Artist description Tramontane is the San Francisco bay areas premier "Power Metal" group. mixing fast heavy guitar riffs,a solid rhythm section and soaring vocals Tramontane sets the standard of what "Power Metal" is all about. If you haven't heard Tramontane before you're in for a real treat.

Music Style Power Metal

Musical Influences Savatage, Nevermore, Crimson Glory, Angra, Dream theater, Fates Warning, Rush

Similar Artists Iced Earth, Nevermore, Savatage, Armored Saint, Metal Church, Iron Maiden

Artist History Is heavy metal dead? Not if Tramontane has anything to do about it. Tramontane is a San Francisco/Bay Area based band who are back in action with the release of their new CD "December Dark." Tramontane has been in existence for a couple of years and gained a considerable following both locally and abroad. Their early demos have received extremely positive press throughout the world while their local fans have been fortunate enough to witness their intense live shows. Since the release of their last demo, Tramontane has been in hiatus while founding guitarists Michael Morris and John Antonioli looked for members to improve the band. The first recruit was drummer Walter Massenkoff who immediately locked in with what the band was and is trying to create. His drumming provides a very sound foundation for the band. Vocalist Norman Skinner was next to be asked to join. His ability to be more powerful and more expressive than his predecessor instantly added a new dimension to the group, as did his unique lyrical approach. The final piece of the puzzle was completed with bassist John Naas. John instantly locked in with Walter to create an incredible rhythm section that the band had always lacked. With the members firmly in place, Tramontane began writing new songs to show the growth the band has shown while still maintaining their core sound. "December Dark" is the first CD the band has put out. While Tramontane’s fan base will instantly recognize their sound but see the obvious growth. The CD begins with "Electric Gods" which begins with a quiet storm of percussion and guitars before exploding into its heavy main riff. The lyrical approach is based upon the nations reliance on technology. Next is "Mabon’s Gate", a fast heavy number which is probably closest to what the band has previously recorded. "Watch Over Me," a tale of disillusionment with organized religion, is one of the heaviest songs the band has recorded and one of the slowest numbers in their repertoire. The accessibility of "Another Time" is a strong departure for the group. It’s extremely melodic and catchy while still retaining the power the band is known for. "Fade" attacks the listener next, a song that takes you from a peaceful journey into a barrage of heaviness and back again. The instrumental "Scorched Earth" shows off the instrumental prowess the band possess before kicking into the title track "December Dark." The track is very heavy with lots of guitar harmonies and an almost Middle Eastern feel in the middle. This CD shows off that the new additions have improved the group by leaps and bounds and the songwriting skills continue to improve. Tramontane is back. They are ready to bring their music back to their fans and try to be a shot in the arm for heavy metal. If you like what they did before, you’ll love them now. If you haven’t heard them before be prepared fora treat. Heavy metal refuses to die.

Group Members Michael Morris - GuitarsJohn Antonioli - GuitarsWalter Massenkoff - DrumsNorman Skinner - VocalsJohn Naas - Bass

Instruments Guitars, Drums, Bass, Vocals

Albums December Dark

Press Reviews Upon first viewing the band members, one gets the idea that they're from a definite working-class background doubling as musicians in their spare time. However, after hearing their debut disc "December Dark," their musicianship quickly rises to the surface and you realize right away this is a very talented band that's indeed worked hard to arrive at the point they are today.Hailing from the San Francisco Bay area, recognizable for producing such great metal artists as Metallica and Testament among others, "Tramontane" are the latest in an all too sporadic list of banner-waving heavy metal reformists. They do have a certain quality of freshness in their music, but there's little doubt that they've taken the position of trying to bring the classic metal sound, first adopted by those former greats, back into the spotlight.The first thing I noticed in the middle of track number one, "Electric Gods," was a similarity to early Fates Warning, though not as technically demanding as they, and surprisingly better produced considering the circumstances of just starting out. Vocalist Norman Skinner heads a lineup that features three new members recruited to refine and re-establish what original founding guitarists Michael Morris and John Antonioli first envisioned, and it's heretofore apparent that they've done just that. Skinner's vocals are suitable to their wide-ranging style to say the least, and his high-pitched harmonic quality couldn't be mistaken to deliver anything but a strong metal performance. Of the six tracks (*or seven if the closer "Scorched Earth and "December Dark" are counted as two separately), their guidelines are not limited to only sizing up to a metal following, though it is at the core of their direction.In following the demonstrative pounding of "Electric Gods," "Mabon's Gate" provides a sort of devilish mental printout that documents one at a conflicting crossroads tempted by necessity and foolhardy desire. It shares the lead role of the most aggressive numbers in the mix, along with the title track proceeding the "Scorched Earth" instrumental. The biggest surprise among this general state of heaviness would have to be "Another Time," which relies a great deal on its melodic structure and catchy chorus."Tramontane's" powerful debut is indeed the shot in the arm metal music is in need of, and what better place to start from than where so many of its pioneers first made their grand entrance. The material is strong in all areas of production. Ranging from the personal conflicts that surround the lyrical content, to the circuit blowing rhythms that embed the key-twisting instrumentals, to the soaring vocals, "Tramontane" challenges all who continue to ignore the thought of a heavy metal resurgence. Instead, "Tramontane" offers a profound act of defiance with "December Dark!"Tramontane are coming from United States and they are playing Power Metal with many influences from classic metal bands. They play their metal the American way, and they play it well. The six songs of the CD are all of excellent quality and they have a descent production. Of course it could be better but considered that it is a self financed CD it is rather good. All five members of the band are really talented musicians and it is a surprise to me that they don’t have a contract. Especially if you consider what they are releasing some other bands that do have one. Strong and fast riffs, very good melodies some excellent changes and groovy rhythm are the things that are characterizing this CD. If you like good American Metal in the likes of Iced Earth then you are gonna love this.

Location South San Francisco, California - USA

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