It all goes back in 1997 when 14year old Alex Katsiyannis decided to form a hard rock band along with some school-mates. The name of the band was Distant Dreamland. The songs were more in the vein of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep. After a year of rehearsals and stuff the band changed their music style. Distant Dreamland played a mix of European and american power metal. People left the band and others joined. The band was renamed into Dead Man's Tale.
Dead Man's Tale released the self-titled demo cd receiving really good reviews. At that time Alex wrote the lyrics along with the music and played the guitar and Domenik (Dark Vision, Lost Souls) performed the vocals. The frendship between Alex and Domenik kept them together even after the end of Dead Man's Tale.
On March of 2003 WASTEFALL were born by Alex Katsiyiannis and Domenik Papaemmanouil. Later on, drummer George Kanavaris joined the band and Ilias Kalivas followed on the bass guitar. Wastefall signed, a record contract with Sleaszy Rider Records and released their debut album "Fallen Stars And Rising Scars" on July 28th 2003. Due to the encouraging feedback, Wastefall began working on new ideas and creations for a future release.
Shortly, Christos Kyrkilis (keyboards) joined the band. After a while Ilias Kalyvas left the band and Stratos Haidos replaced him as new bass player. Additionally, Matthew Dakoutros (violin) joined the band to complete the line-up of that period.
After a long time of rehearsals and composing new material Wastefall entered Fragile studios in May 2004 to record the follow-up album, to be called "Soulrain 21". On November 7th 2004 "Soulrain 21" was released again through Sleaszy Rider Records.
Again, the band lost their bass player immediately after a release. Stratos Haidos left the band and Nick Valentzis joined Wastefall. After Nick's arrival, Wastefall had to split ways with violin player, Matthew Dakoutros and drums player George Kanavaris due to musical differences. A few months later, Wastefall recruited Kostis Papaleksopoulos as their new drummer.
In October 2005, Wastefall hooked up with Danish based agency Intromental Management, who immediately got the band signed to the American label Sensory Records.
Wastefall's third album entitled "Self Exile" was mixed and mastered by the infamous Tommy Hansen (Helloween, TNT, Jorn Lande etc.) at Jailhouse Studios, Denmark, January 2006.
- Major concerts with Pain of Salvation ( GR and France), Fates Warning, Sieges Even, Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne at Rockwave Festival GR along with Black Label Society and Velvet Revolver
Reviews
SELF-EXILE REVIEWS
Attention, chef d'oeuvre ! Un résultat époustouflant. Une musique à la charge émotionnelle incroyablement forte. Tout simplement une gifle montrueuse, une tornade dévastant tout sur son passage. Du Grand Art. "
- 9/10 - Stéphane Auzilleau - Rock Hard
Ce groupe délivre un metal totalement différent de ce que l'on a l'habitude d'entendre. un caractère unique. Assurément un grand album.
- Le Fantastique.net
Wastefall nous gratifie d'un prog métal mélancolique sur lequel la puissance des riffs est incontournable et vous prend aux tripes dès les premières notes pour ne vous lâcher que 58 minutes après. tout simplement fabuleux!
- 9/10 - Progressive Waves
Quelle voix mes aïeux, quelle voix ! Comment est il possible d'atteindre de tels sommets pour un simple mortel, quand bien même serait-il né au pays des dieux et de la mythologie
- Zicazic.com
C'est construit telle une cathédrale, on y entre, on en ressort subjugué. Subjugué par le talent, la richesse de l'écriture, la beauté et l'intelligence dans l'agencement des idées.
- 9/10 - Antithetik
Le temps passe comme dans une autre dimension. Il est impossible de ne pas succomber à la musique de Wastefall tout comme au chant brutal, doux ou cristallin de Domenik. A peine terminée que Self Exile se laisse réécouter pour y découvrir d'autres petites choses cachées mais aussi et avant tout pour le plaisir.
- 20/20 - Magic Fire Music
Ecouter cet album, c'est comme regarder un film de Peter Jackson ou de Steven Spielberg. On ne sait pas exactement ce qui se passe, mais on pénètre des univers parallèles qui, pendant une heure ou deux, vous font oublier la cruelle réalité du monde qui nous entoure.
- Metal Impact
En résumé, du très bon métal progressif, délivré par un super groupe, servi par une production monstrueuse.
- Hard Rock 80
Wastefall succeeds in an area that progressive metal groups usually do succeed in: making complex, entertaining and emotional music that will keep you begging for more. Each song is distinct with it's own sound and style and, overall, the material is very diverse -9/10 http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/
"Self Exile" is a dazzling, dizzying record with a lot of heart, a definite grower for those willing to put the time in, and an impressive step up for a band that oughta take this scene by storm. - Keith Bergman 7.5/10
www.seaoftranquility.org- 4.5/5
Metal Hammer GR- 9/10
SOULRAIN 21 REVIEWS
METAL HAMMER GR- 9/10 Album of the month
DPRP REVIEWS- 9/10 Andy Read
METAL REALM- 9/10
