Mnemic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mnemic | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Aalborg, Denmark |
| Genre(s) | Progressive metal Industrial metal Metalcore (later) Alternative metal (later) |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Label(s) | Nuclear Blast |
| Associated acts | Scarve Smaxone One-way Mirror |
| Website | mnemic.com |
| Members | |
| Guillaume Bideau Mircea Gabriel Eftemie Rune Stigart Tomas "Obeast" Koefod Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen |
|
| Former members | |
| Michael Bøgballe Mikkel Larsen Mark Bai |
|
Mnemic IPA: /ˈniːmɨk/ is a Danish/French metal band, formed in Aalborg, Denmark in 1998. Their music can be described as a fusion between melodic industrial metal and progressive metal, although their latest album, Passenger, has seen a significant metalcore and alternative metal influence. The band's name is an acronym for "Mainly Neurotic Energy Modifying Instant Creation".
They have released three full length albums and have toured with bands such as Soilwork, Fear Factory, God Forbid, Arch Enemy, Meshuggah, Machine Head, Grief of War and Deftones.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years
The band was formed when Mircea Eftemie (ex-Mercenary) joined Rune Stigart and Brian “Brylle” Rasmussen, both formerly of a local death metal outfit called Exhume in the town of Aalborg in Denmark in 1998.
The first line up was completed with the addition of Mark Bai also known as notus bai and dorthe dak, who was on vocals and Mikkel Larsen on bass. The name 'Mnemic' was suggested by Mark Bai and the band went on to record their first demo in 2000 with Jacob Hansen. These songs are blueprints of the later songs, 'Tattoos' and 'Closed Eyes'.
Mnemic flirted with a masked look in some promotional pictures during this period but apparently abandoned the masks after their first live performance wearing them.
Mark Bai, finding a strong religious calling, left shortly after to become a priest.
Mnemic were to find their second singer, Michael Bøgballe, on Danish national television (possibly on the reality show, Baren), who they tracked down and recruited as their first permanent vocalist.
After their second demo was recorded in 2000 with Tue Madsen, they were offered a contract with Nuclear Blast Records, with whom they remain signed to until the present day.
[edit] Mechanical Spin Phenomena and The Audio Injected Soul
This second line up went on to record the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, Mechanical Spin Phenomena; an introduction to the band's own type of genre-defying music which they called "Future Fusion Metal", which, on this first outing, could be described as industrial metal reminiscent in Fear Factory's "Demanufacture" album with Meshuggah-influenced polyrhythmic song structures.
Bassist Mikkel Larsen left the band after recording the bass parts for this album and was replaced by Tomas 'Obeast' Koefod, who had earlier played with Tue Madsen in a band called Grope.
After touring Europe in support of the album, the band returned to the studio to record and release their second album, titled The Audio Injected Soul in 2004, which has gone on to become a strong selling and popular effort, charting in the Top 100 in Denmark.
The album is similar in sound to Mechanical Spin Phenomena, but sees the introduction of more melodic elements and catchy choruses on certain songs as well as a seemingly out-of-the-blue and unique cover of Duran Duran’s famous song, Wild Boys.
The AM3D positional audio technology for headphones was also used on two of the album's tracks, on The Audio Injection and on Deathbox, but the band have not used the technology again since. The feature was only present on the retail version of the album.
Mnemic toured heavily in support of this album across Europe and North America until September 2005.
[edit] Departure of Michael Bøgballe and recruitment of Guillaume Bideau
Michael Bøgballe left the band at this stage, unable to balance the heavy touring with his family commitments, but continues as vocalist with his other band Smaxone, which also features Mnemic's drummer Brian “Brylle” Rasmussen and Tomas "Obeast" Koefod.
Swedish band M.A.N (and former Transport League) vocalist, Tony Jelencovich was recruited on a short stint, filling in on vocals on the band’s subsequent North American tour with Meshuggah, but Jelencovich and the band amicably parted ways in April 2006.
Michael's permanent replacement was later confirmed to be Guillaume Bideau, formerly the clean vocalist of the French tech metal band, Scarve.
[edit] Passenger
Mnemic's third studio album, titled Passenger, was produced by Christian Olde Wolbers of Fear Factory and Warren Riker, and mixed by Tue Madsen, and was released in Europe on February 2 and in North America on February 6, 2007.
This album demonstrates a shift in Mnemic's sound, incorporating a significant modern metalcore dimension, with each song seeing a greater emphasis placed on entwined catchy melodic choruses than ever before, albeit with the surrounding layered technicality still intact. However, it should be noted that the album has an overall distinct sound that is not typical of bands that fall under this genre.
At the same time, association with the genre, by implication, attributes the negative aspects of the style to the music as well, and many fans and reviewers have not received what could be perceived as a conscious attempt at greater accessibility geared towards the American market with open arms. Conversely other critics have hailed the album as an exceptional and strong effort with the potential and polished appeal to find its way to a wider and more general melodic metal audience. A bonus track, titled “Zero Synchronized” is available on the Japanese version of the album. Currently Guillaume has a side-project with Dirk Verbeuren (drummer for Scarve and Soilwork) called One Way Mirror, which is an industrial rock/metal group.
On July 13th 2007, they were one of two opening acts playing with Metallica in Aarhus (The other act being Volbeat). As implied in the mnemic.com forum and said in an interview, the band might begin writing a new album in the end of 2008.
[edit] Members
- Guillaume Bideau - vocals (ex-Scarve)
- Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - guitar, keyboards
- Rune Stigart - guitar
- Tomas "Obeast" Koefod - bass guitar
- Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen - drums
[edit] Ex-members
- Michael Bøgballe - vocals (left in 2005)
- Mikkel Larsen - bass guitar
- Mark Bai - vocals (left in 2000)
[edit] Touring members
- Tony Jelencovich - vocals (from September 2005-April 2006)
[edit] Discography
| Year of Release | Title | Label |
| 2003 | Mechanical Spin Phenomena | Nuclear Blast |
| 2004 | The Audio Injected Soul | Nuclear Blast |
| 2007 | Passenger | Nuclear Blast |
[edit] Videos
- "Ghost" (2003, directed by Patric Ullaeus)
- "Liquid" (2003, directed by Patric Ullaeus)
- "Deathbox" (2004, directed by Patric Ullaeus)
- "Door 2.12" (2004, directed by Mathias Vielsäcker and Christoph Mangler; see Twodirectors.com)
- "Meaningless" (2006, directed by Patric Ullaeus)
