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Grenouer

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Grenouer
Background information
OriginSaint Petersburg, Russia
GenresRock, Alternative Metal, Melodic Death-Metal, Melodic Math-Metal, Djent
Years active1992—present
LabelsMausoleum Records
MembersInd
Motor
Buzzy
Danny
Daemon
Websitewww.grenouer.com

Grenouer is a Russian metal band, formed in late 1992 in Perm city. Their name is an intentional misspelling of grimoire, a magic textbook.

History

In the early days Grenouer played death metal and even used Russian lyrics for that which is represented on the band’s early demos. From the very start Grenouer obtained devotion and affection of local fans and directly participated in the formation of the whole Russian underground extreme metal scene. Grenouer is supposed to be one of the headstones of death metal in Russia along with Merlin, Mortem, Graveside and Scrambled Defuncts. Never being a connoisseur of Satanic ideas and having either mystical, psychological or social implications Grenouer by a strange reason was officially anathematized by the Head of Russian Orthodox church. Besides the ecclesiastical prohibits the band’s activities sometimes were opposed by representatives of post-Soviet authority – in 1995 and 1996 Grenouer’s live shows in Perm were interrupted by special police forces applying batons and tear gas against fans and initiating disorders. In 2004 Mayor of Kemerovo city banned Grenouer’s concert just the same day the band arrived there, Grenouer was unreasonably blamed for so-called advocacy of violence. In fact the only case when Grenouer spoke out in public was an anti-drug company.

Grenouer’s debut full length saw light in 1997, it was called “Border of Misty Times” where the band switched to English lyrics. The debut was followed by other albums, released in Russia by labels like Irond, More Hate, Blacksmith Productions, Metallism developing death metal approach. The third album "The Odour O' Folly" includes a heavy cover version of A-Ha's "Take On Me" song. The fourth album "Presence With War" lyrically deals with Iraq war issues and its frontcover was made by Mickmo, an American creator of comic books.

In the mid-2000s Grenouer’s music began to change dramatically and at the same period musicians also relocated to Saint Petersburg. Preference was given to hardcore, math metal and even progressive rock sound. The fifth album “Try” was released worldwide in Great Britain by Casket Music (a division of Copro Records), that was a flow of fresh air from the band yet some fans of brutal death metal felt as if Grenouer was betraying ideals. If fact they were just pioneering the genre that today has the term djent. This did not stop musicians from further experiments and the next tentative album “Lifelong Days” was recorded with the platinum selling Finnish producer Anssi Kippo at Astia studio. “Lifelong Days” got released by the Spanish label Locomotive Records and strengthened Grenouer’s rummage for merging extreme metal with rock riffing.

Grenouer is touring inside and outside Russia and participating in big open air festivals. Grenouer could be seen sharing the same stage with Testament, Pro Pain, Textures, TesseracT, Anathema, Cradle of Filth, Entombed, Napalm Death, All Shall Perish, Behemoth, Cephalic Carnage, Despised Icon, Hate, Neurosis, Pain, Primordial, Soilwork, Sworn Enemy, The Berzerker, Tiamat, Trail of Tears, Warbringer and many others.

According to Kerrang! magazine Grenouer "is the most impressive metal statement from an unlikely source" (Steve Beebee), Issue No. 1251, March 7, 2009, Albums, p 52.

The latest, seventh album from Grenouer is scheduled for release on Europe: May 3, 2013, North America July 9, 2013 on Mausoleum Records. Initially that album was set to see light through USA based label The Metal Den Records under the title “Showdawn” 2012, yet due to incompetence of that label Grenouer was forced to terminate the contract and after a while entered in another agreement with Mausoleum Records. Mausoleum Records suggested new album title - “Blood on the Face" and new frontcover picture done by Didier Scohier, Artcore Design. "Blood on the Face" was different producers – Finnish Anssi Kippo, Astia Studio and Italians Dualized and Eddy Cavazza, dysFUNCTION Productions. Dualized made mixing at Zeta Factory Studios and afterwards the material got mastered at famous Finnvox Studio by Mika Jussila. The sound of the album has nothing to do with extreme metal, it is modern rock and alternative metal.

Grenouer's songs are featured on various compilations including "Adrenaline 2: Rush Hour", a soundtrack to computer game.

Line up

Discography

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