UTOPIA

UTOPIA has a real long story, we'll try to make it short and accurate for all you guys to understand.

All started back in 1989 with a Thrash/Death Metal Project (the main influences of this band were SEPULTURA, RATOS DE PORÃO, PANTERA, SLAYER etc.) called "SACRILÉGIO"(Vocals - Carlos Malcata; Lead Guitar - Ricardo Silva; Rythm Guitar - Pedro Guerra; Bass Guitar - Jorge Julião; Drums - Pedro Alfredo), with this project we started to gain Live and Studio experience.
SACRILÉGIO performed Live dozens of times, always achieving an extreme empathy with the public and gathering fans and underground fame. From that time we can use as example several live performances: RockLine (Underground music contest where we reached the Finals), Vias Raras Metal Fest, several Live Acts in the Bobadelense pavillion, etc.

A few years later (1994/95), some of the SACRILÉGIO members (the ones that now are part of UTOPIA) were searching fore a more technical and melodic approach to the Metal sound. Unfortunately this ideas were not shared by the other members of SACRILÉGIO, and that caused the creation of another band called "EDEN". But after 7 months Pedro Alfredo (Drums) and Jorge Julião (Bass Guitar) decided to play only with EDEN, leaving Ricardo Silva (Lead Guitar) as the only common element between this two bands, but the SACRILÉGIO project "died" a few months later because in those times it was very difficult to find a fast drummer.

EDEN was then formed by: Lead Guitar - Ricardo Silva; Rythm Guitar - Rui Matos; Bass Guitar - Jorge Julião; Drums - Pedro Alfredo; and it was a instrumental project with influences like the emerging DARK TRANQUILITY and AMORPHIS, or the well renowned HELLOWEEN and IRON MAIDEN. In this band we tried to keep the aggressive and direct spirit of metal and add some melody and technique to that sound.

It was only a matter of one or two months until we decided to add vocals to the EDEN sound, this decision occurred because we felt that with the correct lyrics and voice our musical message would be more complete and accurate.
The auditions for the vocals were not long, and the choice was Bruno Padre, not only by his vocal tunes but also because his musical culture and lyrics creation skills were a valuable asset to our band.

With this formation we performed live several times always with a great support from the public and from the other bands that played with us, i can mention a few examples: RockLine Music Contest (as guests), Olivais Metal Fest in a school named Alexandre Herculano, and as openning act for the band "SARCASTIC" in Forte da Casa.

In the end of 1994, due to the growing number of original themes we decided to record a first demo that would be called "HOLY RITUALS", this recording included the following songs: "UtopicImages", "Condemned", "Eden", "The One Who Rules", "Blindness", "Child Never Born", "Holy Rituals", "Awakening" and "Grave is my home", but due to the planning of another change in our musical style this Demo has never seen the light of the day.

1995 was a year of transition in EDEN. A decision was reached to include keyboards in our music, this option was made with the purpose to reach a balance: the Brutality and Agression of the Guitars and Drums, and the Melody and Ambience of the voice and keyboards.
So during 1995/1996 António Reis (former element of SUMMONING/ETERNAL WHISPER a Ricardo Silva parallel Black Metal project) joined EDEN as keyboard player and the band changed the name, EDEN turned into UTOPIA, because this "balance" that we were searching was our musical utopic goal.

Already as UTOPIA in 1996 and 1997 we continued to sum live performances, here are some examples: The Alhandra Metal contest where we reached the finals, the MODERN MUSIC CONTEST in Trancão BAR where again we reached the finals (with bands like "SLAMO" and "BLEND"), the Lisbon Music Gathering in the ADCEO Theater (with the guest participation as backing vocals for UTOPIA of Ana Simões aka "Tuxa" - one of the Lead Vocals of ETERNAL WHISPER/SUMMONING) together with some portuguese rock and POP renowned artists like VANDA STEWART, etc.

Also in 1996 we recorded our first Demo called "FAERY TALES" that was made to be our "presentation card", we made it short and clean, only 3 songs: "Look At The Rain", "Faery Tales" and "The Blanket". This recording was never distributed or sold but somehow those musics reached a local radio (PAL FM) that called us for a live interview and after that interview played our songs all Sundays for a long time. This was a great "fuel injection" to UTOPIA, it made us realize that somewhere there is always someone that can appreciate our music and ou effort.

During 1997/1998 UTOPIA faced really bad times, once again the musical goals were being redefined, but it was getting each day harder to reach a common idea to new songs, "Empty Words" and "Breath Of Life" were composed during those troubled years, and some more live acts, including one of the last "Rock Nights" in the "ROOKIE BAR" in Bairro Alto together with the band "APATHY". But in the middle of 1999 the vocals Bruno Padre left UTOPIA, not only because he was looking for a different approach to music, but also because of some family issues that were requiring his attention and dedication.

Once again UTOPIA were auditioning for a new lead vocals, many candidates were heard, and during a few months UTOPIA had several temporary singers, including Ricardo Correia (present Lead Vocals of ETERNAL WHISPER - now a Prog/Power Metal project).

It was only in the first months of the year 2000 that UTOPIA found another vocals, Daniel Carvalho (former Guitar/Vocals and founder of the death metal band "DOOMED") was the new lead singer. The wider vocal range of Daniel Carvalho marked another change in the UTOPIA overall sound and composing, some new songs were borning with a more agressive/progressive approach, and in 2001 UTOPIA were recording a new Demo called "UTOPIA" with these new songs: "Goodbye", "Empty Words", "Feel The Light", "Breath Of Life", "Flying On Darkwings" and a new instrumental theme called "Utopia".
With this new formation UTOPIA continued to perform live, including a Guest act in the VIALONGA MODERN MUSIC FEST in the MUSIC GARDEN BAR and our first live act in the Northern part of Portugal in the GAIA METAL FEST with bands like "BLOODY TEARS" and "THE HOWLING".

UTOPIA was now reaching the year 2003, and a new change was approaching. New musical influences (In Flames, Dream Theater, At The Gates, Children Of Bodom, etc.) and the constant technical/creative development of the band were requiring a different lyric and vocal engagement. Daniel Carvalho left the band and joined the Black Metal band "NEW EMPIRE" (a remake of the band "SUMMONING" also with the parallel participation of other UTOPIA members, António Reis in the keyboards and Ricardo Silva in the Lead Guitar). UTOPIA was again searching for a new Voice...

In the middle of 2003 Leonel Ferreira joined UTOPIA as Lead Vocals, Leonel has a musical/vocal background and formation of Opera/Lyrical singing, and he was always a metal fan, his favourite bands include OPETH, SYMPHONY X, AT THE GATES and ARCH ENEMY, etc.

The song "UTOPIA" was no longer instrumental and a few new songs were created, now with a much faster drumming pace, and with heavier aggressive guitar riffs and vocals: "Silent Sky", "The Island", "Cape Of Torments" and a new Instrumental Theme were the results of this UTOPIA phase. These songs were recorded in a Demo called "Cape Of Torments" in 2005.

During this period (2003-2005) UTOPIA never stopped the live performances, now with a wider geographical range. Here are some examples of these live acts: CACILHAS - Culto BAR, MONTEMOR-O-NOVO Metal-Fest, ABRANTES - Metal Act also with the participation of the band "ASSEMBLENT", CINFÃES DO DOURO MODERN MUSIC FEST, etc.

In 2006 we reached a new stage, our present influences include bands like, SYMPHONY X, SOILWORK, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH, ALL SHALL PERISH, TRIVIUM,etc. and new songs are being developed, together with a few old UTOPIA/EDEN songs that are being "updated" with the target /objective of a full length "album".

Meanwhile we are in the SEMI-FINALS of the LOUD METAL BATTLE music contest, and we performed live in EXCALIBAR in the 8th October 2006 together with the young promissing band "REPULSIVE STRIFE".

Our lyrics appeal to the construction af a better way of life, with more social justice and balance, with lower violence and crime acts, and most of all with more tolerance and wisdom. In these lyrics we try to show that everyone is important, and that each one of us can make a difference. We are defenders of the constructive criticism and we believe that every musician has a big mission upon his shoulders: To set an example to everyone who reads and listens to his music. That's why we always try to put the finger right where it really hurts, after all we all dream with a better world, so now it's the moment to try to make that dream a reality, instead of an UTOPIA.