About

Embrio was founded in 1999 in Sinj, Croatia. Inspired by bands like Black Sabbath, Type O Negative, and Cradle of Filth, the band quickly developed its own distinctive sound.

In 2002, they released their first demo album, To My Beloved, followed by Gabriel’s Grief  in 2005, which showcased a more mature and unique style. Embrio performed across Croatia, including the iconic Močvara club, and in 2009, they played their first international show at the Metal Camp festival in Slovenia.

The band suffered a devastating loss in 2007 when founder and frontman Branimir Vugdelija tragically passed away. Despite this, they decided to continue in his honor, regularly organizing the In Memoriam Branimir Vugdelija tribute concert.

After a hiatus and official disbandment in 2012, Embrio reunited in 2022, and by 2023, they were fully active again, performing multiple shows. The band is currently working on new material, with the first singles expected to be released in 2025.

At the end of 1999, seventeen-year-old Branimir Vugdelija and Vlade Marinović started playing together, soon joined by Rino Vugdelija. Not long after, Damir Samardžić also became part of the band. Initially performing cover songs, they were influenced by their favorite bands like Black Sabbath, Type O Negative, Cradle of Filth, and HIM, which inspired them to create their own music. Since the band needed a name, Rino suggested “Embryo,” but due to the existence of another band with the same name, they renamed it to the Croatian equivalent—”Embrio.” The inspiration came from the Black Sabbath song “Embryo.” And so, Embrio was officially born.

With the same lineup, they won their first award at the local amateur music competition in Sinj, “Prvi glas Sinja.” Soon after, the band felt the urge to include keyboards to take their music to the next level, so Petar Radovic joined. As a five-member band, alongside occasional live performances, they also started creating their own material, including the song “Our Bloom“, primarily composed by Branimir Vugdelija.

By the end of 2002, they recorded their first demo album, To My Beloved…, which was heavily influenced by Type O Negative, Black Sabbath, H.I.M and Cradle of Filth. For a short period, Goran Mijic joined the band as a session lead guitarist.

In mid-2003, they won first place at the local amateur music competition S.A.R.S.. Not long after, they had their first chance to perform outside Sinj, playing a show at the iconic club Močvara in Zagreb. The performance was recorded and is available on YouTube.

At the beginning of 2004, Rino Vugdelija left the band due to a loss of inspiration, and Antuca Ugrin joined as a highly skilled drummer. During this time, the band was actively working on new material and recording their second album, Gabriel’s Grief. Vlade and Antuca played a key role in the songwriting and recording process, completing the majority of the album. However, internal disagreements arose near the end of the recording, leading to their departure. Denis Brkić then joined as the new bassist, and Rino returned as the drummer just as the album was being finalized. By the end of 2005, Gabriel’s Grief was completed, marking a significant evolution in Embrio’s sound compared to their debut.

In 2007, Embrio performed outside Sinj more frequently than ever. As part of their latest lineup development, they recruited Nikola Buljan as the new lead guitarist, allowing Branimir to focus more on vocals. For the first time in Embrio’s history, the band consisted of six members. Preparations for their third album began.

On July 21, 2007, a tragic day for the band, Branimir Vugdelija—brother, friend, and the most important member of Embrio—sadly passed away. This was undoubtedly the hardest day in Embrio’s history. Despite this devastating and irreplaceable loss, the band decided to continue, believing that Branimir would have wanted them to go on. On that day, Rino stated, “Branimir would kill us if he saw us crying. The band must go on!”

Petar Radović took over vocal duties at Rino’s initiative, and Josip Marković, a good friend and member of the black/goth band Frivolous Stir from Split, joined as the new keyboardist. With immense support from numerous fans and in memory of Branimir (whose spirit would forever remain part of the band), Embrio embarked on a new chapter. Their first gig with this lineup was on December 15, 2007, at Caffe Bar Brockva.

In 2009, Embrio applied to perform at Metal Camp Slovenia, one of Europe’s largest festivals in Europe. After successfully selling the required number of tickets to secure their spot, the band traveled to Slovenia and played their first show outside Croatia. It was an unforgettable performance. Embrio performed on the second stage, right after Nightwish’s set, which provided an ideal opportunity to attract the audience.

Another opportunity arose for Embrio in 2011. After receiving votes on Facebook, the band secured a spot in the Battle of the Bands competition in Zagreb. The winner would earn the chance to perform as an opening act for the legendary Jon Bon Jovi. Although Embrio didn’t win, it was a perfect opportunity to showcase their talent to the Zagreb audience.

For the first time, Embrio performed in Rijeka as part of the Metal 2 the Masses competition. The winning band, Father, earned a spot at the Bloodstock Festival, the competition’s grand prize. Although Embrio did not win, every participating band was given the opportunity to perform at another festival as a consolation prize. Embrio was offered a slot at EXIT Festival, one of the region’s biggest festivals, but internal disagreements and a lack of inspiration led to the decision not to perform.

Later that year, Embrio performed at Metal Fest Zadar, playing on the festival’s second stage while major bands like Megadeth and Kreator headlined the main stage. This performance would ultimately be their last official concert. Although the band continued organizing annual In Memoriam Branimir Vugdelija tribute shows, they officially announced their breakup on their website.

Although the band was no longer active, they reunited every summer to perform a memorial concert for Branimir Vugdelija. These shows featured both current and former members of Embrio, along with guest bands.

Due to health and personal issues, as well as a lack of inspiration, band member and event organizer Josip Markovic stopped organizing the In Memoriam Branimir Vugdelija event. After a few years, he considered reviving the event, but at the end of 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, causing further delays.

After regaining balance in his personal life, Josip resumed organizing the event, and the In Memoriam Branimir Vugdelija concert returned! The 2022 edition featured performances by Phantasmagoria, The Countess, and Arises as guest bands. The event reignited Embrio’s energy and passion for playing music. One of the band’s founders, Vlade Marinovic (Tuli), proposed that Embrio should become active again—an idea the band wholeheartedly embraced!

In 2023, Embrio performed five shows—the most they had played in a year since 2012! The band is currently working on and recording new material, with singles expected to be released in 2025!