Origin: Helsinki, Finland  
Genres: Hard Rock, Power Metal
DISBANDED
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Last update/review: June 8, 2019

Symfonia

"Super-group" is a term the media love to throw around whenever some well-known musicians band together in a new group. Here, it's not inaccurate (at least as terms of Euro power metal), as the two main guys are guitarist Timo Tolkki of Angra, with the rest of the guys having plied their trade in well-known bands such as Sonata Arctica, Evergrey, Helloween, and others. They guys came together in 2010 and in March 2011 released their first album, In Paradisum. With these pedigrees and a band name of Symfonia, there should be no doubt as to what's on offer; it's melodic, symphonic-laced European power metal, with all the trademarks and cliches on full display. But it's a case of hit and miss here -- at times the band lives up to the promise (the lengthy title track, for one, isn't bad at all), but some of the songs simply sound ordinary, and even Matos and Tolkki don't always sound inspired, though in Matos' case it might be an issue with the production (he's not at the forefront as much as one might expect). And even in the unoriginal world of power metal, there's no excuse for songs like "Forevermore", the chorus of which is so familiar and typical as to almost be laughable. It just seems that veterans like these should come up with something more than just another melodic power metal album, even though the market for such albums is still out there. In time these guys might broaden their horizons and put out something truly inspired, but In Paradisum, competant as it might be for the style, just isn't it. As it turns out, the project was put to rest shortly after the album's release.

Last Lineup

André Matos

vocals (ex-Angra, ex-Shaman, ex-Viper) RIP: June 8, 2019, heart attack, age 47

Timo Tolkki

guitars (ex-Revolution Renaissance, ex-Stratovarius)

Jari Kainulainen

bass (ex-Evergrey, Masterplan, ex-Stratovarius)

Mikko Harkin

keyboards

Former Members/Guests

Uli Kusch

drums (ex-Beautiful Sin, ex-Gamma Ray, ex-Helloween, ex-Holy Moses, ex-Mekong Delta, ex-Masterplan, ex-Ride The Sky, guest for Sinner)



Discography


In Paradisum  
2011 Edel
  1. Fields of Avalon
  2. Come by the Hills
  3. Santiago
  4. Alayna
  5. Forevermore
  6. Pilgrim Road
  7. In Paradisum
  8. Rhapsody in Black
  9. I Walk in Neon
  10. Don't Let Me Go
  • AndrĂ© Matos
  • Timo Tolkki
  • Jari Kainulainen
  • Mikko Harkin
  • Uli Kusch




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