Atomic Opera

There is more than one artist with this name:

1. Heavy/Power Metal band from Texas

2. Rock band from Florida featuring guitarist Todd Grubbs

3. Thrash/Power Metal band from Des Moines, Iowa

1) Frank Hart - Vocals, Guitar, Cello, Sitar. Kemper Crabb - Elec. Mandolin, Wood flutes, Dulcimer. Trip Wamsley - Bass, Vocal. Johnny Simmons - Drumset, Percuss., Vocals. Ryan Birsinger - Chapman Stick, Vocals.

Atomic Opera is firmly rooted in a rock and metal tradition that began with Black Sabbath and was continued by Metallica, but adds lilting, irresistably Beatles-ish melodies and unexpected, towering harmonies evocative of prog rock bands like Rush and Yes. Add the presence of Frank Hart's sophisticated arrangements for cello, acoustic guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, organ, recorders and hand percussion, and you get a stellar old world art rock sound with a progressive folk metal edge. This brooding yet accessible music was born of same fertile Houston scene that produced Galactic Cowboys, The Awful Truth, and King's X, which shares some of the Atomic Opera's spiritual focus and prog rock influences.

2) Ryan Dalton--vocals Mike Furney--drums Mike Martinez--bass Todd Grubbs--guitar Hal Dunn--guitar

3) Atomic Opera started out mainly doing covers, performing songs by Metallica & others. Originally, Matt Biegger of Treblehook founded Atomic Opera with Michael Curry. Matt Biegger was later replaced by Scott Andreas on vocals, & Michael Curry was replaced by Bruce Swink on guitar around 1991. Steve Pundzak drew the cover for the band's "The Judgement" release back in 1989-90. There were only two Atomic Opera releases—one was never really released as they broke up during the recording process

Original lineup: Matt Biegger — Vocals James Root — Guitars Michael Curry — Guitars Doran Lindsey — Bass Danny Spain — Drums

"The Judgement" line-up (1990):

Scott Andreas — Vocals James Root — Guitars Michael Curry — Guitars Doran Lindsey — Bass Danny Spain — Drums

"Disintegration Fold" line-up (1991):

Scott Andreas — Vocals James Root — Guitars Bruce Swink — Guitars Doran Lindsey — Bass Danny Spain — Drums