Grendel (band)
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| Grendel | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Netherlands |
| Genres | Aggrotech, electro-industrial, EBM, hardcore techno |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | Infacted, Metropolis, NoiTekk |
| Associated acts | XP8 |
| Website | grendel-base.com |
| Members | VLRK 4DD2 S42H M374 |
| Past members | 4N1T4 FLRS MRK0 M4RC |
Grendel is a Dutch music group formed in 1997. Their music is in the Aggrotech genre. Their name originates from Beowulf.[1]
Not to be confused with the Finnish power metal band or Australian Heavy Metal band of the same name.
History
Grendel started out with VLRK (aka JD Tucker) and released their first promo CD in 2000, which included the European dance floor hit "Strangers".[2] Soon after this Grendel started receiving requests for live gigs and FLRS (aka Floris Noordman) joined the band, performing live synthesizing and engineering duties. Later that same year German record label NoiTekk — a sub-division of Black Rain — signed the band and released the album Inhumane Amusement, an expanded and improved version of their demo CD.
The End of Ages EP was released in 2002, including remixes of the title track by Feindflug, Arzt+Pfusch and God Module.
In 2003 Grendel recorded their second full-length release, Prescription: Medicide. It was album of the month in a.o. Zillo and Orkus,[2] and reached very high positions in underground charts worldwide, including number 1 position for several months on the Dutch Underground Charts.[2] It included a cover version of Zombie Nation's Kernkraft 400. Soon after the recording of this album FLRS left the band and was replaced by 4N1T4.
In 2005 Grendel recorded an EP entitled Soilbleed, including a second cover version of Kernkraft 400 entitled "Zombienation V.2k5". Problems with the copyright of that track led to the EP being rereleased as Soilbleed Redux, with the track in question having been replaced by a cover of Leæther Strip's "Don't Tame Your Soul", a new track entitled "One.Eight.Zero" and a remix of "One.Eight.Zero" by Life Cried. The song features heavily sampling from the movie Full Metal Jacket.
2006 saw another line up change: 4N1T4 left on amicable terms due to personal choices while M4RC (aka Marc Martinez - formerly of Terrorfakt, Manufactura and Caustic), was recruited as live drummer and MRK0 (aka Marco Visconti - of XP8) was added as a live keyboardist.
Also in 2006, VLRK and new members found time to work on their third full length album entitled "Harsh Generation". This album marked new territory for the band, which a more matured sound and style, gaining more support and success & taking them to the top of the genre. After it's release in early 2007, this album remained on top 5 positions (often peaking at no. 3) on the DAC and GEWC and remained there for maximum periods of time.
Due to the success of this album, Grendel spent the following years touring intensively worldwide and drawing increasingly larger audiences.
Eventually, in 2009, the "Chemicals + Circuitry" EP was written & recorded. This turned out to be a slight diversion from the band's familiar sound, exploring different sounds and styles. Luckily the response to this was positive, again reaching top 5 positions in the charts (DAC, GEWC, DUC, etc) and becoming a staple record for EBM/Industrial DJs across the globe.
In 2009 MRK0 Marco Visconti decided to leave the band for personal reasons. He has since been replaced by [S42H] (aka Sascha Pniok of the band Schallfaktor), who had previously also been filling in on keys since late 2008.
In 2011 4DD2 Adam Milner joined ranks with the band on electric guitar and Kitara (Misa Digital instrument).
And most recently, in 2012, Grendel released the "Timewave : Zero" album. This album is both a return to their signature sound and taking on various influences from contemporary EDM styles, such as Trance, Complex Electro and House. All of this together has created the most mature Grendel sound to date and has gained highly positive feedback from both fans and media, scoring top positions in the DAC, GEWC, mailorder sales charts and more.
In 2012 M4RC left the band.
In this same year, Mel Allezbleu joined the band on keys and backing vocals.
Discography
Albums
- Inhumane Amusement (2001, NoiTekk)
- Prescription: Medicide (2004, NoiTekk) (US release: Metropolis)
- Harsh Generation (2007, Infacted Recordings) (US release: Metropolis; Russia release: Gravitator)
- Timewave Zero (2012, Infacted Recordings) (US release: Metropolis Recordings)
EPs
- End of Ages (2002, NoiTekk)
- Soilbleed (2005, NoiTekk) (US release: Metropolis)
- Soilbleed Redux (2006, NoiTekk)
- Chemicals + Circuitry (2009, Infacted Recordings(EU) Metropolis Records(North America) DeathWatch Asia (Japan))
Compilations
- Triton Compilation II (2xCD, Comp), "Lust", Triton 2000
- Kaskadeure Vol.1 (CD, Comp), "Lust", Error315 Records 2001
- A Compilation (CD), "Catastrophe", Black Rain 2002
- Cyberpolis - A Darker Dancefloor Vol II (2xCD), "End Of Ages (remix)", Cyberpolis 2002
- Störsequenz (CD), "No Way Out", Black Rain/NoiTekk 2002
- Triton Compilation III (2xCD, Comp), "Catastrophe", Triton 2002
- Dark Awakening Vol. 4 (2xCD, Comp), "Pax Psychosis", COP International 2003
- Music For The Masses - Visions Of Future Pop (2xCD, Smplr, Dig), "End Of Ages", BMG Ariola München GmbH 2003
- ZilloScope: New Signs & Sounds 12/03-1/04 (CD, Smplr), "Construct Construction", Zillo 2003
- Elegy Sampler 33 (CD, Smplr), "Construct Constriction", Elegy 2004
- Fiend Magazine Issue #3 (CD), "Prescription:Medicide", Fiend Magazine 2004
- Metropolis 2004 (CD, Smplr), "Crucify", Metropolis 2004
- Advanced Electronics Vol. 4 (2xCD, Comp), "Aspiration Feed", Synthetic Symphony 2005
- Bodybeats (CD, Comp), "Fatal Flaws (remix)", COP International 2005
- Cryonica Tanz V.4 (2xCD, Comp), "Soilbleed (v.3)", Cryonica Music 2005
- Different - Music Is Our Passion (DVD), "End Of Ages", Black Rain/NoiTekk 2005
- Endzeit Bunkertracks [Act 1] (4xCD + Box), "Soilbleed V2", Alfa Matrix 2005
- Metropolis 2005 (CD, Comp + DVD, NTSC, Comp), "Soilbleed (remix)", Metropolis 2005
- New Signs & Sounds 04/05 (CD, Smplr, Enh), "Aspiration Feed", Zillo 2005
- United Vol 1 (CD), "Soilbleed", NoiTekk 2005
- Zillo Club Hits 10 (CD, Dig), "Zombie Nation 2003", Zillo 2005
- Electrixmas 2007 (CD, Album, Promo, Comp), "Hate This", Electrixmas 2007
- Endzeit Bunkertracks [Act III] (4xCD, Comp, Car + Box), "Hate This (remix)", Alfa Matrix 2007
- Extreme Sündenfall 6 (2xCD, Comp), "The Judged Ones", UpScene 2007
- Fuck The Mainstream Vol. 1 (4xCD, Comp), "Void Malign (remix)", Alfa Matrix 2007
- Infactious Vol. Three (CD, Mixed, Ltd, Sli), "Hate This", Infacted Recordings 2007
- Into The Darkness Volume 5 (DVD), "Soilbleed (Live in Hamburg)", Nightclub Records 2007
- Nacht Der Maschinen Volume One (CD, Ltd), "Hate This (remix), Infacted Recordings 2007
- New Signs & Sounds 04/07 (CD, Smplr, Enh), "Void Melign (remix)", Zillo 2007
- Noise Terror 2 - World Wide Electronics (CD, Comp), "Judged Ones (remix)", NTP/Dependent Records 2007
- Schwarze Nacht Tanz 2 (CD, Album, Comp + CD, Maxi, Comp, Ltd), "Void Malign", Upscene 2007
- Zillo Club Hits Vol. 12 (2xCD, Dig), "Hate This", Zillo 2007
- Advanced Electronics Vol. 6 (2xCD, Comp + DVD, Comp), "Hate This (remix)", Synthetic Symphony 2008
- Extreme Lustlieder 1 (CD, Comp), "Dirty", UpScene/Indigo 2008
- Infacted 4 (2xCD, Comp), "Hate This (remix)", Infacted Recordings 2008
- Metropolis:Rebirth 1.0 (2xCD, Smplr), "Harsh Generation", Metropolis 2008
- Visual Infaction Volume \ 1 (DVD, PAL, Comp), "Hate This" & "Remnants", Infacted Recordings 2008
- Gothic Spirits - EBM Edition (2xCD, Comp), "Harsh Generation", Golden Core 2009
- Kinetik Festival Volume Two (2xCD, Comp), "Soilbleed (remix)", Artoffact Records 2009
- Endzeit Bunkertracks [Act V] (4xCD, Comp), "Chemicals & Circuitry (remix)", Alfa Matrix 2010
