Ulysses is a German progressive rock band from the early 1990s with an international line-up. They were part of a colourful scene of new bands, labels and magazines that emerged in Germany at that time.[1] Musically, they were less influenced by the German "Krautrock" phenomenon but initially oriented strongly towards the second generation of British progressive rock bands[1] (E.g. Marillion, IQ, Pendragon). Hegarty & Halliwell would have classified them as part of third wave of progressive rock bands, who can also be described as a second generation of neo-progressive bands.[2] So one might not wonder that most reviewers heard similarities to Marillion, Galahad and Änglagård in their music which is characterised by a strong emphasis on melodies and the integration of folkloristic elements, abrupt changes of moods (mostly melancholic and sombre) and partly complex and ever changing arrangements often moving towards a climax.
Ulysses was established in 1990 in Wiesbaden by bassist Ender Kilic, guitarist Mirko Rudnik and keyboarder Thomas Diehl.[3] Their name refers both to the ancient Greek hero Οδυσσέας and to James Joyce's best-known work Ulysses.[4]
Joined by Dane drummer Jasper Stannow and Australian singer Gerard P. Hynes, Ulysses recorded their first studio demos in December 1991.[5] [6] After Stannow left the band, Ulysses found their permanent drummer in Robert Zoom. With this line-up they recorded their debut album "Neronia" produced by renowned British musicians Clive Nolan (Arena, Pendragon, Shadowland) and Karl Groom (Threshold) in 1993.[7] Guest vocalist on two tracks was Tracy Hitchings (Quasar, Strangers On A Train, Landmarq).[7]
Ulysses' "Neronia" CD was released on Michael Schmitz's and Thomas Waber's renowned Inside Out Music label. A cassette edition was licensed to Metal Mind Production/Massacre Records.
With their new singer, Marc Jost, Ulysses promoted the Neronia album throughout Europe,[8] playing shows and festivals in Poland,[9] Germany and the Netherlands, and opening for Pendragon on their "The Window of Life" European tour in 1994.[10]
In 1995 Ulysses played in the final of Germany's oldest and best-known rock festival for young talent, the 1822-Rock Festival.[11]
Due to a looming naming rights dispute, Ulysses changed their band name to Neronia in 1995[12] and after many line-up changes released their second album "Nerotica" in 2004.
At the end of 2011, the Ulysses album Neronia was voted into Germany's Prog Top 40 by the German rock magazine Eclipsed.[13]
In 2021, Ulysses reunited with most of the original line-up named Ulysses Resurrection Project.
A remastered and expanded 2CD set of the band's debut album was released in October 2023 on the Polish label GAD Records/chickadisc to mark the 30th anniversary of the first release.[14]