Ossian

One of the longest-running and — not surprisingly — most popular metal bands in the Hungarian rock scene, Ossian (named after the Celtic hero of Scottish and Irish myth) were formed by former Pokolgép vocalist Endre Paksi in 1985. Joining Paksi were guitarist Zoltán Maróthy, bassist T. Péter Kovács, and drummer Zsolt Galántai. The group got to work, and within a year played its first gig in the summer of 1986. That year would also see a debut demo from the group, but it was not until 1988 that the group would release an “official” full-length debut. Entitled Acélszív, the album marked the start of a long-running recording career, one that would span 15 full-length albums over 20 years, in addition to a handful of EPs and live albums. In 2007, the power metal combo (now featuring a lineup of vocalist Paksi, guitarists Richard Rubcsics and Attila Wéber, bassist Krisztián Erdélyi, and drummer Péter Hornyák) hit store shelves — and the top of the Hungarian album charts — with the album Örök Tuz. ~ Chris True