished work in the national progressive rock, the box brings a DVD of the concert recorded in September 2009 at the Hall of Acts of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the live CD Magic Spells bringing classic tunes of the band's career, a book written by the journalist and producer Eliton Tomasi telling the whole story of the band and, finally, the new APOCALYPSE studio album. In the same year APOCALYPSE promotes one important project in its career, the quintet release the concert "Rock Sinfônico" with Orchestra and Choral, September 11, at the UCS Theatre in the city of Caxias do Sul, south of Brazil.
In 2012 the brazilian progrock band Apocalypse receive the Açorianos Music Awards. The awards ceremony happened on May 09, 2012, Wenesdey night at the São Pedro Theater, Porto Alegre, Brazil. The Açorianos Music Awards honor contribution of the Apocalypse band to the music in South of Brazil. The musicians Eloy Fritsch - keyboards, Ruy Fritsch - guitar, Gustavo Demarchi -- vocal and flute, Fabio Schneider drums, Rafael Schmitt - bass guitar, and the former members Chico Fasoli and Chico Casara received the honorable mention in a very exciting and unforgettable night for the brazilian progressive rock. The singer Gustavo Demarchi also received a trophy for creating the best artwork for the Apocalyse 25th Anniversary Box Set.
Selected discography DVDs
Studio albums
Compilations
Live albums
Book
Box Set
Compilation appearances
Singles
Reference: Wikipedia
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