Human Fortress

Human Fortress is a power metal band from Hanover, Germany.[1] They call their style "epic battle metal."

"Defenders of the Crown" redirects here. For the Cinemaware video game, see Defender of the Crown.
Human Fortress
Human Fortress performing at the Rockhouse in Hanover in 2004
Background information
OriginHanover, Germany
GenresPower metal
Years active1997–present
LabelsAFM Records
Associated actsEmber Sea
Websitehuman-fortress.de
MembersGus Monsanto
Torsten Wolf
Volker Trost
Apostolos "Laki" Zaios
Andre Hort
Dirk Liehm
Past membersJioti Parcharidis
Pablo J. Tammen
Thomas Albrecht
Burkhard Becker
Dirk Marquardt
Frank Sawade
Carsten Frank
Arndt Krone
Vincent Gongala
Ingmar von Berg

Biography

In 1997, guitarists Torsten Wolf and Volker Trost joined with bassist Pablo J. Tammen to form a band called Timezone. Shortly after recording a demo, however, the band split up. Soon thereafter, the lineup was rounded out with singer Jioti Parcharidis, drummer Apostolos "Laki" Zaios, and keyboardist Dirk Marquardt. This new lineup called themselves Human Fortress.

After recording a demo in 1999, the band began work on their debut album, which was completed in the summer of 2000. They entered a talent contest sponsored by a popular German metal magazine. Their song "The Dragons Lair" was released on a compilation CD for the contest, and was subsequently voted "Favorite Track" by online fans. Due to this recognition the band reached a deal with Limb Records, and released their debut album Lord of Earth and Heavens Heir.

2003 saw the release of the band's second album Defenders of the Crown, this time on Massacre Records. The recording process included guest performances by members of the bands Galloglass, King Leoric, and Meridian Zero. After this album, guitarist Volker Trost left the band and was replaced by Frank Sawade.

In 2007, the face of Human Fortress changed once again, as singer Jioti Parcharidis and drummer Apostolos "Laki" Zaios left the band. They were replaced by Carsten Frank and Arndt Krone, respectively. Human Fortress released their third CD, Eternal Empire, on April 25, 2008.[2] Arndt Krone and Torsten Wolf left the band in the same year, the first being replaced by drummer Vincent Gongala.

In 2009 the band announced that Frank Sawade, Pablo J. Tammen, Dirk Marquardt and Vincent Gongala would form a new band called Ember Sea with singer Eva Skamira, continuing the new style adopted for the third album, and that former band members Jioti Parcharidis, Torsten Wolf, Volker Trost and Apostolos "Laki" Zaios, reinforced by newcomers Ingmar von Berg and Dirk Liehm, would continue as Human Fortress in the style of the first two albums.[3] However, singer Jioti Parcharidis left again due to health problems in the beginning of 2010.

In July 2013, following a 5-year hiatus, Gus Monsanto became Human Fortress' new singer, and the band signed with AFM Records. The band's fourth CD, Raided Land, was released in November of that year.

The band began recording their fifth album in July 2015.[4] A crowdfunding effort was started on Startnext to fund the recording of the album. The album, titled Thieves of the Night, was released in March 2016, again through AFM Records. Soon after, in April of the same year, Defenders of the Crown was re-released by Massacre Records with two bonus tracks re-recorded with original vocalist Jioti Parcharidis.

Band members

Current members
  • Gus Monsanto – vocals (2013–present)
  • Torsten Wolf – guitar, backing vocals (1997–2008, 2009–present)
  • Volker Trost – guitar (1997–2003, 2009–present)
  • Andre Hort – bass (2013–present)
  • Apostolos "Laki" Zaios – drums (2000–2007, 2009–present)
  • Dirk Liehm – keyboards (2009–present)

Former members
  • Jioti Parcharidis – vocals (1997–2007, 2009–2010)
  • Pablo J. Tammen – bass, backing vocals (1997–2009)
  • Thomas Albrecht – drums (1997–2000)
  • Dirk Marquardt – keyboards, backing vocals (1999–2009)
  • Frank Sawade – guitar (2003–2009)
  • Carsten Frank – vocals, guitar (2007–2009)
  • Arndt Krone – drums (2007–2008)
  • Vincent Gongala – drums (2008–2009)
  • Ingmar von Berg – bass (2009–2012)

Timeline

Discography
Date Album Title Record Label Notes
2000 Human Fortress Self Released Ep
2001 Lord of Earth and Heavens Heir LMP Records Studio Album
2003 Defenders of the Crown Massacre Records Studio Album
2008 Eternal Empire Massacre Records Studio Album
2013 Raided Land AFM Records Studio Album
2016 Thieves of the Night AFM Records Studio Album
2019 Reign of Gold AFM Records Studio Album
2020 Epic Tales & Untold Stories Massacre Records Studio Album

References
  1. Human Fortress at AllMusic
  2. Human Fortress Official.
  3. Human Fortress Official Forum Archived 2011-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "HUMAN FORTRESS - Hey all, things are growing and we can... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
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