Stream of Passion
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Arjen Anthony Lucassen, Marcela Bovio |
| Defunct | 2016 (initially) |
| Fate | Reunited in 2022 |
| Headquarters | Netherlands |
| Products | Studio albums, EPs, live albums |
Stream of Passion is a progressive metal group from the Netherlands, blending elements of symphonic and gothic metal. The band was established by guitarist and composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen together with Mexican vocalist, violinist, and lyricist Marcela Bovio. Their discography includes four studio albums.
Originally, Lucassen intended to depart early to concentrate on other ventures, which he did in 2007 along with guitarist Lori Linstruth and keyboardist Alejandro Millán. Following their exit, Bovio, bassist Johan van Stratum, and producer Joost van den Broek assumed responsibility for songwriting. After solidifying the lineup in 2009, the group announced their dissolution in April 2016, choosing to end on a positive note after releasing the live album Memento and performing a final concert on 28 December 2016. The band reunited with the same members in 2022 and issued an EP featuring new material the next year.
History
Before forming Stream of Passion, Lucassen and Bovio collaborated on Ayreon’s album The Human Equation, where Bovio (then part of Elfonía) was selected through an online contest for female vocalists. Lucassen then created a new band with her as frontwoman, enlisting relatively unknown musicians: bassist Johan van Stratum, keyboardist Alejandro Millán (also from Elfonía), guitarist Lori Linstruth, and drummer Davy Mickers. Due to their physical separation, Lucassen composed their 2005 debut album Embrace the Storm remotely, while Bovio penned all the lyrics. In 2006, they released a live album titled Live in the Real World, which included tracks from Lucassen’s other projects such as Ayreon and Star One.
In 2007, half of the band members left: Lucassen stepped down to allow the group to develop independently, while Linstruth and Millán also departed. They were succeeded by Hazebroek, Schultz, and Revet. After producing their first album without Lucassen’s input, The Flame Within (2009), Mickers exited, leaving Bovio and van Stratum as the only founding members remaining. Peters took over drumming duties for the 2011 release Darker Days.
By 2012, Stream of Passion parted ways with Napalm Records to operate independently and launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund their fourth studio album. This effort culminated in A War of Our Own, released on 18 April 2014.
In April 2016, the band declared their intention to disband by the end of that year, expressing a wish to explore new artistic directions. They organized farewell performances and recorded a DVD as a tribute to their career. The live album Memento was issued alongside their final concert held on 28 December 2016.
Following the breakup, bassist Johan van Stratum and vocalist Marcela Bovio joined the progressive metal ensemble VUUR, although Bovio departed prior to its first release due to contrasting vocal styles with co-singer Anneke van Giersbergen.
In October 2022, Stream of Passion revealed plans for a reunion tour scheduled for September 2023 and announced an upcoming EP featuring original songs. The EP Beautiful Warrior was released on September 9, 2023.
Personnel
- Present lineup
- Marcela Bovio – lead vocals, violin (2005–2016, 2022–present)
- Johan van Stratum – bass (2005–2016, 2022–present)
- Eric Hazebroek – lead and rhythm guitar (2007–2016, 2022–present)
- Stephan Schultz – lead and rhythm guitar (2007–2016, 2022–present)
- Jeffrey Revet – keyboards, synthesizers, piano (2007–2016, 2022–present)
- Martijn Peters – drums (2009–2016, 2022–present)
- Previous members
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen – lead and rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2005–2007)
- Lori Linstruth – lead and rhythm guitar (2005–2007)
- Alejandro Millán – keyboards, piano, live backing vocals (2005–2007)
- Davy Mickers – drums (2005–2009)
- Guest/session musicians
- Damian Wilson – vocals, acoustic guitar (live performances in 2006)
- Diana Bovio – backing vocals (live performances from 2006 to 2007)
- André Borgman – drums (live in 2009)
Discography
- Studio albums
- Embrace the Storm (2005)
- The Flame Within (2009)
- Darker Days (2011)
- A War of Our Own (2014)
- EPs
- Beautiful Warrior (2023)
- Live recordings
- Live in the Real World (2006) (available on CD and DVD)
- Memento (2016) (DVD release)
- Singles
- "Out in the Real World" (2006) – reached No. 49 on the Dutch Singles Top 100
- "I Have a Right" (2015) – featured on A Tribute to Sonata Arctica
- "The Hunter" (2022)