Originally founded in 1987,
PYRACANDA hit the scene with their debut album "Two Sides Of A Coin" in 1990 – an explosive mix of high density speed metal & strong melodies. Produced by Armin Sabol (i.a. Rage and Sinner). Influenced by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and early Metallica, singer Hansi Nefen, the guitarists Sven Fischer & Dennis Vaupel, bassist Dieter Wittbecker and drummer Elmar Gehenzig created a unique blend of furious riffs & lush chord progressions that set them apart from their competitors. Along with labelmates Blind Guardian, PYRACANDA was another treasure coming out of the No Remorse Records camp.
The follow up album „Thorns“ – released in 1992 – was produced with Mekong Delta mastermind Ralph Hubert and saw PYRACANDA adding some progressive rock elements. Both albums feature exceptional cover artwork by renowned artist Joachim Luetke (Kreator, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Marilyn Manson, Destruction i.a.).
With Gehenzig leaving the band (who was then replaced by Patrick Grün – now also with Caliban) and Fischer joining the metal institution Rage a year later, things were paused. For a long time. And they came together again.
In 2020, PYRACANDA announced their reunion, playing the old hits for their loyal fans after all these years and working on new music at the same time. On 10 October 2024, the time has come. After 32 years, the new album „Losing Faith“ comes in good old PYRACANDA style. It is 100% oldschool composed and recorded. No frills, no drum computers. Everything was composed in the rehearsal room and recorded by hand in the studio. But it doesn’t come across as old-fashioned. It’s real, true and new heavy metal.
Band photo provided by FHM Records for free promotional use.