Serenity

Photo: Album cover: Codex Atlanticus

CountryAustria
StatusActive
GenreSymphonic power metal

Serenity are a symphonic power metal band from Tyrol, Austria. Since 2016 each of their albums has told the story of a historical figure, from Leonardo da Vinci to Albrecht Dürer. Their latest studio album is Nemesis AD (2023), and the Melancholia Tour follows in early 2027.

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Serenity’s settled line-up came together in Tyrol in 2004 around singer Georg Neuhauser and drummer Andreas Schipflinger, who are both still in the band. After the demo Engraved Within (2005), they signed with Napalm Records in December 2006. The debut Words Untold & Dreams Unlived followed in 2007 and Fallen Sanctuary in 2008. At this stage they played power metal with progressive touches. In 2010 Italian bassist Fabio D’Amore replaced Simon Holzknecht.

Death & Legacy (2011) was the record where the orchestral side took over, and it set the sound the band has kept since. For War of Ages (2013) Serenity added a second lead singer, the French vocalist Clémentine Delauney, who had joined at the end of 2012. By the next album both she and long-time guitarist Thomas Buchberger had left. Chris Hermsdörfer took over lead guitar, and the band went into its next phase with Neuhauser, Schipflinger, D’Amore and Hermsdörfer at the core.

From that point Serenity wrote concept albums about history. Codex Atlanticus (January 2016) was based on Leonardo da Vinci and his legacy, and Lionheart (October 2017) on Richard the Lionheart. The Last Knight (31 January 2020) told the story of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and reached No. 25 in Germany. Hermsdörfer also plays guitar in the German band Beyond the Black, and has said that balancing the two bands on tour is not always easy.

The eighth album, Nemesis AD, came out on Napalm Records on 27 October 2023. It is about the German Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer. Former Kamelot singer Roy Khan guests on “The Fall of Man”. It was also the first album with Marco Pastorino of Temperance as a second guitarist and backing singer. In February and March 2027 Serenity will headline the Melancholia Tour across Europe and the UK, with Secret Sphere as special guests. Clémentine Delauney, now singing in Visions of Atlantis, will join them as a guest at the show in Pratteln, Switzerland.

Current line-up: Georg Neuhauser (vocals), Chris Hermsdörfer (guitar), Marco Pastorino (guitar), Fabio D’Amore (bass), Andreas Schipflinger (drums)