Dodo
Datel vocals, bass
Sona Witch Kozakova
vocals
Tomax Gabris guitars
Jan Ivan session drums |
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The Slovak
metal band GALADRIEL was found in the July of 1995 by
vocalist and bass player Dodo Datel, guitarist Voloda
Zadrapa and drummer Dr. Victor Gieci. This trio built
this band from the ruins of heavy metal band Trojan Warrior.
The musical direction of this members moved more to doom
metal, which was very strong style in the middle of 90's.
The early beginnings were signed by looking for the right
people to complete the line-up. And therefore there were
often personal changes. In the beginning of the summer
1996 enter the band female vocalist Sona Witch Kozakova.
In this 4-member line-up GALADRIEL recorded their first
promo CD in August 1996. The keyboards were recorded by
friendly King (in that time the member of Lunatic Gods).
In autumnal days enter the band the rhythm guitarist Chulo
Malachovsky. With his help band wrote next three songs
and recorded them in January 1997. In that time Unknown
Territory (a new small british label) offer the contract
for GALADRIEL. So, both recordings were completed and
finaly released in September 1997 as a debut CD called
"Empire Of Emptiness". But in the summer of
1997 the band overcame the personal exchange on the post
of lead guitarist. Voloda Zadrapa left the band and his
place took young guitar talent Tomax Gabris. GALADRIEL
found their first keyboard player Erik Schmer. In this
line-up band prepeared their new material and it was recorded
in November of 1997. Two more songs were recorded in the
spring of 1998 already without keyboardist Erik Schmer.
New keyboard player was J.S.K. All these songs were released
in the January 1999 as a second CD "The Mirror Of
Ages" by the same label Unknown Territory. The break
of years was signed by the next exchange in the band.
Chulo Malachovsky left the band and his place was ready
for new guitarist Gabriel Holenka. In 1999 GALADRIEL wrote
and record all songs for their third CD "Oblivion"
which was released in March 2000. It was the last record
for the Unknown Territory. The band was not satisfied
with their work, and in the summer of 2000 left this label.
In spring of 2001 GALADRIEL recorded their cover version
of Blind Guardian's "Bard's Song - The Hobbit"
for the tribute compilation "Tales from the Underground"
(already without Gabriel Holenka). The atmosphere in the
band was not very good in that time, but the result of
this song helps to put members together again. New songs
were finalized very soon and few months later GALADRIEL
recorded their fourth CD "From Ashes & Dust".
We can said that this record was a turning point for the
band. The sound and arrangements of this record were more
better than before. With this record GALADRIEL soon signed
the contact with Metal Age Productions (Slovak label)
which released this album in 2002. In the end of 2002
enter the band new rhythm guitarist Matus Hanus. But in
the beginning of 2003 the still old pesonal problems surfaced
and the band was near the tragical extinction. Three old-years
members left the band (Sona Witch Kozakova, J.S.K. and
Dr. Victor). After this hurricane the band (Dodo Datel,
Tomax Gabris and Matus Hanus) prepeared new songs and
in autumnal days recorded their next album with many guest
musicians. This CD called "World Under World"
was released in March of 2004 by Metal Age Productions
again. The line-up of the band was for next months completed
with drummer Pyros (ex-Orkrist), guest keyboard player
Andrej Kutis (Castaway) and few gigs played bassist Ian
Porkert. In September of 2004, after 20 months of chaotic
existence of GALADRIEL, came the hurricane back and the
line-up was extremly changed again. Lead guitarist Tomax
Gabris left the band together with bassist Ian Porkert.
Drummer Pyros end his musical carreer. The sign of old
times, the female vocalist Sona Witch Kozakova, returned
to the band together with her brother J.S.K. (keys). GALADRIEL
found new fantastic drummer Hoyas (thanks to Pyros). The
band started play gigs again in 2005 and after long search
of the adequate compensation after Tomax Gabris they found
the right person for the post of lead guitarist. It was
Skkipi Skuppin...
The band wrote new songs in the year 2006 for new album.
At the begining of 2007 drummer Hoyas left the band due
to some technical problems. Therefore the band entered
the studio to record new album "Renascence Of Ancient
Spirit" with two guest drummers (former member Dr.
Victor Gieci and Jan Tornad). In the recording process
left the band next member - keyboardist J.S.K. After few
weeks GALADRIEL found new keboard player Fear. New album
"Renascence Of Ancient Spirit" was released
by Metal Age Productions again in June 2007 !!! In the
begining of year 2008 was Fear replaced with new keyboardist
Andrej Kutis and in the same time GALADRIEL found a new
excelent drummer Iggi. The work with him was really perfect,
but he was interested in more musical projects and Galadriel
was not his priority. Therefore he was replaced in February
2009 by young drummer Adam Zelenay. At the end of the
summer the personal problems with guitarist Skkipi Skuppin
culminated to end of the co-operation between him and
the band. GALADRIEL found in few days "new"
guitarist. Tomax Gabris returned to the band after five
years. Stright after this exchange the band started to
write new songs for next album!
The story continues...
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