Conquest (band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Conquest


Img_capt = Conquest circa 2007
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Kharkov, Ukraine
Genre = Power metal
Years_active = 1996 - present
Label = Musical Hall Distribution
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.conquest-ua.com/ www.conquest-ua.com]
Current_members = W. Angel Lady Dea Louis "Terminator" Ray Victor Serbin
Past_members =

Conquest are a Power metal and Speed metal band originally from Kharkov, Ukraine, forming in 1996.

Biography

Conquest began in Kharkov, Ukraine as a solo project for frontman W. Angel. However, their music was well received, prompting their formation as a full band in their own right. At this point their style was farther from Power Metal and was closer to Hard rock in the style of Def Leppard. Their first lineup consisted of:

* Ivan Goncharenko - vocals
* W. Angel - guitar
* Alexander Zakharov - guitar
* Alexander "Buck" Homenko - bass
* Andrey Alfyorov - drums

Their first concert live was on January 7th in 1998.

Throughout 1998 the band played a small series of concerts in their area with local bands, such as Aria, Alisa, Nogu Svelo and Mister Twister. In a sudden turn of events in early 1999, Ivan Goncharenko, Andrey Alfyorov, and Alexander "Buck" Homenko left the band.

This prompted W. Angel and Alexander Zakharov to hire new members and change the band's style. Jenick D. Lenkoff became the vocalist, and Sergei Balalajev and Alexander Tatarin were brought on to play drums and bass, respectively. Throughout the summer of 1999 they began playing Power metal and Speed metal. Their first show with the new lineup was in Kharkov Opera Theatre. This performance was very well received. Afterwards, Conquest signed on with the Russian label Irond Records and published their debut album, Endless Power. Soon after production, during the summer of 2000 Alexander Tatarin was let go due to lack of interest and was replaced with Alexander "KoSa" Kovalevsky, making the lineup of the band:

* Jenick D. Lenkoff - vocals
* W. Angel - guitar, backing vocals
* Alexander Zakharoff - guitar, backing vocals
* Alexander "KoSa" Kovalevsky - bass, backing vocals
* Sergei "At The Gates" Balalayev - drums

Conquest continued to tour Ukraine and other Post-Soviet Union countries. The band gradually became dissatisfied with the monotony of life on the road. Sergei Balalayev then left the band leaving them in an unable to tour for the remainder of 2003. In January of 2004, W. Angel moved to Kiev, ending the first iteration of Conquest. W. Angel successfully reformed Conquest, hiring new members resulting in a lineup of:

* Alex G.L. - vocals
* W. Angel - guitar, backing vocals
* Lady Dea - keyboards
* Louis Ray - bass
* Alexander Can - drums

During the spring and summer of 2005, Conquest had signed on to a new record label, Musical Hall Distribution. In December, Conquest released their second album, Frozen Sky. However, in 2006 Alexander Can had to leave because of personal reasons. Conquest again began to reshape. That spring, Conquest hired a new drummer, Vladimir Nekrotjuk, and in August of that year hired a second guitar player Alexander Morte. Morte had played in the Belorussian band Stormhold. At the end of 2006, the lineup consisted of:

* Alex G.L. - vocals
* W. Angel - guitar, backing vocals
* Alexander Morte - guitar
* Lady Dea - keyboards, backing vocals
* Louis Ray - bass
* Vladimir Nekrotjuk- drums

After touring in 2006, Conquest fired Alexander Morte and decided to reissue and remaster their 2000 classic Endless Power. This new release included new cover art and a bonus track by Vladimir Ivasiuk. Shortly after the reissue, Vladimir Nekrotjuk left the band after getting a proposition for being a musician for a famous Ukrainian singer. Victor Serbin then joined the band for a few shows before a bizarre problem occurred with the lead singer's voice caused him to leave the band. This left the band with their current linup. In fall 2007, they are working on their newest album, Empire.

Members

Current members

*W. Angel - guitar, vocals (since 1996)
*Lady Dea - keyboards (since 2004)
*Louis "Terminator" Ray - bass, backing vocals (since 2004)
*Victor Serbin - drums (since 2007)

Former members

Vocals

*Ivan Goncharenko (1997-1999)
*Jenick D. Lenkoff (1999-2003)
*Alex G.L. (2004-2006)

Guitar

*Alexander Zakharov (1997-2003)
*Alexander Morte (2006-2007)

Bass

*Alexander "Buck" Homenko (1997-1999)
*Alexander Tatarin (1999-2000)
*Alexander "KoSa" Kovalevsky (2000-2003)

Drums

*Andrey Alfyorov (1997-1999)
*Sergei "At The Gates" Balalajev (1999-2003))
*Alexander Can (2004-2006)
*Vladimir Nekrotjuk (2006-2007)

Discography

Albums

* "Endless Power" (2000)
* "Frozen Sky" (2005)
* "Empire" (TBD)

Demos

* "Far Away" (1996)
* "Made In Ukraine" (1997)
* "Motherland" (2000)

ee also

* Irond Records

External links

* [http://www.conquest-ua.com Official Site]
* [http://www.froster.org Ukrainian "Metal Portal", featuring Conquest]