Artist description Searing, powerful prog-metal that strips the colour off a moving train from a two-mile distance

Music Style Metal

Musical Influences Old and New School Metal

Similar Artists Nevermore, Psychotic Waltz, Testament, Hexenhaus, Pantera

Artist History NEON SUNRISE was founded in January 1998. when Markus and Andreas Becker from the progressive metal band Kirlian Factor joined forces with Dirk Zimmermann, Mike Bröker and Sebastian Watolla from Within The Shadows. The band immediately found their specific style of powerful, yet sophisticated heavy metal: striking melodies and forceful guitar riffs, expressive vocals and a precise rhythmic drive. After only four months, the five-track EP "Burning in the Focus" was recorded and a major success with numerous critics.

Group Members Dirk Zimmermann - vox Mike Bröker - drums Markus Becker - bass Andreas Becker - git Sebastian Watolla - git

Instruments Guitars, Drums, Bass

Albums "Burning in the Focus", 1998

Press Reviews SOUNDBASE:Neon Sunrise play bloody intelligent and progressive Power Metal which fascinates by its harmonic, intensive guitar riffs. Sometimes the remind me of Psychotic Waltz, and there can be hardly any bigger compliment. Besides, the band manage to write compact songs which captivate the listener for longer periods. At the moment, there are few bands on this sector who surpass Neon Sunrise in this respect. Actually, a record deal is a must.ROCK HARD:"Burning in the Focus" is excellently produced, contains outstanding artworks, and the five songs please the listener. The titel song shows the band's ability to play powerful riffs, proven by the title track, which has a compelling guitar theme. "Burning in the Focus" is a successful debut.METAL HEART:The boys earn full assets when it comes to songwriting, because the know how to write progressive songs which aren't destroyed by over-complicated parts but hit the nail mercilessly on the head. METAL HAMMER INTERNATIONAL:The pessimistic, sad mood gets combined with heavy guitars that seem to come straight out of the pure, heavy U.S. power metal. They would fit perfectly into a tour along with Soul Cages, as they remind a lot this mega-group in its heavier, more metallic moments. Their intensive, heavy atmosphere of their songs reminds also of the beloved mega-group called Psychotic Waltz - and if it's not a credit, what does a credit mean? The future belongs to them at no doubt! Be prepared for great things from them.DEMOlution:There are bands who vainly try to be complicated, and there are others compared to whom AC/DC are true masters. Then there's the golden mean, the mean between ability and the gift of writing songs that are something special. Neon Sunrise, without doubt, belong to that category of musicians. Everything goes well together: vocals which are slow, melancholic, progressive and simply good, or the guitars which deliver a mighty amount power and are nevertheless able to play Maiden-like hooklines. AMBOSS:After a bizarre Intro you are brought into headbanging position by the first riffs, which slightly remind me of Megadeth's 'Symphony of Destruction'. The title track features an intriguing guitar melody that leads thorugh the whole song and faster parts with neck-breaking potential. The other songs offer good metal with a progressive touch. All facts considered, "Burning in the Focus" features cleverly interlocked, but not too complicated song structures and a very melancholy, suffering atmosphere. At several points it succeeds in spellbinding the listener. SWEET SUFFERING:The five tracks recorded show good instrumental abilities and a valuable songwriting, and the compositions have a true "progressive" approach. I cannot make a comparison with other prog metal acts because the band's music is quite personal; for example, their instrumental parts are not as complex as Zero Hour's or Dream Theater's and their overall vision of melody is far different, more intimist and deeply-felt, expecially the choices made for the vocal lines. This means, no catchy choruses or commercial appeal, but particular atmospheres based on the alternation beween powerful heavy riffs and relaxed, "liquid" sections with evoking arpeggios and refined guitar parts, like the ones included in the title track. A particular praise to the inspired guitar solos and some of the arrangements, for instance the ones written for the slow opening section of "True Life". Wargods of Metal: The 5 songs in Neon Sunrise's debut EP show an exceptionally high level of quality. The slow guitar solos are especially striking, they create an almost dreamlike atmosphere. The guitars' sound is at its best. To put it shortly: We're going to hear more of this band. I can hardly believe this is a debut...8 out of 10 Points DISAGREEMENT ONLINE:If you're into power metal with some progressive elements and rather long songs, then Neon Sunrise are what you have been waiting for. I like the experimental title track especially because that song is borne on a beautiful guitar melody and the singer uses cool effects throughout the song. Although everyone speaks nowadays of the true metal hype, I noticed that more and more German underground bands are turning their heads into that kind of music... No Inner Limits and From Thy Ashes just to name a few of the really promising bands. Neon Sunrise don't have to hide behind them, because 'Burning In The Focus' is one of the most ambitious self-produced metal CDs I have heard in a long time. 8 out of 10 points

Location Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen - Germany

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