Andromeda

Andromeda are a Swedish progressive metal band from Malmö, active since 1999. The group forms around guitarist Johan Reinholdz, bassist Gert Daun, drummer Thomas Lejon, keyboard player Martin Hedin and vocalist David Fremberg, with Lawrence Mackrory also appearing on vocals on the early recordings. Other members associated with the band include Jakob Tanentsapf, Fabian Gustavsson and Linus Abrahamson.

Formation and early releases

The band begins when Reinholdz submits the demo Welcome to Forever to WAR-music, leading to a recording deal. The first line-up rehearses material for Extension of the Wish, which is recorded at Dug-Out studio in March 2000 with producer Daniel Bergstrand. Mackrory handles vocals on the initial version, and David Fremberg joins the band in August 2000. The album appears in early 2001 and is followed by Swedish touring and a performance at the ProgPower festival in the Netherlands.

Later in 2000, the band re-records the vocals for Extension of the Wish with Fremberg, remixes the tracks and adds two new songs for a French edition issued by NTS. The group then tours France with Evergrey. Recording for the next album, II=I, starts before the first album campaign is fully complete, with Martin Hedin producing the sessions. That release presents a more complex, vocal-led approach.

Chimera and later work

In 2003, Fabian Gustavsson replaces Gert Daun on bass, finalising what the band describes as its key line-up. The group then writes and records Chimera, issued worldwide after touring and festival appearances. The album takes a simpler, more direct approach while retaining the band’s progressive metal style, and Martin Hedin again handles production.

In April 2007 the band releases its first live DVD, Playing Off the Board, documenting the group on stage. The Immunity Zone follows in 2008 and continues their dark, heavy and technically detailed sound.

Style

Andromeda are identified with heavy, intense, melodic progressive metal, and their later work is described as more complex and vocal-focused before moving toward a firmer, more direct sound on Chimera. Their catalogue includes studio albums, re-recorded material, and live documentation, all centred on a progressive metal framework.