Doomed Confessionary: Andreas, Christoph, Martin & Peter (Grindeye)
Grindeye from Trier, Germany combines instrumental post-rock with metal, stoner and vibrating sludge sounds. All fans of powerful handmade music will find an alternative to an evening of armchair farting. Everything is possible when Grindeye are waving their instruments live – rocking out, diving in, chilling at the bar. The band’s energetic songs are convincing. A colorful mixture of atmospheric elements, dynamic guitar riffs and hypnotic heaviness.
Grindeye just released their new album »Bloom« on April 26th, 2024. It features plenty of guitar-based riffing, as well as diverse bass sounds and electronic drum pad parts that add more dynamics to the band’s sound. Many of the ingredients from the first album are still present on »Bloom«, but the additional spices are likely to surprise fans/listeners.
The band consists of Andreas Olk (bass), Christoph Traxel (drums), Martin Arndt (guitar) and Peter Lenz (guitar).
Can you say a few words about your band?
Andreas: We strive to create our own unique sound, refusing to compromise or be swayed by current genre trends. This philosophy extends to our songwriting process. We don’t have a single mastermind; instead, four equal songwriters contribute, which can be challenging at times, but ultimately leads to a more dynamic and exciting evolution of our songs.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Andreas: We had a few line-up changes. So, in the early days, a serious challenge was finding a dedicated and fitting bass player. About a year ago, it became finding a drummer who consistently and constructively contributes to the music.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Andreas: Definitely our new album »Bloom«. Analogue recording was an amazing experience. Limiting our options on the digital side forced us to spend more time focusing on our instruments and refining our sound. It also led us to accept small flaws in the project, something most bands nowadays eliminate with digital assistance (as we did with our last album Coactus Mutare). The result of the analogue recording of »Bloom« feels very raw and authentic to us.
What was your biggest regret?
Andreas: Looking back, some years were spent performing and producing with drummers who had a lot of side projects and limited time. Perhaps not finding Christoph earlier would be our biggest regret. Band member changes are hard and frustrating because it feels like starting over again.
It’s also tough letting go of good riffs and ideas that don’t ultimately fit into songs. We have hard drives full of material that might never reach a larger audience.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Andreas: February 3rd, 2024, at Die Box in Telgte. It was a small but enthusiastic crowd of music nerds who actually knew our songs.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Andreas: That depends! Within the post-rock scene, it’s almost impossible to keep track of all the sounds and variations emerging. A lot happens by chance, and honestly, there’s no real consensus in our band about what’s considered good or exciting.
Here’s a specific example: We were surprised that M83, a trendy electronic artist, released a song in 2005 that resonated strongly with us. It is the song »*« on the album »Before The Dawn Heals Us«.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Andreas: Oh, a ton of stuff! Right now I’m really into Tides From Nebula, Idles, of course Sigur Rós is always on the playlist, and Russian Circles. We put a playlist with hours of songs that are quite inspiring to us on Spotify. Just scroll down on our artist page and you will find it!
One of the local bands we can recommend is The Cookie Jar Complot – our neighbors from Luxembourg!
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Andreas: “Never think about what people could want, like, or dislike when you create your songs. Present your vision and hope that others can hear what you hear in it.”
What are your guilty pleasures?
Martin: Playing Civilisation 2 on PC while eating Magnum Gold Ice Cream.
Andreas: From time to time, I play the bass in a mainstream cover band.
Peter: Listening to Katy Perry and eating Twizzlers in vast quantities.
Christoph: I also play in a jazz band which mostly consists of old pensioners. We no longer rock the big stages but the elderly residences!
Can you say something more about the music scene in Trier area?
Andreas: Even for a small town like Trier, there’s a surprising amount of cool stuff happening. A great example is the concert series organized by Vinyl 4 Charity. They do an amazing job of finding talented, up-and-coming bands who play fantastic music. If you’re into stoner or post-rock, their shows are definitely for you!
And just an hour away from Trier, you have Luxembourg City. This international hub offers everything from tours by smaller bands to massive events featuring the biggest names in music.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Andreas: We just played our release show for the album »Bloom«. We had support from the band Tier and had a great evening. Other than that … heads up! Right now, we don’t have any further concerts scheduled. But don’t worry, we’ll be using this time to focus on creating awesome new music for you. Stay tuned for updates on our social media and grindeye.de.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Andreas: Hopefully, to release more music and release it more frequently.
How can people best support your band?
Andreas: You can find and follow us on Bandcamp or Instagram. Recommend us to friends with similar musical tastes!
Another option is buying some merch. Currently, we offer T-shirts and basecaps.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Andreas: We’re incredibly happy and grateful for the support of our new album. The comments and streaming numbers have blown us away!
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well