Grailknights
| Grailknights | |
|---|---|
 Grailknights at Rockharz 2018 |
|
| General information | |
| origin | Hanover , Germany |
| Genre (s) | Melodic death metal , power metal |
| founding | 2002 |
| Website | www.grailknights.de |
| Current occupation | |
Vocals, guitar, accordion |
Sir Optimus Prime (since 2002) |
Guitar, vocals |
Sovereign Storm (again since 2011) |
Drums, vocals |
Lord Drumcules (since 2013) |
Guitar, vocals |
Count Cranium (since 2011) |
Bass, vocals |
Duncan MacLoud (since 2017) |
| former members | |
Drums, vocals |
Duke of Drumington (2002–2010) Baron van der Blast (2010–2011) Baron BigStick (2011–2012) |
Guitar, vocals |
Lord Lightbringer (2002-2011) Earl Quake (2011-2016) |
Bass, vocals |
Mac Death (2002-2011) |
The Grailknights are a metal band from Hanover . Their music can be stylistically assigned to Melodic Death Metal and Power Metal . Their live performances contain a strong theatrical component that thrives on the interplay between the band and the audience (known as the "battle choir").
history
The band was founded at the end of 2002 by musicians from Wunstorf and Hanover under the name Galactic Grailknights . After a few local appearances, the first self-produced album Across the Galaxy was released in 2004. The word "Galactic" had already disappeared from the band name. Concerts all over northern Germany followed. The second album, Return to Castle Grailskull , was almost finished by this time and went on sale in 2006. On June 24th, 2008 the third record Alliance was released , which was initially only available on the band's homepage.
In autumn 2008, the Grailknights accompanied the Swedish power metal band Sabaton on their European tour as the opening act.
In November 2009 the Grailknights went on a European tour as headliner for the first time; They were supported by the American power metal band Zandelle. In addition to some gigs in Germany, the band also gave concerts in Denmark , Poland and Belgium .
In February 2010, the band announced that drummer Duke of Drumington was leaving the band. On March 10, 2010 it was announced that the new drummer Matthias "Metalmachine" Liebetruth (drummer of Running Wild since 2002 ) has been hired and will perform under the pseudonym "Baron van der Blast".
On December 16, 2010, the band released their first live DVD, entitled Live at the Gates of Grailham City .
On March 4, 2011, the band announced that Lord Lightbringer would leave the band in April and on July 9, 2011 it was also announced that Mac Death had left the band for personal reasons. As a replacement for Lord Lightbringer, Sovereign Storm will take his place again, who was already working as a replacement for him.
At the beginning of December 2014, the "new" Knights introduced themselves on the Sabaton Cruise. Count Cranium as a replacement for Mac Death and Earl Quake as an additional guitarist were new.
In 2014 her new album Calling the Choir was released on the Hanover label Intono-Records.
In spring 2016 the Knights went on tour through Europe with Van Canto (headliner). Cities like London, Prague, Paris, Vienna and Oberhausen were visited there.
On December 4, 2016, the band announced that Earl Quake had left the band. Count Cranium switched to guitar and the bass was taken over by the new Knight Duncan MacLoud.
concept
The eternal struggle of good against evil is the core of the band's concept, which is basically reminiscent of that of the Masters of the Universe . This is how the Knights wage their eternal battles against Dr. Skull from Castle Grailskull, her home castle in Grailham City. You yourself appear in superhero costumes or "superhero armor", including a painted face mask as a parody of corpsepaint . In contrast to black metal , the colors and clothing of the Grailknights are not dominated by black and white, but rather black and an individual color for each member of the band: black / green (Sir Optimus Prime), black / yellow (Lord Drumcules), black / Violet (Sovereign Storm), Black / Red (Count Cranium) and Black / Blue (Duncan MacLoud)
- Grailknights at the Rockharz 2018
Sir Optimus Prime
Lord Drumcules
Sovereign Storm
Count Cranium
Duncan MacLoud
With their superhero costumes and self-deprecating demeanor, the band stands out from the otherwise rather dark heavy metal. Since the common clichés like that of the heroic warriors are still used, the band is seen by some as a parody of the metal genre.
The concerts are humorous and staged as epic battles. Most of the time, Dr. Skull stole the holy grail of the Grailknights and in the course of the concert it is recaptured by the band. Various secondary characters fighting for both sides appear on the stage. The audience, referred to by the band as the Battlechoir , is actively integrated into the battle through encouraging speeches, short stories and gags. The battle cry is: “ Grailknights Battlechoir ”, and the audience answers in chorus: “ Yes Sire! ".
In addition, the band has repeatedly knitted smaller stories about the search for the Grail, such as B. Grail TV, with the carrot man who has now become famous in the fan scene (episode 3).
Characters
tape
- Count Cranium
- Sir Optimus Prime
- Sovereign Storm
- Lord Drumcules
- Duncan MacLoud
Allies
- Battlechoir
- Zapf Beauty the beer mare
- Carrot Man ( Grailknights Plasters )
Adversary
- Dr. Skull
- Morph the swarf
- Urks (a dragon)
- Professor Pain
- Cyborg skull
Discography
Studio albums
- 2004: Across the Galaxy
- 2006: Return to Castle Grailskull
- 2008: Alliance
- 2014: Calling the Choir
- 2018: Knightfall
EPs
- 2016: Dead or Alive
DVDs
- 2010: Live at the Gates of Grailham City
Music videos
- 12.2007: Moonlit Masquerade
- 06/2008: Tranquility's Embrace
- 11.2013: Superheromedley
- 11/2015: Far and Away
- 01/2016: Dead or Alive
- 03.2016: Crimson Shades of Glory (feat. Van Canto )
- 04.2018: Pumping Iron Power ( feat.Joakim Brodén from Sabaton )
Web links
- Official website
- Grailknights at Intono Records
- Grailknights on YouTube
- Grailknights at Myspace
- Photos and interviews on Metalviecher.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ Interview in the Metallic-Zine .
- ↑ Grailknights: Earl Quake leaves the Alliance. In: Facebook Post. December 4, 2016, accessed December 4, 2016 .
- ↑ : Grailpod (feat Joakim Brodén from Sabaton.) Pumping Iron Power - Grailknights. April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018 .