In 1988, Andrea Garavaglia (drums), Piero Paravidino (guitar), Folco Orlandini (vocals) and Paolo Chiodini (guitar) create Mesmerize, united by their passion for the great metal bands from that period, such as Iron Maiden, Manowar and Helloween; the line-up will be ultimately settled in 1994 with the enrolment of Andrea Tito (bass), who replaces former bass players Luca Valisi and Paolo Fiori.
The moniker, originally “The Mesmerizers”, was inspired by the animal magnetism theory introduced by doctor Franz Mesmer in the 17th century.
During the early years the band engages in the recording of two demo-tapes (RIP Mesmerized, 1991; Tregenda, 1993) and in an intense live activity, one of the band's strongholds, gathering experience and great harmony.
In 1995 the vocalist Folco collaborates with the Italian prog band Time Machine, singing on their album Act II: Galileo and so showing his non-common skills to a wider audience. it’s the first significant discographic experience for a member of the band, which will be later followed by a tour in Greece as support band for Angra.
In spring 1997 the band shortens its name to Mesmerize and signs a contract for two albums with Underground Symphony. The recording sessions for the first one are held in November-December 1997. The debut-album Tales Of Wonder, clearly inspired by classic heavy metal, is finally released in July 1998 and gets excellent reviews on magazines and fanzines worldwide. An extensive series of live gigs in North Italy follows the release of the album.
Between 1998 and 2000 Folco gets involved in other important collaborations: he collaborates with Eddy Antonini (from the Italian metal band Skylark) on his solo album, When Water Became Ice, singing on half of the tracks; then, in 1999 Folco appears on the newly released concept album Divine Gates Part I: Gate Of Hell by Skylark, playing the Guardian Angel character, while in March 2000 he features as the lead vocalist for the prog metal project band Khali, made up mostly by former Time Machine members. Folco also appears in Skylark's Divine Gates Part II: Gate Of Heaven, released in Summer 2000.
In the same period, Mesmerize participate to a series of tribute-CDs produced by European and American labels: Iron Maiden (Adrenaline Records, Italy), Savatage (Dwell Records, USA), Queensrÿche (Dwell Records, USA), Black Sabbath (Midwest Metal, USA), Manowar (Greece) and Trust (Axe Killer Records, France). Tribute CDs to Metal Church and Warlord featuring Mesmerize are still unreleased.
The second Mesmerize CD is recorded in June-July 2000: it's a double-mini-CD called Vultures Paradise, including four new original tracks plus four cover songs, which ends the collaboration with Underground Symphony.
In February 2001 a new record deal for three CDs is signed with Dragonheart Records: the recording sessions for the new full lenght album Off The Beaten Path take place in May-June 2001.
The appearance of the double EP Vultures Paradise in January 2002 is shortly thereafter followed by the release of the new full-lenght Off The Beaten Path in February.
In this work the band begins introducing some new features in their sound, in addition to the classic metal canon, that they will develop to a greater extent in the future.
Both the new works get greatreviews on a number of Italian and international magazines and webzines, and again the band is on stage to promote them.
In 2003 Mesmerize face the first line-up change since almost ten years: the guitarist Paolo Chiodini leaves the band because of personal reasons and is replaced by Luca Belbruno; with the new member, the band starts at once the process of writing and arranging of the new songs for the fourth CD Stainless.
The recording sessions begin in summer 2004 at drummer Andrea Garavaglia’s new Octopussy Studios under the direction of sound-engineer Giovanni Spinotti, already known and appreciated for his work on the recent self-titled Labÿrinth album.
Working in a dedicated studio gives Mesmerize more time for experimenting: the result is a modern and powerful sound and new features such as violin parts, played by the young musician Vito Gatto, and keyboard lines never used before by the band. The album is furthermore enriched by the contribution in two different tracks of Vanni Ceni, singer in the cult epic band Wotan, and Paola Bianchi, female voice in the dark band Ludmila, who embroiders the long final suite with her fanciful vocal lines.
The album is mastered in January 2005 at the House Of Audio studios in Germany; Stainless was released in June 2005 and once again reviews and fans' feedback are excellent.
Mesmerize support the new album with a series of gigs around Italy until February 2006.
After this, the band begins writing new songs in search of a new musical direction, heavier and more aggressive while retaining their distinctive melodic feel.
In 2007 a three-track promo cd, "One Door Away", is recorded and printed in a very limited edition for promotional use only; as of early 2008 a bunch of about 14 new songs is almost ready, which will be eventually selected for a new full-lenght album.