Empyria

History

Empyria's debut release was the eight-song cassette Ornamental Ironworks, issued independently in 1993 and showing a progressive rock influence. Their first album on a label, Behind Closed Doors, appeared in 1996 on T & T / Noise Records (Germany) and featured a more progressive metal sound. In 1997, original singer and bassist Paul Falcon departed; Phil Leite took over vocals and Ken Firomski joined on bass. The third album, Changing Currents, was released independently in 1998 and distributed by Nightmare Records (US) and Rising Sun (Germany).

That same year, the progressive metal compilation The Awakening, released by KMI Ent., included Empyria's title track 'Changing Currents'. The Legacy came out in 2000 on Nightmare Records (US), presenting all four parts of The Lighter Sides of Darkness as a continuous 25-minute epic and a cover of The Police's 'Synchronicity II'. The compilation Westcoast Canadian Metal Feast, released in 2001, featured the title track from Empyria's next album, Sense Of Mind, which arrived in 2002 and added more melody.

A long hiatus began in 2003 due to Kischnick's work on twelve albums and two tours with Thor and other projects. Empyria reunited in 2009 and released The Long Road Home through Nightmare Records, with Falcon returning on bass, Leite on vocals, Kischnick on guitars and synth, and new drummer Scott Gamble; the album returned to progressive rock and metal influences. A digital single, 'The Sheltering (2011 A.D.)', came out on July 1, 2011, with former bassist Ken Firomski.

The band played occasional shows with Sabaton, Firewind, Warrel Dane, and Nickelback. Another digital single, 'Beyond The Doors', with B-side 'Green Manalishi', was released on March 28, 2014, as the first release with all current Empyria members. Empyria appeared on the Scrape Records The Label Vol. II limited edition vinyl compilation album and CD, released on May 29, 2020.