Disease
The band Disease formed in 1996, the brainchild of Piton (Pavel Stepanov). Several musicians were recruited for bass and drums, initially deciding to play punk rock because they lacked the technique for anything else. But it was already clear that this was only temporary, as Piton planned to pursue heavier and more serious musical forms as the members' instrumental technique progressed.
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Over the ensuing years the group progressed through doom metal and symphonic black metal. Many lineups changed; only founder Piton remained from the original cast.
The real breakthrough occurred in 2000 when the lineup stabilized. Disease competed in the Chemical Reaction 2001 festival in Daugavpils and took 1st place, earning a spot in the regional qualifying round for the legendary Liepājas Dzintars festival. While they missed the finals that year, in 2002 Disease reached the grand finals of Liepājas Dzintars, where drummer Vadim Vetrin won the award for Best Drummer of the festival.
Following Liepājas Dzintars, the band was invited to the prestigious Bildes festival in Riga's Congress House, performing alongside renowned Latvian singer Ieva Akuratere. In 2003, Disease won 1st place at the Sinepes un Medus festival in Madona, receiving the grand prize of free recording time at the professional SSS Studio in Sigulda. In 2004, they returned to Sinepes un Medus as honored guests.
By 2002, Disease evolved into an instrumental symphonic metal powerhouse, blending heavy guitar riffs and drums with violins and violas.
Members
- Pavel Stepanov (Piton) — guitar, composer
- Vadim Vetrin — drums
- Roman Maksimov — bass guitar
- Vladimir Vainus — keyboards
- Timur Ozun — violin
- Viktor Stankevich — viola
