Grenouer - Re-Active
..Until recently, Russian band Grenouer who hail from St. Petersburg, have remained largely unknown outside their native Russia despite having 5 albums under their belt. They have achieved cult status in their homeland but have been able to penetrate the confines of the Iron Curtain not so long ago.Grenouer’s history can be divided into 2 stages. The first being a Underground/Death Metal sound whilst the second can be described as more Modern & Progressive. The evolution of the band did not occur overnight, it developed over time through line up changes, more mature lyrics and vastly improved musicianship.Grenouer’s debut album ‘Border of Misty Times’ was recorded in 1996 and was followed by ‘Gravehead’ (1999), ‘The Order O’Folly’ (2001) and ‘Presence with War’ (2003). None of these albums were released outside of Russia or what was then the former USSR. However, Grenouer regularly received positive reviews from a large number of Underground foreign publications. They recognized the bands excellent sound quality & good production and highlighted a death metal band who had an original concept.In 2006 Grenouer released ‘Try’. With this album they finally broke away from the confines of Death Metal and achieved a more experimental sound by fusing polyrhythms into the structure of their songs as well as industrial influences. This album was well received worldwide by a large number of musical publications, including big names such as Hard Rock; Kerrang; Rock Sound & Metal Hammer, with the majority of critics drawing comparisons with Meshuggah & Fear Factory. In 2007 the band signed a contract with the British label Casket Music to formally release the album ‘Try’, finally bringing them into the international arena.In parallel with all of these developments, Grenouer commenced working on new material with the intention of achieving far more. The recording took place in the Finnish Studio ‘Astia’ with the Producer Anssi Kippo (Children Of Bodom, Norther, Impaled Nazarene and more!) resulting in the new album titled ‘Lifelong Days’. This consisted of 11 original songs which combine modern metal, hardcore & rock bound together with intricate polyrhythmic components. The lyrics on this album represent all the hardships that the band have endured during their long career, but also touches on the issue that life is fleeting and the reality of this is inevitable.At the beginning of 2008 Grenouer signed a record contract with Locomotive Records for them to release ‘Lifelong Days’ in both Europe and the USA, which opened up new horizons for the band. It is also important to note that Grenouer are not only a studio band but are also a highly accomplished live act. Within their vast homeland they have toured all the way from Siberia through to the Black Sea resorts, they have also performed at countless festivals along side bands such as Pain, Tiamat, Napalm Death etc. The band have performed several times in neighbouring Finland and have already received several invitations to a number of big foreign festivals within Europe for 2008.Grenouer are true professionals who have real staying power and can continue to create new and cutting edge music.www.grenouer.com
