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1990:Günter Maier, Alex Hilzensauer and Herb Greisberger founded a band whose musical spectrum ranged from blues and rock'n'roll to complex instrumental songs.
In the following two years the band strove to find an adequate and suitable singer.
In the meantime they released an album with the title "Scenes Of Fire" under the name Big Heat.
In 1994 the band finally found the right front man in the form of Ritchie Krenmaier
and recorded "Grand Ominous Dreams" a year later.
1996: The band renamed itself Stigmata producing a demo with the same title.
The CD "Solum Mente Infirmis" was recorded in the same year opening the way to a label for the quartet.
At the end of 1997 "Greed Machine" appeared on the Rock Hard sampler of "Best Unsigned Bands"
and the beginning of 1998 "Solum Mente Infirmis" was released world-wide by "Noise Records".
With these new conditions "Stigmata" finally received the recognition that they deserved from the European press: Record of the month, Newcomer of the month and the unanimous vote of the press through excellent reviews.
Shortly after the release of this album the band was forced to add the appendage IV to it's name due to the already existing rights on the name Stigmata by another band.
In April/May 1998 Stigmata IV completed an extensive European tour with Virgin Steele and Riot including performances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Benelux countries, Italy and Greece.
Subsequently the band started recording in the "Big Apple Studio", Salzburg, and under the direction of Günter Maier produced the album "The Court Of Eternity" which was released in November later that year.
The press reaction was once again overwhelming and unanimous including the second place in the "RockHard" sound check.
In the same year the band went on tour in Italy and Austria with Blind Guardian.
1999: There followed many extremely successful concerts including a tour with Stratovarius in Italy, Greece as well as Austria which finally established Stigmata IV as THE Austrian metal band.
In the southern European countries the band was greeted more than enthusiastically by the audiences and first class concert reviews confirmed their "Live Killer" qualities once again.
In the summer of 1999 after gigs and festivals with bands such as Manowar and Overkill the band proceeded with the recording of their current album, Phobia, in the Big Apple Studio.
Autumn 1999: The band had to part with it's name due to a court ruling.
STYGMA IV the new band name brings with it Phobia the most mature work to date.
Ritchie Krenmaier's dark lyrics on the theme of phobia and the emotional melody lines harmonise perfectly with the tight rhythm section of Herb Greisberger and Alex Hilzensauer, the virtuoso guitar playing of Günter Maier and the tastefully arranged keyboard sounds.
They remain faithful to the melodious, strong and orchestral arranged metal style without repeating themselves or sounding monotonous.
STYGMA IV's strength lies in their ability to be versatile without losing their aim or sounding tasteless.
Whether driving tempi, or progressive, or balladesque - to cut things short - STYGMA IV stands for everything that a metal album needs.
The all too important recognition factor has been expanded.
In addition you will find Andrew Lloyd Webber's Overture and Gethsemane from Jesus Christ Superstar as well as
22 Acacia Avenue from Iron Maiden as bonus track, three compositions from other people appearing on Phobia as a sign of respect for these artists and their work.
Above all, the versatility of the four musicians from STYGMA IV crowns the album.
Undoubtly, the most interesting highlight througout the year 2001 has been STYGMA IV''s performance at the
WACKEN OPEN AIR - an excellent performance not only discussed by the media!
Just after having celebrated their comeback as an astonishing live act STYGMA IV started recording their new album The Human Twilight Zone - the fourth regular album; described as the hardest output in the history of STYGMA IV; the 16 minutes long track "sleep" is an opus completely throughcomposed in a classical conceptional way.
RITCHIE KRENMAIER's lyrics once more deal with abysses in human life, the dark sides of war, hatred and
unability to love. These expressive words are combined with hard guitar parts as well as with emotional instrumental passages.
Right after signing the band for his french label NTS, Olivier Garnier called the band to france for opening the
ANGRA / SILENT FORCE tour 2002.
Playing in big places in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans STYGMA IV changed into a live-killing-machine.
Under the influence of this concerts the band writes new material and records the new preproduction / part1 for the next album.
The reactions are more than overwhelming, but STYGMA IV will be careful and take time with the decision for a new label.
The next big thing are the recordings for a livealbum on the 9th of november 2002 in their hometown Salzburg.
STYGMA IV's "a history in pain - LIVE" will be released in april 2003.
APRIL 2003: STYGMA IV are signing an europeanwide recorddeal at the french NTS label.
At the same time "a history in pain - LIVE" is released.
On the 1st of may 2003 STYGMA IV are starting with the recordings for the new studioCD.
2004: STYGMA IV release their fifth regular studioalbum "Hell Within" europeanwide.
2005: The HELL WITHIN tour takes the band through germany with the fabulous supportband 44 Freaks.
It’s the first time that STYGMA IV is playing headliner shows and the band is able to play a "best of" program which shows all musical periods of STYGMA IV.
After 11 years of performing in the same constellation STYGMA IV decide to finish their career due to personal problems.
THANX TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE FOR YOUR SUPPORT ALL OVER THE YEARS!!!
This is the end of our story.
Günter, Ritchie, Alex & Herb
STYGMA IV I.N.R.I.
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