Viktor Dmitriyevich Smolsky ( Belorussian. Viktor Dzmityryevich Smolsky ; February 1, 1969 , Minsk , USSR ) - Soviet and Belarusian musician, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer. Guitarist of metal bands RAGE , ALMANAC, MIND ODYSSEY and LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA. The teacher, author of the guitar training program - DVD "School of Metal" (English - "School of Metal"). Member of the jury of international music competitions. Permanent representative of prestigious music industry companies such as Yamaha , ENGL, Shure, Cordial, Thomastik-Infeld, etc.
| Victor Smolsky | |
|---|---|
 | |
| basic information | |
| Full name | Victor Dmitrievich Smolsky |
| Date of Birth | |
| Place of Birth | |
| A country |  USSR ,  Belarus ,  Russia |
| Professions | guitarist , composer , race car driver |
| Years of activity | 1986 - present |
| Instruments | |
| Genres | heavy metal , power metal , speed metal , progressive metal , thrash metal , hard rock , classical |
| Collectives | Pesnyary Youth Studio, Inspector, Mind Odyssey , Rage , Kipelov , Lingua Mortis Orchestra, Almanac, Voodoo Gods |
| Labels | |
| official site | |
Multiple race winner in motor sports .
Content
Biography
Born on February 1, 1969 in Minsk in the family of a Belarusian composer and professor Dmitry Bronislavovich Smolsky . At the age of 6, he began to study playing the cello and piano, at the age of 11 he took up the guitar. At the age of 14 he played along with the vocal-instrumental ensemble “ Pesnyary ”. He received an academic musical education, studied jazz and rock guitar.
In 1988, Smolsky founded the Inspector group. From 1989 to 1993, the group "performed a large number of concerts in Europe and released the CD Russian Prayer (" Russian Prayer ") (Aris / Ariola ).
In 1993, he remained in Germany, began working as a studio musician and released his first solo album Destiny ("Destiny").
In 1995, he joined the Berlin prog metal band Mind Odyssey . European tours were played together with Vicious Rumors and Savatage . Video clips of the group were regularly broadcast on MTV and VIVA . On the most successful Nailed To The Shade and Signs albums, most of the songs were written by Viktor Smolsky. He recorded parts for guitar, sitar and keyboards. Also, when working on these two albums, Smolsky attracted the participation of the Belarusian Symphony Orchestra.
Together with his father, composer Dmitry Smolsky, he wrote a symphony for electric guitar and orchestra, which was presented in a concert version in Europe.
In June 1999, Smolsky became the new guitarist of the German power metal band Rage . In this composition, they first performed at the German music festival Wacken Open Air .
In early 2000, Smolsky wrote and released his second solo album, which was recorded in collaboration with the Belarusian Orchestra and colleagues from Rage . Famous western musicians took part in the recording of Smolsky’s next solo album Majesty & Passion . Modern versions of Bach's classical works were recorded with a symphony orchestra in Minsk.
In 2001, Smolsky’s song “Straight to Hell”, written for the album Rage Welcome to the Other Side , was used as the soundtrack for the comedy film “ Manitou Moccasins ”. In 2004, the same song was used for the film "Traumschiff Surprise" directed by M. B. Herbig .
Subsequent releases with Rage are Unity and Soundchaser .
Together with the Russian metal group Kipelov, Smolsky recorded the CD “ Rivers of Times ” as a guest musician, and played many concerts. These concerts were recorded and released as a concert DVD " Moscow 2005 " at the end of 2006. Smolsky also played the main role in the video of the Kipelov group for the song “I am here”.
Works as a producer for labels such as BMG , GUN Records , Drakkar / Classic, Ariola and Nuclear Blast .
He worked on the creation of the national album, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the label Nuclear Blast . Composed all 10 songs for release, recorded parts of all guitars, keyboards, bass. Into the Light's anniversary album was released in the spring of 2007.
In 2007, Smolsky opened his music school UNITY.
In 2007, RAGE together with LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA performed in Russia, Ukraine, at the Masters Of Rock festivals in the Czech Republic and Wacken Open Air in Germany. The Wacken Open Air performance was recorded on video and released as a bonus DVD on Carved in Stone by Nuclear Blast Records in 2008. Also this show with a symphony orchestra was presented on the television channels Premiere and WDR.
In 2008 he returned to MIND ODYSSEY, with which he released the album Best Of .
In 2009, he released his first educational DVD, “School Of Metal”. The DVD was presented in the spring at a music fair in Frankfurt .
In early 2013, RAGE and LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA were again invited to the 70,000 Tons Of Metal festival.
On August 2, 2013, Nuclear Blast released the new LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA album, entitled LMO . The entire album was written by Victor Smolsky, with the exception of the compositions “The Devil's Bride” and “Eye For An Eye”.
Since 2013, RAGE and LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTRA have become two separate teams.
In 2014, RAGE celebrated its 30th anniversary with the release of The Sounchaser Archives album and a world tour, which included concerts in Russia.
In September 2014, the German version of the book “Straight to Hell or to Paradise”, written by journalist Axel Werbach, was published.
In 2015, after 15 years, recording 10 albums, Smolsky decided to leave the RAGE band and focus on new musical tasks.
At the 2015 Frankfurt Music Fair, he introduced his new band called ALMANAC.
The musicians from LMO took part in the recording of the debut album of ALMANAC.
Tsar 's debut album, which was released March 18, 2016, hit the charts in Germany and Switzerland and was nominated for the 2016 Metal Hammer Awards as "The Best Debut in the World."
Since 2016, Smolsky became a member of the international melodic death metal band Voodoo Gods .
Discography
- 1993 - Inspector - Russian Prayer
- 1996 - Victor Smolski - Destiny - EP
- 1998 - Mind Odyssey - Nailed To The Shade
- 1999 - Mind Odyssey - Signs
- 1999 - Rage - Ghosts
- 2000 - Victor Smolski - The Heretic
- 2001 - Rage - Welcome to the Other Side
- 2002 - Rage - Unity
- 2003 - Rage - Soundchaser
- 2004 - Rage - From The Cradle To The Stage
- 2004 - Victor Smolski - Majesty & Passion
- 2005 - Kipelov - Rivers of Time
- 2006 - Rage - Speak Of The Dead
- 2006 - Victor Smolski - 2 in 1 (Re-Release)
- 2006 - Kipelov - Moscow 2005 (concert album)
- 2007 - Rage - Full Moon in St. Petersburg (DVD / CD)
- 2007 - Nuclear Blast Allstars - Into The Light
- 2008 - Rage - Carved in Stone (CD / DVD-Live at Wacken)
- 2008 - Mind Odyssey - Best Of
- 2009 - Rage - Gib Dich Nie Auf - EP
- 2009 - Mind Odyssey - Time To Change It
- 2009 - Mind Odyssey - Nailed To The Shade (Re-Release)
- 2009 - Mind Odyssey - Signs (Re-Release)
- 2009 - Victor Smolski - School Of Metal - DVD
- 2010 - Rage - Strings to a Web (CD / DVD - Live at Wacken)
- 2012 - Rage - 21
- 2013 - Lingua Mortis Orchestra - LMO
- 2013 - Victor Smolski - Two Orchestral Symphonies (Re-Release)
- 2014 - Rage - The Soundchaser Archives (CD / DVD-Live at Masters Of Rock)
- 2014 - Victor Smolski - “Straight To Hell Or To Paradise” (Book)
- 2016 - Almanac - Tsar
- 2017 - Almanac - Kingslayer
Work as a producer:
- From 1999 to 2014: 10 Rage albums
- 3 solo albums: Destiny, The Heretic, Majesty & Passion
- Albums for rock and metal bands (Mind Odyssey, Seven, etc.)
- 2007 - All Stars Nuclear Blast - Into The Light : Andy Deris (Helloween), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Tobias Sammet (Avantasia, Edguy), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica), Oddleif Stensland (Communic), Mats Leven (ex- Therion), Marco Hietala (Nightwish), Schmier (Destruction), Tarja Turunen (Tarja, ex-Nightwish)
- 2013 - Lingua Mortis Orchestra - LMO
- 2016 - Almanac - Tsar
- 2017 - Almanac - Kingslayer
Sport
Over the years, Viktor Smolsky has been a member of various racing teams and has achieved significant success in motor sports .
- 2016: class victory in the 24-hour road race “24 hours of the Nurburgring”
- 2014: 2 class victories in the Cup & Touring Car Trophy, 2 class victories in the RCN series, class victory and overall standings in slalom races
- 2013: class victory in the VLN series
- 2012: 2 class victories in the VLN series, class victory in the rally, victory in the Drift King of the Day nomination in drift competitions
- 2011: class victory in the VLN series
- 2010: victory in the class and 2nd place in the overall standings of the RCN series; 2nd and 3rd positions in the VLN series
- 2009: 2 group wins and 3 class wins in the RCN series, class victory in the VLN series, 2 place in drift competitions
- 2008: 3rd place in the class at the 24-hour race, 2nd place in the Youngtimer Trophy races, victory in the class in the VLN series
- 2007: 2 class wins in the VLN series
- 2006: 3rd place in the class in the VLN series
- 2005: 3rd place in the class in the RCN series
- 2004: 2nd and 3rd place in the class in the RCN series
- Since 1995: nine times participated in the annual 24 hour Nurburgring auto marathon, NASCAR races (USA), Formula Ford races (Great Britain), RTCC (Russian Championship in automobile ring races), and in national rallies.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 German National Library , Berlin State Library , Bavarian State Library , etc. Record # 137888597 // General regulatory control (GND) - 2012—2016.