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Draft:Alhena (band)

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Alhena
Female-fronted rock/metal group, progressive rock/metal band, violin in rock and metal
Alhena - lineup 2024
Background information
OriginBydgoszcz, Poland
GenresProgressive metal, Progressive rock, Symphonic metal,
Years activesince 2010
LabelsAround Music
SpinoffsVariété, Xanadu, Sellisternium
MembersDominika Kapuśniak – vocal, violin
Tomasz Bogulski – guitar
Bartosz Kazimierski – guitar
Piotr Grugel – drums
Maciej Tonder – bass guitar
Piotr Pryka – keyboards
Past membersRobert Puk – bass guitar
Katarzyna Dziemianowicz – vocal
Tadeusz Kołecki – bass guitar
Natalia Bassak – vocal
Marta Bejma – vocal
Grzegorz Ostrowski – bass guitar
Piotr Kowalski – keyboards
Magdalena Zach – vocal
Patryk Durko – bass guitar
Websitealhenaband.com

Alhena – a Polish band performing rock and metal music embracing progressive and metal elements with atmospheric art rock and symphonic metal influences.

History

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The band was formed in January 2010 in Bydgoszcz. At the end of 2011, the band released their first mini-album, titled „Alhena”.[1]. The release was well received by music critics[2] from printed media (e.g. Metal Hammer), as well as by online music portals, both home[3][4][5]and foreign[6][7][8][9][10][11]. This response resulted in the decision to transform Alhena into a regular band. Alhena actively promoted the material, playing concerts with such artists as Banau, Łąki Łan or Closterkeller, and also playing at the Concert Studio of Polish Radio PiK[12] (with simultaneously live broadcast).

In February 2012 the band was invited to take part in the Compilation „Des filles et des riffs, vol.3”[13] organized by a French musical portal Des filles et des riffs. It was focused on rock and metal bands with female vocals around the world. Previous editions of the compilation featured artists such as Tristania, Eths, Edenbridge, To-Mera, or Diablo Swing Orchestra. In the third edition, Alhena was presented alongside with Stream of Passion, Leaves' Eyes, Nemesea, Arkona, Epica, Jinjer and others[14][15]. The compilation was released in June 2013 by Savage Prod, and the French label Season of Mist was responsible for global distribution. In the same year, Alhena was invited to take part in another French compilation „World of Glass”[16][17]. The compilation, like the previous one, was aimed at bands with female vocals, and its name refers to the third album of the band Tristania (considered by many fans and critics to be the most representative album of this Norwegian formation). The third „World of Glass” was released in June 2013[18]. Also in that period Alhena was announced twice as the Performer of the Day of the Muzzo Magazine[19][20], part of the Polish, nationwide Interia web portal. Thanks to that, the main page of the Muzzo website was dedicated to Alhena that day. Information about the band's activities also appeared on the Interia website.

On January 20th 2013 the fifth edition of the „Sampler” compilation was released by Halotan Records label, which is mainly associated with the gothic, industrial and dark electro music scene. However, in the fifth edition, the organizers decided to present some guitar sounds[21][22]. As a result, Alhena was one of the invited performers[23]. Next, in April 2013 the band was also invited to take part in American compilation „Virgines Metallium”[24] (formerly „Maidens of Metal”). The initiator of the project was the American label Delinquent Records (however, the compilation was released on February 25th, 2015).

The band continued their activity, playing concerts with artists such as Tides from Nebula, Egoistic or Closterkeller. Next, on May 9th 2014, Alhena played a concert at the Municipal Cultural Center in Bydgoszcz. The concert was audio-video recorded in order to produce a concert album on CD and DVD[25]. The release was announced for the second half of 2015, but for unknown reasons it was not unleashed.

On the occasion of the performance at the 12th Tomasz Beksiński Progressive Rock Festival in Toruń[26], where Alhena shared the stage with the Votum and Lebowski, the band released a single titled „Like a Doll”. The release was an announcement of the upcoming LP, in addition to the title song, it also included the song „Alhena”, for which a drum music video had previously been made[27]. In April 2019 a music video for the song „Like a Doll” was also released[28]. This single was also an announcement of the upcoming album Breaking the Silence... ...by Scream, which premiered on October 4th 2019[29]. The album was released by Around Music label.

At the beginning of 2021, the Prog Metal Rock label released a double compilation album „Prog Metal Rock compilation vol.1”[30]. This release targeted prog rock and prog metal bands from all over the world. Alhena took part in the compilation together with Polish artists (i.e. AnVision, Art of Illusion, Bright Ophidia, Distant Dream, Division by Zero) and foreign artists (i.e. Avandra, Pyramid Theorem, Threshold and others).

In February 2023 Alhena released a music video to a single titled „Nemesis”, known from the album Breaking the Silence... ...by Scream, but recorded anew, with a new line-up and a new arrangement[31]. The single was number 1 for two weeks at Lista Przebojow Kultowej Akadery chart on the Polish Radio Białystok[32][33]. The song was also included on the compilation „Cold Hands Seduction, vol. 248”, published by the German music magazine Sonic Seducer[34][35]. Previous editions of the compilation featured bands such as Xandria, Delain, Diary of Dreams, Powerwolf, The Birthday Massacre, Moonspell, Lord of the Lost, Depeche Mode, Paradise Lost, Nightwish, Lacrimosa and many others[36]. In the same period Alhena announced upcoming concerts, together with Collage[37], Millenium, Riverside, Disillusion and Threshold[38]

On November 15th 2023 the music video for the song „Scarlet” was revealed[39]. The single was an announcement of Alhena's upcoming album, the premiere of which is planned for the first half of 2024[40]. To promote the new material, the band plays a series of concerts, among others in the concert studio called Legendarne Studio M im. SBB at Polskie Radio Opole, also with simultaneously live broadcast.


Musicians

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Current line-up

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  • Dominika Kapuśniak – vocal and violin (since July 2022)
  • Tomasz Bogulski – guitar (since January 2010)
  • Bartosz Kazimierski – guitar (since October 2020)
  • Piotr Grugel – drums (since January 2010)
  • Piotr Pryka – keyboards (since November 2019)
  • Maciej Tonder – bass guitar (since December 2022)

Guest / session

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Former members

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  • Robert Puk – bass guitar (from January 2010 to August 2010)
  • Katarzyna Dziemianowicz – vocal (from August 2010 to March 2012)
  • Tadeusz Kołecki – bass guitar (from November 2010 to September 2012, from October 2015 to August 2016)
  • Natalia „Natt” Bassak – vocal (from March 2012 to September 2013)
  • Marta Bejma – vocal (from September 2013 to October 2015, from July 2017 to March 2021)
  • Grzegorz Ostrowski – bass guitar (from February 2013 to November 2014)
  • Piotr Kowalski – keyboards (from January 2010 to November 2019)
  • Magdalena Zach – vocal (from September 2021 to May 2022)
  • Patryk Durko – bass guitar (from April 2017 to November 2022)

Timeline

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Discography

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Albums

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EPs

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  • Alhena (2011, self release)

Singles

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  • Alhena (2017, self release)
  • Like a Doll (2018, self release)
  • Nemesis 2.0 (2023, self release)
  • Scarlet (2023, self release)

Compilation albums

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References

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  1. ^ "– Alhena's first EP". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  2. ^ "– List of some reviews of the minialbum ALHENA". 16 January 2012.
  3. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the ArtRock".
  4. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Rockella". 16 April 2013.
  5. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Dark Planet". 20 August 2012.
  6. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Sea of Tranquility".
  7. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Femme Metal Webzine". 28 April 2013.
  8. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Dutch Progressive Rock Page".
  9. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Background Magazine".
  10. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Babyblaue-Seiten Prog Reviews".
  11. ^ "– Review of the mini-album ALHENA on the Musik Reviews".
  12. ^ "– Announcement of the concert of the band Alhena on Polish Radio PiK".
  13. ^ "– Alhena part of the Des filles et des riffs project". Archived from the original on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  14. ^ "– List of artists participating in the compilation Des filles et des riffs, vol.3". Archived from the original on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2013-05-18.
  15. ^ "– List of artists participating in the compilation Des filles et des riffs, vol.3 in Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
  16. ^ "– Alhena among artists on the compilation World of Glass, vol. 3".
  17. ^ "– List of artists participating in the compilation World of Glass, vol. 3". Facebook.
  18. ^ "– Premiere of the compilation World of Glass vol. 3". Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-06-03.
  19. ^ "– Alhena is the artist of the day on Muzzo". Facebook.
  20. ^ "– Alhena is the artist of the day on Muzzo second time". 23 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  21. ^ "– About the Sampler vol. 5 compilation". Retrieved 2023-01-04.
  22. ^ "– About the Sampler vol. 5 compilation". Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
  23. ^ "– List of artists participating in the compilation Sampler vol. 5". 29 January 2013.
  24. ^ "– List of artists participating in the compilation Virgines Metallium".
  25. ^ "– Alhena is recording a concert DVD". 7 May 2014.
  26. ^ "– Alhena is one of the performers at 12. Festiwal Rocka Progresywnego im. Tomasza Beksinskiego w Toruniu".
  27. ^ "– Alhena releases a music video for the song Alhena". Archived from the original on 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  28. ^ "– Alhena releases a music video for the song Like a Doll".
  29. ^ "– Alhena announces the title and release date of the album". Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  30. ^ "– Alhena on the compilation Prog Metal Rock vol. 1".
  31. ^ "– New version of the music video Nemesis". Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  32. ^ "– "Nemesis 2.0" at the top of the Cult Akadera Hits Chart on Radio Białystok". 31 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  33. ^ "– "Nemesis 2.0" tops the Cult Akadera Hits Chart on Radio Białystok for the second time". 7 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  34. ^ "– Alhena on the list of artists on the compilation Sonic Seducer - Cold Hands Seduction vol. 248 in the Discogs database". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  35. ^ "– Alhena on the list of artists on the Sonic Seducer - Cold Hands Seduction vol. 248 compilation in the Music Brainz database". Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  36. ^ "– Examples of artists on compilations from the Sonic Seducer - Cold Hands Seduction series in the Discogs database". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  37. ^ "– Alhena is a guest on the Collage Over and Out tour". Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  38. ^ "– Alhena at Ostrów Rock Festival 2023". Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  39. ^ "– "Scarlet" music video review". 26 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  40. ^ "– Information about Scarlet in the German Heavy Mag". 22 November 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-26.

See also

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