VISION DIVINE was born in 1998, originally intended as Olaf Thorsen's solo project (Labyrinth's guitarist at the time). Very soon he starts collaborating again with Fabio Lione (lead singer of Labyrinth on their first album "No Limits" and current frontman of Rhapsody) and the solo project rapidly turns into a real band, its name being a combination of "Vision" -old Labyrinth's monicker when Olaf created the band- and "Divine" -the title intended for Olaf's solo album.
The line-up got completed with Mat Stancioiu (drums), Andrew Mc Pauls (keyboards) and Andrea Tower Torricini (bass).
In 1999 their first studio album, self-titled "VISION DIVINE", is released and immediately becomes a huge hit.
In 2001 the band starts writing and recording the new album, called "SEND ME AN ANGEL", to be released in January 2002. At the end of that same year Olaf decides to leave Labyrinth to focus exclusively on VD and stop any annoying rumor about VISION DIVINE being considered a mere "side project".
In three years VD release two albums, and thanks to good sales results the band starts touring around the world. We'd like to mention the great South American Tour in December 2000, where for the 1st time an italian Heavy Metal band got the chance to play sold-out concerts in Argentina , Cile, Brasil , Panama and Mexico , as headliners.
To further give the band a more consistent and definitive identity, Mat Stancioiu and Andrew Mc Pauls leave VD to play exclusively with Labyrinth, and get replaced by Oleg Smirnoff ..boards (ex Eldritch and Death SS) and Matteo Amoroso on drums (ex Athena).
In 2003 the band begins the songwriting for the third forthcoming album, when unfortunately Fabio Lione starts having problems regarding the coexistence of his own career and his duties in VISION DIVINE. After a few months, they mutually agree to split in a friendly way.
The new singer to be chosen is Michele Luppi, a highly skilled and talented guy.
Now it is finally possible to complete the last songs needed, so the new concept album gets recorded and entitled "STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS" to be released in April 2004.
With a brand new line-up and renewed ambitions the band cancels any previous deal and joins Scarlet Records for distribution on Italian territory, King Records for Japan and Metal Blade for the rest of the world. Surely now nobody can say that VISION DIVINE is a "side project" anymore.
During 2004, VD bring last album's sound in tour through Italy . After a year since the release of "STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS", in April 2005, due to the persistent demand by their record label and their fans, the band records its first live DVD.
Then, after almost three months, "STAGE OF CONSCIOUSNESS" is released, featuring on DVD the successful "STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS" played live in its entirety.
Meanwhile, Olaf starts working hard on a new record (a concept album again) in collaboration with Oleg Smirnoff and Michele Luppi.
In October 2005, as the live DVD gets released in Japan , the band flies to the Land of the Rising Sun for two incredible shows in Osaka and Tokio.
The fourth release of VD, "The Perfect Machine" (out in Japan in October and in the rest of the world in November 2005) defines the maturity of the band. Again, another huge success, also thanks to the supervision and production of Timo Tolkki (Stratovarious).
There are some further changes in the line-up, and the new members are Alessio Lucatti ..boards, Cristiano Bertocchi (ex-Labyrinth) on bass and Alessandro Bissa on drums.
This band, which is tested onstage on various italian and international venues, gives life to the fifth album: "The 25th Hour".
The ideal follow-up to the story started with SOC, Vision Divine and the great production skills of Timo Tolkki take us to the disclosure of Stream of Consciousness' pending plots, the first chapter of what we could call the mystic trilogy of Vision Divine!
Next goal now is playing live...several tours are about to be confirmed, some even extra-european, so Vision Divine are preparing themselves to give their best!
2008, after the band's decision to replace Michele Luppi, will see the release of the new album, at the moment still officially untitled. So, the next weeks will see the band announcing the new singer and then immediately they'll run in studio for completing and then recording the new awaited full lenght album!
We are very happy and proud to finally announce that Fabio Lione join Vision Divine Family again.
He's best natural choice for us, and first person we thought about it, even ‘cause Fabio is a wonderful singer and a very special friend.
Fabio with Olaf created VD 10 years ago, he wrote wonderful melodies for first 3 band's albums (from the 1st “Vision Divine” up to the high acclaimed “Stream of Consciousness”).
Just to be clear, Fabio is fully involved with the band, not as session man but as real part of the band, including recording sessions, live shows and tours.
We really like to apologize with you to taking such a longtime to let you know our choice, but we wanted to follow all this stuff properly without any gaps and taking time to plan band's future.
So, Fabio Lione, will be on stage with Vision Divine starting from june 20 and he’s already working to our new album, which recordings are scheduled starting from Aug 11th We know that each time this band has a change of line up there many roumors about it and mostly people could think if its' right decision or something like that... But as always we will let facts talk, and our band life gets proof that we allways try to take best decision to grow up as artists and as persons.
And at last.. we really like to spend some words for you guys who supported us in this time, we're very striking about your emotions and your great friendship around the world.
We really like to dedicate our new album to you who continue to trust in Vision Divine.
Stay Divine, see you in tour.
Discography:
2008: NEW ALBUM t.b.a.
2007: "The 25th Hour"
2005: "The Perfect Machine"
2005: "Stage Of Consciousness" DVD
2004: "Stream of Consciousness"
2002: "Send me an Angel"
1999: "Vision Divine"
OFFICIAL MERCHANDISING HERE:
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Hey guys,thanks so much for the add! Heard your music on AOL internet radio. Really liked what I heard. Will get your cd soon. Check our latest out "Soldiers From Hell on our myspace. Keep rockin and pumping that metal. Horns up! Tommy/drummer
ciao vision..grazie per l'add.. siete dei grandi! conosco andrea tower,andavo in palestra da lui ed è un vero peccato abbia lasciato il gruppo! mi faceva sognare! a parer mio sostituito comunque da un grande bassista! continuate così che non vi ferma nessuno! ciao ettore
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MACHADA PROMOTION e HELLFIRE in collaborazione con INDIAN BIKERS MC TARANTO presentano: Domenica 3 Agosto 2008 SOUTH's CHEYENNE FESTIVAL con: EXODUS + Neurasthenia + Sudden Death + Ecnephias + Stige Apertura cancelli ore 19,00 Biglietto 18 euro INFOLINE 348 5436466 Email mcforever@libero.it
guys this was my first time checking the music out.I like it but i need to hear more...... fabio lione will make any band sound good!!!! i have a question for fabio,what happend to rhapsody of fire????? you where my favorite band what happend????
Thanks for the friendship!!! We love you guys so much...you are on our front page for a while so all our friends can hear you!!! Robert, Rob, Fester, Rick
Ragazzi, grazie mille per l’add! Sono un vostro grande fan, possiedo tutti i vostri CD! I primi due non mi piacquero molto, ma con l’arrivo di Michele Luppi siete diventati una delle mie band preferite! Ora è tornato Fabio Lione, ma sono sicuro che sfornerete degli ottimi album con lui, perché sia voi che lui siete molto maturati come artisti… Non vedo l’ora di ascoltare le vostre nuove canzoni! Bentornato Fabio Lione!!! :) Saluti dalla provincia di Lecce
que banda increible¡¡¡¡ la musica que hacen es de lo mejor buena musica sin defectos es musica realmente com tiene que ser sin demases excelente lo de ustedes gracias por el add saludos desde viedma argentina
CIAO RAGAZZI!!INNANZITUTTO VI DEVO DIRE KE SIETE GRANDISSIMI, E POI UN BEN TORNATO A FABIO!!!IO SONO CHRISTIAN DI RAW & WILD. COM....SE NON SBEGLIO CI INCONTREREMO MOLTO PRESTO....AL ROCKIN FIELD SARò IO AD INTERVISTARVI....:)...GRANDISSIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!STAY POWER!!
thank Pierpaolo again from me for translating the chat session! it's nice to read about the things you've been doing lately! keep the music the way you want to write it;) hope to see you guys on tour one day!:) Bennie
Hi, guys Sorry I haven't been by in awhile. I have been really busy this summer. But I just wanted to stop by to wish you all an illuminating weekend... ~kiss, kiss~ Selene
