BIOGRAPHY

Metatrone is a Christian power-prog metal band formed by musicians coming from many previous musical experiences, mostly involved in metal music. Davide Bruno, Jo Lombardo, Tony Zappa, Virgilio Ragazzi and Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno formed the band in 1997 under the monicker of Metafora producing with Track Records Productions (TRP) a four track Ep called “Reazioni e Memorie”, featuring some amazing anthems like “Una Parte di Me”.

As many things in life changes, it was four years later (2001) that one of the founding members, keyboardist Davide Bruno decided to begin a new spiritual journey bringing him to change completely his life becoming a Priest. After this important decision, another one will be essential: Metafora decided to change their monicker as METATRONE from that moment on. The new band’s name means “God is since now and forever”, consequently the band begins to write power-prog metal songs deeply inspired by a Christian Catholic view of life and human being. It was in 2005 when they produced with the help of TRP music their first album called “La Mano Potente” soon followed by the english version called “The Powerful Hand” distributed by Scarlet Records in Europe and King Records in Asia.

After its release, the band begins to play often live in Italy and around the world as well, playing at festivals like Elements of Rock twice, Tumbalong Park and World Youth Day in Australia just to name a few. As many time happens, they toured a lot but immediately after they began to write new songs which bring them to a new and highest musical and lyrical level, songs were more influenced by prog but powerful at the same time. Most of that songs will be released on their third studio album, “Paradigma”. The new stunning 13 tracks album was produced by the band and TRP Music, officially released on 25 december 2010: the album features songs sang in english, italian, latin and spanish with some interesting growling vocal choruses performed by priest Davide himself getting very good reviews on the most popular metal magazines like Metal Hammer Italy, Metal Maniac and many other on-line magazines.

On May 2012 the band released their first videoclip, “In Spe Resurrectionis” from “Paradigma” (winning also the David Award as best italian song at V Premios David) while on june 2013 the band released a single track called “Heavenly Field” written against the Zionist policy supporting Gaza population at the time featuring italian hip hop band One Crew as special guest on vocals.

The band now is working at the new album release with a different line up: Tony Zappa and Virgilio Ragazzi has been now replaced by Dino Fiorenza on bass (Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, John Macaluso) and Salvo “T-Metal” Grasso on drums (Hypersonic, DenieD).
In 2015 Metatrone entered in the studio to record their third full-length album “Eucharismetal”. In November “Latest News From Light” has been released as video, first anticipation from the new album, to be released MARCH 11TH, 2016 by ROCKSHOTS. Along the new album will be re-released new versions of “The Powerful Hand” (remastered) and “Paradigma” with bonus tracks.

Eucharismetal brought the band’s music on a wider audience with Christian Metal’s festivals appearance in Europe and live gigs in Italy, with a triumphant concert in September 2016 at The Teatro Romano in Verona. In Febraury 2017 the band released the second single/video from EUCHARISMETAL “Molokai”, but it’s right along the past years the something was changing again. It was after a very long internal discernment, just like it started it all, that Davide made the decision to keep serving the Lord and the Catholic Church in the laical form, giving up to practise as a priest. Anyway the artistic mission with Metatrone is still on the run and new song “Last Bleeding Pain” is released in June 2018.

“Last bleeding pain’ is a song connected to changes” comments Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno “It was born by the need to confirm that all the events in our lives can be changed anytime, to decide that now it’s the time to change direction and eventually find the bliss for everyone. ‘Last bleeding pain’ is about this, now it’s time to stop the bleeding, to stop the pain and impose who we are, in the Truth and without any reconsideration. ‘Last bleeding pain’ means courage and acceptance of ourselves into freedom”.It’s a speed metal track, immediate and with no compromises, in the typical Metatrone‘s tradition’

In May 2019, after over 15 years, 4 albums released and a lot of shows in Italy and abroad, Metatrone and singer Jo Lombardo part ways as a mutual decision. Jo decided to focus on his solo project and would not guaranteed to Metatrone a total focus on the next album and future shows.

The band found a new singer in July 2019, Daniel Barbagallo. David Brown, keyboard player and songwriter of the band, states: “Daniel is such a fantastic singer with a great melodic attitude! When we got in touch with him to join the band, he was caught by surprise but he immediately saw the feeling and everything is gonna be exciting!”

With a new singer on board, Metatrone started to work on the sequel of “Eucharismetal”, to be released in late 2021 with the first single released in February 2021.

“Amore Traverso” is the song which marks the new path of the band, and the first one with the new singer Daniel Barbagallo.

“After the latest single with Jo Lombardo, “Last Bleeding Pain”, we’re back with a new track which includes new elements alongside others who are our trademark” states David Brown. “First of all we are back to the Italian lyrics, also thanks to Daniel’s artistic contribution to this song and all the others that made up the whole record. On the other hand, the power/prog elements are still on as well as the solos parts by Ghigas, David and Dino (guitar, keyboard and bass), supported by Salvo Grasso’s fast drumming. Salvo is also involved as third singer alongside David’s growl parts. The lyrics are now more secular and poetic than in the past, without removing the typical Christian background of the band.”Amore Traverso” was mixed by Luigi Scuderi (Tower Hill Studios) and mastered by Jacob Hansen.

Along the following two years after, the band faced a second line-up changing phase: Salvo and Dino decided to move a part from Metatrone, following their own personal musical projects. Once again David and The Ghigas had to choose between an “end of the story” or a “never give up!”. Some kind of courage and craziness led both of them to search for new musicians. Thus prime bassist Alessandro Palazzo and prog / thrashing drummer Simone Alberti were recruited and became part of the band. On 2022 the new Metatrone released another single track, a power song titled “Fiumi in piena”, and it was the last song the band came out with, as Daniel decided to leave them, due to strictly personal matters. On that song, in sign of a long friendship, the band wanted well-known drummer Mattia Stancioiu to be on the drums, as guest The track was mixed by Luigi Scuderi, and mastered by Jacob Hansen one again.

It needed one more year to get the band find themselves in the original shining shape. In fact on 2023, unexpectedly, Jo Lombardo rejoined Metatrone, while they were writing new music, thus starting a brand new chapter of their long and honoured career.

So a new era begins.