Grand Massive

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Grand Massive
Grand Massive Logo.png
Grand Massive 2020
Grand Massive 2020
General information
origin Munich , Germany
Genre (s) Heavy metal
founding 2008
Current occupation
Alexander Andronikos (since 2013)
Jochen Böllath
Tobias Brandl
Peter Wiesenbacher (since 2013)
Raphael Speyerl (since 2017)
former members
singing
 Tony Hermansen (until 2012)
guitar
 Jürgen Lobinger (until 2012)
Drums
 Holger Stich (until 2015)
Drums
 Malte Minke (2016)

Grand Massive is a German heavy metal band from Munich that was founded in 2008. Initially, the music could be counted as part of the stoner metal sub-genre , although this has evolved over the years into classic heavy metal. The band itself describes their style as "massive metal".

history

The band was founded by Jochen Böllath in early 2008 after his long-time band Duster 69 broke up. The founding members included Jürgen Lobinger, Tobias Brandl, Holger Stich and Tony Hermansen. Since the latter is at home in Sweden, it was difficult to develop a proper band structure. At that time only one EP was recorded in this line-up, which was released in 2009 via Downfall Records from Sweden. In the same year followed with a performance at the Wacken Rocks South Festival, the temporary high point, which concerns live performances.

Since it became increasingly difficult to continue working as a band due to the spatial distance between the band members, and so the band was practically unable to perform between 2010 and 2012, it was decided in 2013 with Alexander Andronikos a new singer and with Peter Wiesenbacher a new guitarist to bring on board. For personal reasons, Jürgen Lobinger could no longer support the band on guitar.

The first sign of life for the new line-up came with the release of the vinyl single Going into Red / Sleepwalker . For the A-side a cover version of the Duster 69 song Going into Red was recorded, the first recording with Alexander Andronikos as singer, the B-side was a cooperation with the American singer John Lancaster (Ex- Chum ). In 2014 the songs for the second EP II were recorded, the mastering was done by producer legend Dan Swanö . The release then took place in February 2015 on the 7hard Music label. The EP received good reviews all over Europe, and so the record label Metalville became aware of the band.

In 2016 the band signed a deal with Metalville and the first long player III was released through Metalville / Rough Trade Distribution . In the meantime, drummer Holger Stich left the band and was replaced by his musician friend Malte Minke for the recordings of III . David Johannesson from the Swedish band Mustasch can be heard as a guest musician , who contributed some guitar parts. The long player received good reviews and thus the band's live presence could be expanded. In the meantime they had found a permanent drummer in Raphael Speyerl and this was followed by appearances with bands such as Crowbar , Corrosion of Conformity , Red Fang , Overkill , Warpath and Undertow .

Since Jochen Böllath and Alexander Andronikos are both fans of the US musician Glenn Danzig , the idea of ​​recording a tribute CD for the Danzig anniversary year 2017 came up. The record label Metalville was enthusiastic about the idea and so some musicians from bands like Thundermother , Critical Mess , Sabaton , Doro and Emil Bulls could be won over to the cause. It was published in 2017 under the title Gdansk - A Tribute to Glenn Danzig .

In 2018 the Swiss label Doc Gator Records approached the band to release a vinyl version of the long player III . For this purpose three bonus tracks were recorded. Then the songwriting for the long player IV was started . The recordings began in 2018 and ended in late 2019. Christoph von Freydorf was able to be won over for the vocal recording and production. The mix and mastering was done by producer Andy Classen in the Stage One Studio. The long player also contains the song My Path, a duet with Warpath singer Dirk “Dicker” Weiss. The publication of IV takes place in May 2020 in turn Metalville / Rough Trade Distribution .

style

Due to the longstanding membership of the band's founder Jochen Böllath in the stoner rock band Duster 69, Grand Massive was initially also included in this genre. With the release of the second EP II , however, the influence of heavy metal sound increased for the first time. The music press then referred to the style as Stoner Metal. The proportion of Stoner sounds was further minimized with the Longplayer III , also due to the greater influence of guitarist Peter Wiesenbacher in the songwriting. Now Groove Metal influences became evident for the first time . The style on the current long player IV can be described as riff-based, classic heavy metal . In addition to groove metal elements, some power metal influences can also be seen here . The band itself describes their style as "massive metal" based on the band name and as a result of the fact that the songs are consistently based on heavy guitar riffs and a thick sound.

Discography

  • 2009: Grand Massive (EP, Downfall Records)
  • 2009: 7 ″ vinyl split with Sparzanza (Kabuki Records)
  • 2013: Going into Red / Sleepwalker (7 ″ vinyl single, Daredevil Records)
  • 2015: II (EP, 7hard Music / membrane)
  • 2016: III (Album, Metalville / Rough Trade)
  • 2017: Gdansk - A Tribute to Glenn Danzig (Album, Metalville / Rough Trade Distribution )
  • 2018: III (re-release as a 12 ″ vinyl album, Doc Gator Records)
  • 2020: IV (Album, Metalville / Rough Trade Distribution )

Music videos

  • 2009: Monster
  • 2012: Lugn
  • 2012: Going into Red
  • 2014: Sound of War
  • 2015: In the Woods
  • 2016: Embracing the Eyesore
  • 2016: Deliver Me
  • 2017: Taurus
  • 2017: The Hunter
  • 2018: Horsemen
  • 2018: Mother
  • 2018: Kiss of Steel
  • 2020: Ashes of my Revenge
  • 2020: Revolution Waltz
  • 2020: Devourer of Time

Web links