Matthias

I have been playing and writing music since I was 12 years old. In 1996, I joined a band called FATE with two friends of mine. After some time, we had written several songs and I was really enjoying it. I liked the direction the music was going, but I also wanted to write some music that was a little different from the straight-forward Heavy Metal style that FATE was writing. I wanted to write music that sometimes had Metal-influenced guitars and percussion, but also involved piano, organ, and a lot of orchestral/symphonic instruments like strings, brass, woodwinds, tympani, choir, etc... like a full orchestra where the guitars and drums are just another part of the bigger ensemble, and I wanted it to be all instrumental. My partners in the band didn't want to do any instrumentals and also didn't want to do pieces that were too long, so I remained in FATE and kept writing music with them, while also branching off into my own new musical direction as a side-project . After a couple of years, FATE had come into their own, after the addition of the bassist's brother on second guitar. We started playing a lot of local gigs and continued to write more music. By this time, I had composed quite a few pieces of music myself as well. I decided to attempt a double album with a concept story. I continued with composing more pieces for the concept album and writing the story, but at the same time I had become afflicted with a deep depression. My depression affected every area of my life, including my solo music, but most significantly it had a negative impact on FATE as well. Ultimately, I ended up leaving FATE voluntarily. I did so for many reasons, but for two reasons primarily. The most important of which being to climb my way out of the downward spiral into which I had fallen. The other reason being to focus on my own music. Initially, leaving FATE sent me further down into my depression, but it was something I had to do to get well again. I personally believe in Nietzsche's saying, "what does not kill me makes me stronger." After about a year, I finally succeeded in climbing out of the pit of despair. In October of 2003. I had mostly completed composing my concept album and was still in the process of recording it, as well as a few new pieces for the next album. Then I got a phone call from a friend of mine who had gotten together with a couple of musicians and wanted me to come play guitar with them to help them out in writing some music until they found a permanent lead guitarist. When I went to rehearse with them everything clicked and I officially joined in a permanant position. We then called ourselves Crucible and started writing music. Getting with Crucible helped me a lot on a personal level and on a creative level as well. Working with Crucible also got me back into a creative zone that I hadn't completely been in for quite a while. As Crucible wrote more music, so did I for my own project. Then in August of 2004, I was asked by my FATE brethren to rejoin the band. I happily accepted, but it was short-lived. We were back together for only a few months when we realized that none of us had the time it takes to dedicate ourselves fully to the band. The members of FATE have since decided to pursue other things, but the good that can be taken from it is that we were able to mend fences, and I remain great friends with them, so it all worked out in the end. Crucible continued on, writing more music, performing at many venues, and building a solid fanbase. We were together for over four years, until June 8th, when I played my last show with them. After a few months of intense deliberation, I decided to leave Crucible to pursue other things and to make my solo music and my comic book my sole focus. My time in the band was truly great. I had a wonderful time, made some great friends, and learned a lot from my many experiences. But now I will be forging ahead on my own with my solo project. What is any life without the pursuit of a dream?
What dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil
My solo project is a marriage of Baroque and Romantic and Classical, Modern Film Scores, Symphonic, Heavy Metal, Gothic, and Industrial. All the songs are instrumental, heavily orchestral, and tend to be very long and involved, with a lot of changes. Full Orchestral ensembles with Heavy Metal guitars. When listening to my music, a few words people often tend to use to describe it would be "epic" "powerful" "dramatic" "heroic" "majestic" and more. No one who has heard my solo music compares it to anything else, however they have said that it sounds like an action or super-hero movie score. One listener said it could be the score to the next big Arnold action movie. Another listener dubbed it "Superhero Metal." I liked the name, but I don't think my music fits into any genre classification. I compose, play, and record all the music myself. I play all the instruments including rhythm, lead, and acoustic guitar, bass, piano, and programming.
For I have sworn thee fair and thought thee bright, who art black as hell, as dark as night
In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point -Friedrich Nietzsche