Aonia are a 7-headed, 14-legged creature, wielding two 'sopranos with balls' as vocalists, shredding twin axes, searing keys, and driving drums and bass. An operatic /progressive metal band, Aonia have been compared to artists such as Therion, Avantasia, Nightwish, Epica, and ReVamp.
In 2019, Aonia were invited to perform as special guests for four of Blaze Bayley’s “Tour of the Eagle Spirit” shows. The band travelled the country, from Somerset to Manchester, bringing their unique brand of metal across the nation. Throughout the year, Aonia also organised two all-day festivals: Women of Steel (29 June) - a charity event which raised money for the Together Women Project and garnered 3 huge boxes of food for Spires Food Bank, and AoniaFest III (5 October) - a festival of underground metal from across the UK and abroad. At AoniaFest III, the band celebrated the anniversary celebration of their debut album “The Seven” by playing the album in full - complete with a bigger, fuller live show, replete with bespoke lighting, screen animations, and light-up costumes.
Previously, in 2018, the band completed their first European tour with Alwaid (F), playing a series of venues in France, The Netherlands, and Belgium. Having won the Bloodstock Metal to the Masses Sheffield competition, Aonia also played the legendary festival’s New Blood Stage in August of 2018. Moving forward, the 6th of October, 2018 saw the release of the band’s debut album (“The Seven”) at AoniaFest II. The album clocks in at 63 minutes and ten tracks and features Blaze Bayley (Wolfsbane, Ex-Iron Maiden) and Iliana Basileios Tsakiraki (Enemy of Reality) as special guests.
In the past, Aonia have supported touring acts such as Leaves’ Eyes, Xandria, Kobra and the Lotus, Warrior Soul, Skyclad, Dakesis, Azylya, and Forever Never. The band have also played the acclaimed Dames of Darkness Festival, Warhorns Festival, and SOS Festival.
In addition to their endorsement by Vocalzone, vocalists Joanne Kay Robinson and Melissa Adams – who have been trained by the internationally-renowned Victorian opera expert Martin Yates – have performed at the Buxton Opera Festival. Additionally, they featured on three Blaze Bayley albums, “The Redemption of William Black,” “Endure and Survive,” and “Infinite Entanglement.” In October of 2016, Joanne and Melissa were invited to perform live with Bayley at the Huskvarna Rock and Art festival in Sweden.
As they press forward, writing their second album, the band continues to develop their songwriting and their live shows, adding more theatrical elements as they go.