Visions of Atlantis (AT)

About

Also known as: VoA

Visions of Atlantis have been weaving symphonic metal grandeur out of Bruck an der Mur, Austria, since 2000, drawing inspiration from the myth of Atlantis and, in more recent years, a full blown pirate theme that sets them apart from most of the genre's peers. Their early albums like Eternal Endless Infinity and Cast Away built a solid European fanbase, and a notable moment came when their track "Lemuria" was played at the medal ceremonies of the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu. The band toured the US with Epica and shared stages with acts like Serenity and Kamelot, steadily expanding beyond their Austrian roots. They've navigated a remarkable number of lineup changes over the years, always keeping founding drummer Thomas Caser as the anchor. Female vocalists have been a defining feature, from original mezzo soprano Nicole Bogner through to Clémentine Delauney, with Michele Guaitoli later joining as male lead. Their 2018 album The Deep & the Dark marked a strong chapter, and the pirate theme that now runs through their work gives the whole thing a theatrical, swashbuckling energy that's hard to ignore.