History

Magician was formed in 2000 in Porto Alegre, when Elizandro Max (bass), Cristiano Schmitt (guitar) and Zé Bocchi (drums), departed from the band Anya, joined Renato Osorio (guitar) and Dan Rubin (lead vocals), both former Rising Land members. This line-up has remained stable since.

The five, under the name Presto, started rehearsing some covers of bands such as Gamma Ray, Helloween, Dream Theater and Bruce Dickinson. After finding out two other bands also named Presto, the band name was changed to Magician. In the end of 2000 and during 2001, the band started composing the first music of their own, mixing the various influences the band received, essentially melodic and prog metal, with some loads from traditional metal. Mixing heavy and progressive riffs and harmonies with the speed of melodic power metal, Magician creates a particular sound. Powerful riffs, majestic choruses and excellent solos, mixed with great vocal arrangements. At this time the first shows take place, and the band gets a good empathy with the local audience.

In 2002, the main goal is the first demo recording, 'Brief Magic Story', with the best of the band's work so far. The demo got good repercussion, gathering several compliments and good reviews. The song 'Prime Evil' is played several times on Ipanema Radio (Porto Alegre), and also on some radios from Argentina and Chile. The performances of Magician at the Heavy Grande do Sul and Arrasa Quarteirão festivals were also well commended, and the band have played with world wide famous metal bands such as Helloween, Shaman and others.

The band's debut album 'Tales of the Magician' is to be released later in 2007. Recorded in 2006, 'Tales of the Magician' is a conceptual work, telling the journey of Zhaldor, a mage seeking to free his homeland Zelgian from the underworld terror. The album was mixed and mastered at High Gain Studios in Hamburg/Germany by Dirk Schlächter (Gamma Ray), Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray, ex-Helloween) and Arne Lakenmacher (eg. Kreator, Primal Fear, Sodom, Nevermore and Destruction).

(source: the official Magician website and the official Magician MySpace.com page, July 2007, edited by AM)