User:Bluebird808/viathyn

Viathyn is a three piece power metal band based out of Calgary Alberta, it was formed in the year 2005. Power metal is a genre characterized by its blending of other metal subtypes creating a very melodic yet consistently progressive sound, making frequent use of fast drums, keyboards, and plentiful guitar solos. The name Viathyn was chosen as a play on the word leviathan, meaning monstrous fiend or goliath.

Axe music store is currently the largest music store in Calgary and is soon to be the largest in Alberta once renovations are complete in January 2008. It is also where Tomislav Crnkovic(not to be confused with Croatian athlete) and Jacob Tyler Wright worked together in 2005, Crnkovic as sales manager, and Wright as a newly recruited guitar teacher. After eight months working side by side, a jam session was scheduled, in which Tomislav’s brother Dave Crnkovic also partook as he was conveniently a drummer. As a result of this first day playing together, the three had already started writing material.

The group thus became an extremely dedicated band, after two years of writing together and the recording of the first EP, the members decided on a dramatic reformatting of their style. Their song writing became more technical and their sound more progressive. The group maintains strong ties with the metal community and other musicians. Tomislav has used his strategic role both in music producing as well as within the Axe Music company to establish a network with fellow musicians both in Canada and abroad. The Calgary music scene is one with a growing metal subculture, and when this new band emerged, and reemerged it was received into open arms laden with spikes and studs.

Tomislav Crnkovic Crnkovic plays lead guitar, he is known for his melodic riffs and captivating solos. Currently 28 yrs old, Tomislav is of Croatian descent, and even though born and raised in Calgary, he remains very true to his roots, having a distinctly European folk air to his music both on paper as well as in the studio. Tomislav started playing guitar twelve years ago, at the time he was very involved in the techno and electronica movement. The change came eight years ago, when Tomislav became severely ill, he was quarantined to his home for several weeks, during that time is when he is said to have discovered metal. He abandoned his degree in business and several obscure cover bands he was working with at the time, to take an overdue trip to Croatia to find himself. The electro enthusiast returned several months later, a metal head, sporting a beard and a head of head bang worthy hair to declare his new found niche in the world.

Jake Tyler Wright Wright shares the role of lead guitar with Tomislav, his signature being difficult progressive pieces laden with sweep arpeggios. Though born in Calgary, Jake spent his childhood living with his parents in San Diego, Mexico City, and Quito, Ecuador. He first picked up a guitar at age 9, at which time he took classical lessons. Upon returning to Calgary as a teen, he played bass in Calgary punk band “The Stalkers” later known as “Garage Fire”. After abandoning guitar for several years, he returned to it, this time enrolled in jazz theory classes. Before finishing high school, Wright played with two other bands, Amaretto and Dante’s Eighth.

Dave Crnkovic Dave, the younger brother to Tomislav has a slightly more modest story; Dave has been active in music since his early childhood. Now 25 yrs old, Dave has mastered several instruments, from the banjo to the organ to the accordion, though he is happiest stationed behind a drum set. That drum set however, is a very particular one, as his is a custom set modeled off the set of legendary drummer Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater. As a side project, Dave also plays in a well known traditional Croatian Wedding Band.

Discography The band completed several Demos, each featuring three songs. From these early demos, one went on to be recorded in the group’s first EP “Demagogue” which had featured five songs in total. During the recording of Demagogue, the band played with session musician Greg Musgrave on Bass, from the Calgary bands Caveat and Exit Strategy. All recording was done in the band’s private studio, as Tomislav has a vast collection of musical equipment due to his position in Axe Music.

As of summer 2008, recording has commenced on the yet to be titled second EP, this one in the company of guest musician Sean Jenkins of Divinity.

Euro trip In the summer of 2008, the band took a month long trip to Scandinavia, the goal of which was to establish themselves with record labels such as Spinefarm and Nuclear Blast. The group explored the metal scenes in Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Helsinki. During the tour Viathyn got the opportunity to play a few small shows, before attending Tuska, an annual open air metal festival held in Helsinki.

References:

Wright, Jacob. Personal Interview. 14 October 2008

Crnkovic, T. (2008). Recent News. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from 

Viathyn (2006). Blog Entry. Retrieved October 13, 2008, from 

Viathyn (2006). About the Band. Retrieved October 3, 2008, from 