IVORY TOWER - IVORY TOWER - 1998

The history of Ivory tower began in 1996, when singer Andre Fischer, guitarist Sven Boge and drummer Thorsten Thrunke joined forces to form a new metal band, using the name AX'N SEX. Their self-produced CD, "Victim of Time", met with positive reactions in Germany and throughout Europe, and even overseas. Many magazines from around the world praised the record. After several line-up changes, the band changed its name to IVORY TOWER and moved to a more Prog-Metal oriented style. The final completion for the band and its new direction came with the inclusion of Stephan Laschetski (bass) and Stephan Machon (keyboards).

Around december, 1997, the band signed up with the then-new label Limb Music Products. their self-titled debut album was released in october 1998. The echo on the part of the media and fansa was tremendous. Most magazines, both national and international, gave the debut work fantastic reviews. Significant tour dates followed and the band made itself a name in the prog-metal realm. 2000 saw the release of "Beyond the Stars", arguably their best work to date, a record that put them in the spotlight in the european prog-metal scene.

IVORY TOWER suffered a bit through the first half of the decade, struggling to stay alive, with no label after the end of their contract with Limb. Some changes in formation were needed, and after the inclusion of Torsten Nesch (bass), Oliver Kukla (drums) and Folke Fittkau (keyboards), old members and band masterminds Boge and Fischer set out to record a new album, "It", in 2006.

IVORY TOWER's sound has been widely described as true Prog-Metal in the fashion of genre's flagship band, Dream Theater. Their style is very similar to that of the Ney York band, with heavy-metal riffs, sudden time signature changes, pounding double-bass drums and grandiose keyboards, these two elements much in the power-metal vein. Their songs average 7 minutes long, and even though the common structure is the regular verse-chorus pattern, they manage to surprise the listener with lots of instrumental intricacies and ornaments that make for a compelling, utterly enjoyable metal listen, even if not incredibly innovative or unique.

A recommended listen for all fans of Dream Theater, Pagan's Mind, Vanden Plas, Threshold and in general to prog-metal fans, but also to anyone who enjoys intelligent metal in general. Also recommended for fans of complex power-metal.
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