Eternal Legacy
| Eternal Legacy | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Parma, Ohio, United States |
| Genres | Heavy metal, power metal, thrash metal |
| Years active | 2002–Present |
| Labels | Auburn Records |
| Website | http://www.legacymetal.com |
| Members |
Jason Vanek Shaun Vanek Steve Dukuslow Tim Frederick |
| Past members |
Josh Gatka Spencer Phillips Ian Savage Tom Birkel Joe Grandinetti |
Eternal Legacy is an American heavy metal band that formed in 2002 in Parma, Ohio. Founded by vocalist/guitarist brothers Jason and Shaun Vanek with Steve Dukuslow on drums, the band soon recruited classically trained fourteen-year-old Spencer Phillips to play keyboards and Shaun's student Josh Gatka on bass. In 2008, Gatka was fired from the band, after which Phillips filled the bass spot in addition to keyboards. In 2009, Phillips left the band to pursue higher education and has since been replaced by Shaun Vanek's Wretch bandmate, Tim Frederick.
Eternal Legacy's style started off as progressive power metal, but has since progressed into a hybrid sound with elements of thrash metal, resembling bands such as Tad Morose, Iced Earth, Metal Church, Human Fortress, and Brainstorm. In 2007, Eternal Legacy released The Coming of the Tempest, their debut album. At the end of 2009, the band released their sophomore effort titled Lifeless Alive. On January 26, the band announced the title of their third album as Seeking No Peace, to be tentatively released near the end of 2010.[1] In March 2010, Eternal Legacy announced that they had now finished the drum tracks for nine new songs for their new album due for release in the summer.[2]
Eternal Legacy is scheduled to play the 2010 Wacken Open Air festival.[3]
History
Origin and Formation
The roots of Eternal Legacy lie in the band Mercinary, a heavy metal group of young, like-minded musicians from Parma, Ohio. The group was composed of brothers Shaun and Jason Vanek on guitars, drummer Steve Dukuslow, Nicholas Crow on vocals, and Ian Savage on bass, of which three would go on to remain consistent members of the band today. At this time, almost all of the members were in high school, with youngest member Shaun Vanek being around fourteen or fifteen years of age. Initially, the lineup would see Crow on drums, but would switch to Dukuslow when he and Shaun reconnected while attending Normandy High School. Crow switched to the vocalist position, forming the predominant lineup during Mercinary's lifespan.
In this incarnation, the band played primarily straight forward, guitar-centric heavy metal, inspired by bands like Iced Earth, Pantera, Judas Priest, and Metallica. Structurally, the songs were basic with a strong emphasis on the riff and high-register vocals. Current Eternal Legacy songs "Shadow of Revolution","Metal Anvil", and "Misery's End," as well as several other song elements, would originate during the band's time as Mercinary.
After a falling out with Crow and a series of awkward vocalist tryouts, Jason Vanek opted to step up to the plate and perform double duty on rhythm guitar and vocals, subsequently leading to the formation of Eternal Legacy proper.
Self-titled EP and Early Demos (2002 - 2004)
After taking on the moniker Eternal Legacy, the band would change their sound to incorporate the use of keyboards and other neoclassical elements.[4] This would mark a switch in sound from the traditional heavy metal of the Mercinary days to a more progressive power metal approach in the vein of bands like Symphony X, Rhapsody and Pagan's Mind.[5] This period would see the band replace Mercinary-bassist Ian Savage with Joe Grandinetti and recruit virtuoso pianist Thomas Birkel for keyboard duties. The band would compile several demos, ultimately culminating in the release of their self-titled EP (sometimes known as the "I" EP) in 2004. The songs "Fires Wrath", "Realm of Wind and Ice" (then split up into two parts), "Into the Afterworld" and "One Last Hope" would make it on the band's first full-length release.[6]
Discography
| Year | Release | Type | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Eternal Legacy | EP | Self-released |
| 2007 | The Coming of the Tempest | Full-length | Auburn Records |
| 2009 | Lifeless Alive | Full-length | Auburn Records |
| 2013 | Seeking No Peace | Full-length | Auburn Records |
References
- ↑ Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles: ETERNAL LEGACY - New Album Title Revealed January 26, 2010
- ↑ "ETERNAL LEGACY Completes Drum Tracks For New Album". idiomag. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ↑ Eternal Legacy Announced for Wacken 2010 Wacken.com - January 19, 2010
- ↑ Renewable Energy: Eternal Legacy expands their epic sound on new album Cleveland Scene - November 25, 2009
- ↑ The Birth of Eternal Legacy Eternal Legacy Official Site archives
- ↑ Eternal Legacy EP Metal Archives
"dragonforce_2006_05_05". Metal Covenant. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
"kamelot_2006__09_28". Metal Covenant. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
"interview_eternal_legacy". Metal Covenant. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
"ETERNAL LEGACY To Release 'Lifeless Alive' In December". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 2009-09-27.