Antares

ANTARES is a German symphonic rock band with influences of GENESIS, MARILLION, PENDRAGON and YES. The band is lead by the composer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Claus Neide. Although they may not sound as professional as PENDRAGON, this is perhaps the closest comparison.

ANTARES released the debut concept CD "Over The Hills" on the Bellaphon label in 1982 and their second album "Out Of Sight" on the Bekegg label in 1998. It is quite a long time between the albums, but the explanation is that the band split in 1983 and was later reformed to record "Out Of Sight". Both albums are very melodic but each album is very representative of their time. "Over The Hills" is very 80's sounding and a little bit warmer than the 90's sounding "Out Of Sight".

The band members on the 1982 debut consist of Claus Neide on vocals, keyboards, lead guitar, Lugwig Eilers on lead guitar, and Helge Büow on drums and percussion. The title track is an epic clocking 15 and a half minutes, though the whole album is rather short at less than 36 minutes in length. Parts of the album may remind one of the Neo sounds of SAGA, with the bass sounds of QUASAR.

The followup album from 1989 has a slightly different lineup with Claus Neide on vocals, keyboards, lead guitar, Jens Fricke on rhythm guitars, Khalid Schröder on drums, percussion, Ede Brumund-Rüther on bass, and Rainer Schöning on sax. The album is also short at half an hour in length but it is a quality Symphonic sound.

- Greger Rönnqvist

UPDATED 2014 —AtomicCrimsonRush (Scott Tuffnell)—