By combining electronics, graveyard ballads, emotive storytelling and unique guitar riffs, Bella Morte have developed a style that is solely their own, which is aided by the talents of Andy Deane, who studied opera for five years to strengthen his vocal capabilities. Early in their career, Bella Morte entered the Virginia Battle of the Bands, where their dark sound bested a host of rock bands for first place. The cash prize funded their first album, "Remains". After self-releasing their second release, "Where Shadows Lie", the band got a major boost when Cleopatra Records re-released it with bonus tracks, including a cover of Berlin's "The Metro". After selling thousands of copies of "Shadows", Bella Morte caught the attention of a larger label, Metropolis Records, who signed them in 2002 and has since released three full-length CDs and one EP to great success. In 2008, the band released “Beautiful Death” on Metropolis Records. For Bella Morte, having a self-titled release called Beautiful Death (albeit the Italian to English translation of the name of the band) doesn't signify a "return to its origins" as it would for some bands. Instead, they gave it this title to symbolize the band coming into their own and becoming the band that they have been striving to be. Bella Morte has built a very loyal and devoted underground following with their brand of dark alternative rock, blended with equal parts goth and metal. With Beautiful Death, the band's growth over the last twelve years makes itself more apparent in the album's cohesiveness and strength in songwriting. "We consider it the definitive Bella Morte album," Andy says. "It’s less schizophrenic than our other releases. We’ve created something completely new here by combining elements of what we’ve done in the past. Bella Morte have been a sought-after opener for KMFDM, The Misfits, The 69 Eyes, and Mindless Self Indulgence and have performed on the Vans Warped Tour. They have also toured Europe, the UK, Canada and the US extensively. Discography: Remains (1997) Where Shadows Lie (1999) The Deathrock EP (2001) The Quiet (2002) As the Reasons Die (2004) Songs for the Dead EP (2004) Bleed the Grey Sky Black (2006) Beautiful Death (2008)