At Vance

Infobox musical artist
Name = At Vance

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Img_capt = Olaf Lenk, Mats Levén , John ABC Smith
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Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Germany
Genre = Power metal, Heavy metal, Neo-classical metal
Years_active = 1998 - present
Label = Shark Records AFM Records
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URL = [http://www.at-vance.com/ www.at-vance.com]
Current_members = Olaf Lenk Rick Altzi Manuel Walther Alex Landenburg
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

At Vance is a German Power metal/ Neo-classical metal band. They were formed by vocalist Oliver Hartmann (ex-Centers) and guitarist Olaf Lenk (ex-Velvet Viper) in 1998.

Biography

With the combined credentials of Oliver Hartmann and guitarist Olaf Lenk on their resumés, they easily obtained a deal with Shark Records. Rainald König (guitar), Ulli Muller (keyboards), Jochen Schnur (bass) and Spoony (drums) rounded out the line-up that recorded 1999's debut "No Escape" - a standard-issue product of melodic Germanic power metal if ever there was one. European fans lapped it up, and the group's second opus, 2000's "Heart of Steel" (featuring new drummer Jurgen Lucas) was a surprise hit in Japan and encouraged At Vance to quickly issue a follow-up in 2001's "Dragonchaser". Barely pausing for breath, the next year saw the band switching to AFM Records, losing their bassist and keyboard player, releasing their fourth album "Only Human", then hitting the road across Europe with Rhapsody and Angel Dust. A number of personnel changes ensued in 2003, as At Vance welcomed new vocalist Mats Levén and bassist Sascha Feldmann before recording their next L.P. "The Evil in You", released in 2003, which was one of their best-selling album at the time. A tour with Kamelot followed the release.

Later, Lenk fired König and Feldmann, replacing the latter with bassist John ABC Smith (born Dario Trobok) (ex-Scanner , ex-Gallows Pole). All guitar work was performed by Lenk, and drums by Mark Cross (ex-Helloween). This formation released a new record, "Chained", which transpired to be the album with Mats Levén on lead vocals. In April 2007, At Vance's MySpace webpage announced a new record would be released in May 2007 entitled "VII", introducing talented young singer Rick Altzi on vocals, but still delivering classic and top quality German heavy metal performed by Olaf Lenk's band At Vance.The album was mastered at Finnvox by Mika Jussila.

Several of At Vance's albums contain transcriptions of classical pieces such as the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and "Summer" from Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons".New line-up was announced on band's webpage , adding Alex Landenburg (from Annihilator)on Drums and Manuel Walther on Bass

Current Lineup

*Rick Altzi - Vocals
*Olaf Lenk - Guitars
*Manuel Walther - Bass
*Alex Landenburg - Drums

Former Members

*Mats Levén - Vocals
*Oliver Hartmann - Vocals
*Rainald König - Guitars
*Ulli Müller - Keyboards
*Spoony - Drums
*Jochen Schnur - Bass
*Sascha Feldmann - Bass
*Jürgen Lucas - Drums
*John ABC Smith (born Dario Trobok) - Bass
*Mark Cross - Drums

Discography

*"No Escape" (1999)
*"Heart of Steel" (2000)
*"Dragonchaser" (2001)
*"Early Works - Centers" (2001)
*"Only Human" (2002)
*"The Evil In You" (2003)
*"Chained" (2005)
*"VII" (2007)

Compilations

*"The Best Of" (2004)

External links

* [http://www.at-vance.com At Vance Official Homepage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/atvance At Vance MySpace Music homepage]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtHa65GXEBs Evil in You Live Video on YouTube]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmYSEWaMZSw Heart Of Steel Live Video on YouTube]