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The Progressive metal band EMPYRIA formed in Vancouver B.C. (Canada) in 1991 by guitarist Mike Kischnick, Paul Falcon (bass/vocals) and Simon Adam (drums). EMPYRIA followed the traditional path of gigs and demos refining their craft until a pro-demo was released in 1993 called Ornamental Ironworks. By 1994/95 they gained the assistance of manager Dustin Hardman who secured the band with its first release in 1996 Behind Closed Doors ( 8/10 in The Collectors Guide to Heavy Metal) on T&T a subsidiary of NOISE Records. In 1997 Paul Falcon left the band and was soon replaced by vocalist Phil Leite and bassist Ken Firomski.

The 2nd cd Changing Currents (10/12 Heavy Oder Was?!) was released independently with distribution from Rising Sun Records, Scrape Records & Nightmare Records and over the next 2 years the band grew in popularity appearing on 3 compilation discs. The result of hard work paid off when in 2000 they released their 3rd cd The Legacy on a U.S. label called Nightmare Records run by Lance King of ( Pyramaze, Balance of Power, Gemini) receiving excellent press worldwide. ( 8.5/10 Strutter magazine, 8.5/10 Rokk Faqtory), 8/10 BW&BK) The Legacy was in a sense an EP that put together part I-III of The Lighter Sides of Darkness with a new 4th chapter The Legacy (Of Final Darkness) as a 25 minute epic. The disc also contained a unique cover of the Polices Synchronicity II. 2001 saw the band appear on yet another compilation West Coast Metal Feast produced by the Vancouver metal store SCRAPE RECORDS. 2002 saw the return of EMPYRIA yet again with a new full length album called Sense of Mind released by Scrape Records considered to by many to be the bands best release to date, combining the elements of prog/power metal with a more melodic side. (4/5 Euphony magazine., 8.5/10 Strutter magazine., 8/10 Musica magazine). EMPYRIA also appears in the book The A-Z of POWER METAL" by Garry Sharpe-Younge. (available through www.rockdetector.com )

* Currently EMPYRIA is on hiatus, while Mike Kischnick just completed a successful tour w/ THOR as well as playing guitar for hard rock/metal band LIFE and released his solo disc "New Horizon III". Phil Leite sings on the NEW HORIZON III disc and continues to sing for his new band. Ken Firomski plays on NEW HORIZON III and is currently playing bass with the band WARJUNK ( www.warjunk.com ). Simon Adam continues to work on various projects.