Total Eclipse is an American metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 band from San Francisco, California, with a self-produced mini-CD released internationally (Guardians of Metal, 1999), a worldwide album (Ashes of Eden, Limb Music

Limb Music

Limb Music is an independent record label based in Hamburg, Germany.-Artists:*Abraxas*Adagio*Archetype*Black Majesty*Burningblack*Burning Point*Casus Belli*Chinchilla*Code of Perfection*Concerto Moon*Cryonic Temple*Domain*Double Dealer*Dungeon...

, 2003) released under a major record label and a new album, Spellcaster (Independent, 2009) released worldwide.

History

In 1996 Erik Cameron and his brother Chris formed the band Total Eclipse. After a search for musicians who shared their passion, they met drummer Ramon Ochoa in 1998. As a teenager, Ramon had already swung the stick for several local acts. A short time later experienced bass player Owen Hart joined the band. The line-up was completed in January 1999 by singer Andy Dracons Giardina - also in Pandemic, and now the only original member from Total Eclipse's old line-up - who had already made a name for himself in his native Italy before moving to the USA to finish his academic studies and advance his musical career.

The chemistry between the Cameron brothers and the rest of the band was just right and within a year they had enough material for a demo. The Total Eclipse Guardians of Metal EP was released internationally in 1999.

Encouraged by the demo's success, Total Eclipse contacted famous German producer Uwe Lulis

Uwe Lulis

Uwe Lulis is a German guitarist and the key member and producer of the heavy metal band Rebellion since 2000.He also played guitar in Grave Digger for about 13 years, and was co-writer of many songs during his time in the band...

 and before long the band had signed a deal with Limb Music; the album Ashes of Eden was released worldwide to much critical acclaim. Legendary Piet Sielck

Piet Sielck

Piet Sielck is a power metal guitarist and vocalist. He is member of the power/speed metal bands Iron Savior and Savage Circus, as well as owner of the studio Powerhouse in Hamburg.-Early years:...

was also involved in the mixing and production of the album.

In 2004, the original line-up disintegrated following a decision made by the Cameron Brothers to pursue a different musical direction. After parting ways with Limb Music, and having legally acquired the name of the band, Giardina decided to find another label to release their new second album, Spellcaster, also produced by Uwe Lulis, recorded in the Bay Area and somewhere near the Black Forest in Germany, then remastered in 2007/08 in San Francisco. The music is an expansion of the sound of the Ashes of Eden album and the Guardians of Metal demo.

In October 2007, Andy Dracons Giardina decided to resurrect Total Eclipse after the band's four-year hiatus from the scene, and simultaneously release the long-awaited second LP Spellcaster. After many hardships, including a brief stint with a reformed line-up that didn't quite work out, the quest to fulfill the reincarnation of Total Eclipse continued and, in 2008, the band found Brian Davy as the new drummer for the second line-up. In March 2010, the band enlisted Gary Pryor as the new bass player. Andy Dracons Giardina reprises his role on vocals but will also be handling guitar duties.

In March 2009 Total Eclipse entered Faultline Studios in San Francisco to begin the recording of the third LP with the new line-up. The title for the new album has yet to be announced. This work represents yet another phase in the evolution of style and sound of the band. With the album recording complete, mixing is scheduled for May 2010.