Mena Brinno

hybrid metal band that embraces styles as varied as operatic vocals, acoustic arrangements, and American metal, Mena Brinno were formed by former Royal Anguish vocalist Katy Decker and bandmate and guitarist Marius Kozlowski in 2006, after the pair -- asked to prepare acoustic arrangements for said band -- realized a musical compatibility, and Mena Brinno were born. Decker, a classically trained, professional opera singer who had left that genre in 2003 to pursue metal, and Kozlowski, from Zabrze, Poland, had both recorded a few albums with Royal Anguish, but decided that their abilities would be better served as a separate entity, and the pair therefore began playing acoustic sets on their own. Eventually Decker and Kozlowski recorded their debut album, Moon Fever, which was released in 2006. The pair decided to expand the Mena Brinno lineup in 2007, taking on drummer Tom Kleinsmith and bassist Vince Greco in January of that year.