ROUGH SILK

Rough Silk biography
Founded in Hannover, Germany in 1989 - Still active as of 2020

ROUGH SILK is a progressive power metal band originating from Germany. They were formed in 1989 by Ferdy Doernberg (keyboards, slide-guitars & vocals), Hilmer Staake (guitars), Jan Barnett (lead vocals, guitars), Ralf Schwertner (bass, vocals) and Herbert Hartmann (drums, vocals).

The first era of ROUGH SILK contained the EP "Rough Silk" and the full-length albums "Roots of Hate", "Walls of Never", "Circle of Pain", and "Mephisto". After these albums, Jan Barnett was replaced by singer Thomas Ludolphy. In this period the band recorded the albums "Beyond The Sundown" and "Symphony of Life".

In 2002 Thomas Ludolphy left the band due to personal issues, and on the band's 2003 effort "End of Infinity", the three members shared vocal duties. The band's most recent activity has been the 2009 album A New Beginning.

ROUGH SILK has toured with progressive power metal band SAVATAGE multiple times, and their sound is a good comparison. ROUGH SILK is highly recommended to fans of SAVATAGE, HELLOWEEN, BLIND GUARDIAN, and SYMPHONY X. I prefer their first era with Jan Barnett, but they have consistently released solid albums with or without him. Highly recommended!

-Written by J-Man (Jeff B.)

See also: HERE