Trick or Treat is an Italian power metal band formed in 2002 in Modena. The group's line-up has been mostly the same since its inception, except for the drummer position, which underwent changes in 2006 and 2011, and in 2014 guitarist and founding member Luca Cabri left the band and was replaced by Luca Venturelli.

Trick or Treat
OriginModena, Italy
GenresPower metal
Years active2002–present
LabelsValery Records
MembersAlessandro Conti
Guido Benedetti
Luca Venturelli
Leone Villani Conti
Luca Setti
Past membersNicola Tomei
Mirko Virdis
Luca Cabri
Websitetrickortreatband.com

So far, they have released seven studio albums.

History edit

The band started in 2002 as a Helloween tribute band. After some years performing in clubs around Italy, they recorded a four-track demo (Like Donald Duck) and signed a deal with Valery Records,[1] through which they have released their debut album in 2005, Evil Needs Candy Too. A subsequent tour was started, with shows in Europe and USA.[1] In the meanwhile, Mirko Virdis substituted Luca Tomei at the drums.

In 2008 Trick or Treat recorded their second album, Tin Soldiers, featuring former Helloween singer Michael Kiske[2] and former Vision Divine vocalist Michele Luppi.[3] The album reached the 260th position in the Japanese charts.[4]

In 2010 Trick or Treat were chosen via internet pool as part of the "emergent section" of the Italian Gods of Metal festival.[5]

Between December 2010 and January 2011, the band opened several of the dates of the European leg of The 7 Sinners World Tour 2010/2011, with Helloween and Stratovarius.[6]

On 26 November 2012, they released their third album, Rabbits' Hill, Pt 1, with guest performances of Andre Matos (Viper, Avantasia, ex-Angra, ex-Symfonia), Fabio Dessi (Arthemis), Damnagoras (Elvenking) and Maurizio (Folkstone). The album is a concept album inspired by Richard Adams' novel Watership Down.[1] In October 2014, guitarist and founding member Luca Cabri left the band for personal reasons; he was subsequently replaced by Luca Venturelli, from Mad Maze.[7] In 2016, they released the second part of the story started in their third album: Rabbits' Hill, Pt 2, with guest performances of Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards), Tim "Ripper" Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth, ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) and Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica).[8]

On 7 March 2020 former drummer Mirko Virdis died at age 38 after crashing his car in Formigine.[9][10] On 28 April of the same year, they released their fifth all-original studio album, The Legend of the XII Saints, containing songs inspired by Saint Seiya and based on each of the Zodiac signs.[11]

In January 2022, they announced their seventh studio album, Creepy Symphonies, which should be released on 1 April. The first, self-titled single was released on 28 February.[12]

Members edit

Current edit

  • Alessandro Conti – vocals (2002–present)
  • Guido Benedetti – guitar (2002–present)
  • Luca Venturelli – guitar (2014–present)
  • Leone Villani Conti – bass (2002–present)
  • Luca Setti – drums (2011–present)

Former edit

  • Nicola Tomei – drums (2002–2006)
  • Mirko Virdis – drums (2006–2011; died 2020)
  • Luca Cabri – guitar (2002–2014)

Timeline edit

Discography edit

Tribute edit

  • 2003 – Italian Helloween Tribute

Demo edit

  • 2004 – Like Donald Duck

Studio albums edit

  • Evil Needs Candy Too (2006)
  • Tin Soldiers (2009)
  • Rabbits' Hill, Pt. 1 (2012)
  • Rabbits' Hill, Pt. 2 (2016)
  • Re-Animated (2018)
  • The Legend of the XII Saints (2020)
  • Creepy Symphonies (2022)

Singles edit

  • 2009 – "Paper Dragon"
  • 2010 – "Robin Hood (Italian anime theme)"
  • 2010 – "David Gnomo" feat. Elvenking
  • 2011 – "Heavy Metal Bunga Bunga"
  • 2022 – "Creepy Symphony"

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Band". Trick or Treat official website. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Former HELLOWEEN Singer To Guest On New TRICK OR TREAT Album". 17 September 2008. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  3. ^ "TRICK OR TREAT's 'Tin Soldiers' Featuring MICHAEL KISKE; Japanese Release Date Set". 16 May 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  4. ^ トリック・オア・トリート - ティン・ソルジャーズ Oricon Style. Retrieved on 24 January 2013. (in Japanese)
  5. ^ TrueMetal.it pool
  6. ^ "TRICK OR TREAT on tour with HELLOWEEN & STRATOVARIUS!". Myspace Blog. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Band". Official website. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Trick or Treat – Rabbit's Hill Pt. 2 Album Details Revealed". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 2 May 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Tidligere TRICK OR TREAT-trommis er død". Powermetal.no. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  10. ^ "UNBIRTH, MAD MAZE: ci lascia Mirko Virdis". metalitalia.com. 7 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  11. ^ "TRICK OR TREAT To Release New Studio Album 'The Legend Of The XII Saints' In April". Metal Forces Magazine. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  12. ^ Bauer, Simon (6 January 2022). "TRICK OR TREAT – "Creepy Symphonies"-Album erscheint am 1. April". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 6 January 2022.

External links edit