Grails (Band)

Grails is an American rock band from Portland, Oregon. Grails compositions are instrumental and are associated with styles such as post-rock, psychedelic and drone metal.

Biography

Prehistory

Grails emerged from the brief break in the late 1990s Laurel Canyon band, which was founded as a live act by guitarist Alex John Hall. With this drummer Emil Amos were (also known under his solo project "Holy Sons " ) and the second guitarist Paul Spitz. Following positive audience reactions, the local musician Timothy Horner ( violin ) and Bill Slater (piano / bass) were invited to the studio, so that a first mini-album could be recorded. After the band released two EPs in 2000 and 2001, own label, Paul Spitz left the United States. As the successor Zak Riles was added, which contributed significantly to the sound of the vast soundscapes, in which electronic and acoustic guitar parts should alternate as well as influences from stoner rock with Celtic or Asian style elements. 2002 Hall sent a promo CD for the label Neurot Recordings, whose owner Steve von Till the group took ( from the band Neurosis ) under contract.

Style development

Shortly before the release of their first full length album " The Burden of Hope " (2003), the band changed its name to "' Grails ' ". Although the name change on the basis of the grail myth was, the band's concept is based on no tangible mythological superstructure. Besides indicated mythical aspects include allusions to genre film aesthetic of the 60s and 70s to the recurring motifs in the cover artwork and song titles. A year later came the also at Neurot released their second album " Red Light " which anknüpfte stylistically to the predecessor. A short time later, the British record company Southern invited the band into their London studio to reinterpret some classic psychedelic rock. It created cover versions of Gong, The Byrds, and Flower Travellin 'Band, whose interpretations of the anecdote is to be created after the tour bus. The band's style has varied with time, since all members were involved in the composition, and individual pieces often bore the handwriting respective band members.

As a recent peak of their 'Black Tar Prophecies ' series is often referred to, the first two parts have appeared on vinyl. Part I appeared yet as a split release with the cognate band Red Sparowes, followed by a disputed only by the Grails part. The third episode was released on CD and in addition to pieces of the two LPs contained new material that brought the series to the port. At the end of this phase, Timothy Horner surprisingly left the band ( with the exception of short-term member Ben Nugent ) should henceforth consist of only four permanent members. At concerts, the core lineup but is supported by guest musicians such as Randall Dunn and Dave Abramson, why Emil Amos can easily switch from piece to piece between drums and guitar. Grails published in 2007 their third album "Burning off Impurities " on the New York post-rock label Temporary Residence another album called "Take Refuge in Clean Living " was released on Important Records. A recently released DVD entitled " Acid Rain" contains video clips, a New York live performance from 2007 and some older recordings.

Other projects

The band members are incidentally often involved in other musical projects. Hall has played guitar with Steve from Till's Harvestman project, Amos played alongside his own Holy Sons project drums for Jandek, for Yellow Swans and recently also for OM, where he is a permanent member. Riles is the second live guitarist with M. Ward.

Discography

  • Redlight (CD / LP, Neurot Recordings / Robotic Empire, 2004/2006 )
  • Interpretations of Three Psychedelic Rock Songs from Around the World (CD -EP, Southern Records, 2005. Republished as LP 2008)
  • Black Tar Prophecies Vol I ( Split 12 " with Red Sparowes, Robotic Empire, 2006)
  • Black Tar Prophecies Vol II (12 ", Aurora Borealis, 2006)
  • Black Tar Prophecies Vols. 1, 2 and 3 (CD, Important Records, 08/ 2006)
  • Burning Off Impurities (CD / LP, Temporary Residence, 2007)
  • Take Refuge in Clean Living ( CD / LP, Important Records, 2008)
  • Destroy Independent Music! (2006-2007, samplers on Temporary Residence )
  • Doomsdayer 's Holiday (CD / LP, Temporary Residence, 2008)
  • " Acid Rain" (DVD, Temporary Residence, 2009)
  • Black Tar Prophecies Vol IV (LP, Important Records, 2010)
  • Deep Politics ( LP / CD, Temporary Residence Limited, 2011)
  • Black Tar Prophecies Vol V (LP, Kemado Records, Pharaoh Overlord Split)
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