TEN
TEN
are a British melodic rock/hard rock band.
The Robe was a huge step forward in the sound of TEN, leading strongly towards epic and majestic atmospheres and influences. Songs like the title track, "Arcadia" and "Ten Fathoms Deep" are considered to be amongst the best expressions of the British hard rock of the 90's. However, their major commercial success - especially in Europe - came with their following album: Spellbound, in 1999.
The record had all the elements which decreed the vast success of TEN within the hard rock fans: melody and class, but also power and epic atmospheres, inherited by the tradition of the British bands of the 70's such as Rainbow, Thin Lizzy and UFO.
A few line-up changes (most notably Steve McKenna taking on bass duties and Don Airey and Paul Hodson later on keyboards) did not really change the musical styles and success of the band that also gathered a great exposure and acclaim with the following release Babylon, a concept album based on a futuristic story of a computer programmer and his tragic love affair.
The following two records Far Beyond the World(2001) and Return to Evermore (2004, which saw the début of the new guitar ace Chris Francis, taking the place of Vinny Burns) served only to solidify the band's reputation for great music and exquisite arrangements in great melodic hard rock fashion.
To mark the band's 10th anniversary, a two disc album The Essential Collection was issued in January 2006, comprising the best Rockers and Ballads re-recorded in the style of how the band currently play their music. Ten's most recent appearance was in March this year at the Atarfe Vega Rock Festival in Spain where they appeared to great critical acclaim along side WASP, Twisted Sister and Stryper.
Ten's latest album is The Twilight Chronicles. It is a mixture of rock and ballads with a strong atmospheric mood and lyrics that tell tales of love, lust, death, glory, revenge and darkness.
Current Members
Gary Hughes – Vocals, Backing Vocals, Programming
Chris Francis – Guitars, Bass
John Halliwell – Guitars
Paul Hodson – Keyboards, Programming
Discography
Ten (1996)
The Name of the Rose (1996)
The Name of the Rose EP (1996)
The Robe (1997)
The Robe EP (1997)
You're In My Heart EP (1997)
Spellbound (1999)
Fear the Force EP (1999)
Babylon (2000)
Far Beyond the World (2001)
Return to Evermore 2004)
The Essential Collection 1995-2005 (2005)
The Twilight Chronicles (2006)
Live albums
Never Say Goodbye (1998)
Compilation albums
Ten/The Name of the Rose (1999)
The Robe/Bonus Collection (1999)
The Best of Ten 1996-1999 (1999)
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