With thanks to Grenouer vocalist Andrey Ind for the review copy sent all the way from Russia….! I’d not come across the band before Andrey got in touch about reviewing their latest album – Unwanted Today. It is their eighth album so that tells us that they’ve been around for a while. On checking out their bio in the EPK which Andrey sent to me, we learn this about the band:
“Based out of St Petersburg, Russia, Grenouer was born out of the 90s extreme metal scene, but since then Grenouer’s sound has evolved considerably. Their elaborate blend of metal and alternative rock, combined with intense and cathartic live performances, has earned Grenouer a devoted fan base and great critical acclaim. Now Grenouer has their sights set on the rest of the world; they’re eager to share their unique form of metal with the North American audience and that’s exactly what they’ll do with their soon-to-be-released eighth full-length album. Their most recent albums, Unwanted Today (2015), and Blood on the Face (2013) from Mausoleum Records are hard-hitting yet elegant fusions of heavy metal virtuosity and alternative rock lyricism.”
So now you know a little about them. But what about the music on Unwanted Today?
Being completely unfamiliar with the band’s work I had fresh ears to go with on the first spin. So whatever I heard would be new to me and without any preconceptions at all. A new (to me) band to discover. Would I like it?
Yes, I would (and do). Certainly a “grower”. There’s a good bit of complexity and depth to the arrangements which vary between the hard rocking to the slightly proggy to the melodic. As I listened to it more and more I heard new stuff each time and became aware of a bit of an overall “hypnotic” edge to it. I’d say that’s down to the driving drums which are working away deceptively busily.
It does reward with more listening as your ears suss out the variations in style and pace with the overall driving pulsed rockiness always there with that aforementioned proggy feel with some power behind it. To the initial listener you may think it is “nu metal” but it’s much more than that. A tasty mix of attention-grabbing powerful rock.
Check out the title track for example. A nice big meaty riff with not a little power and subtlety too. Here’s the video:
That sets the tone well (it’s track two after the short intro opener) and away we go from there. Much to enjoy over the rest of the album with the heavy rocking/proggy/hypnotic styles throughout. Another personal highlight is Don’t Let Them Get You Down) which grabs the attention in a very pleasing way.
Grenouer has a lot to offer as evidenced by what we have to enjoy here on Unwanted Today.
If you enjoyed the video – why not bag yourself the album?
>> UNWANTED TODAY BY GRENOUER ON AMAZON <<
Want to know more about the band?
http://grenouer.com
http://www.facebook.com/Grenouer