Carl Johan Grimmark
Encyclopedia
Carl Johan Grimmark is a Christian
guitarist born in Gothenburg
, Sweden
October 14, 1977. He has appeared with several influential Christian metal
bands including Narnia, Saviour Machine
, and Rob Rock
. He recently joined the band Beautiful Sin in 2006. He also has been a special guest guitarist on fellow Narnia bandmate Christian Liljegren
's side projects Divinefire
and Audiovision
. He recently recorded his debut solo album that is set to be titled Grimmark, where he also handles the lead vocals. Grimmark's style of playing, especially on Narnia's earlier work, is often compared to the neo-classical metal
stylings of Yngwie Malmsteen, or under a more broad genre, neo-classicism.
Grimmark is the main composer in Narnia, and on their album The Great Fall most of the lyrics were written by him. On their other albums the lyrics have been written by their vocalist Christian Liljegren. Grimmark is also given credits as a producer
on several of Narnia's albums.
Grimmark has become a highly acclaimed guitarist in the Christian hard rock music genre as more people are exposed to his solid technical abilities, which can be exemplified by the fact that he is credited for playing every instrument on Narnia's first album, Awakening, and his unique approach towards incorporating a neo-classical sound into his music.
Saviour Machine
Rob Rock
Divinefire
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
guitarist born in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
October 14, 1977. He has appeared with several influential Christian metal
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
bands including Narnia, Saviour Machine
Saviour Machine
Saviour Machine is an American Christian metal band that formed in 1989. They have released five studio albums and two live albums on Frontline and subsequently on MCM Music, distributed through Massacre Records...
, and Rob Rock
Rob Rock
Robert Rock is a heavy metal singer and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead singer of the band Impellitteri from 1992 to 2000, and now in 2008. He has also released four albums as a solo artist.-Biography:...
. He recently joined the band Beautiful Sin in 2006. He also has been a special guest guitarist on fellow Narnia bandmate Christian Liljegren
Christian Liljegren
Per Christian Liljegren, is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the Swedish Christian melodic power metal band Narnia.Liljegren is also the frontman of the metal bands Audiovision, Divinefire, Flagship, and Wisdom Call...
's side projects Divinefire
Divinefire
Divinefire is a Christian Symphonic Power metal group founded in the spring of 2004 by Finnish guitarist Jani Stefanovic, and Swedish singer Christian Liljegren. Liljegren is the former frontman of the band Narnia....
and Audiovision
Audiovision
Christian Liljegren, known for his work in Narnia and Divinefire started up Audiovision during 2003 as his solo project. The first album The Calling was released in late 2004 in Europe and Japan, and it was produced by Lars Chriss [Lion’s Share, Road to Ruin]...
. He recently recorded his debut solo album that is set to be titled Grimmark, where he also handles the lead vocals. Grimmark's style of playing, especially on Narnia's earlier work, is often compared to the neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
stylings of Yngwie Malmsteen, or under a more broad genre, neo-classicism.
Grimmark is the main composer in Narnia, and on their album The Great Fall most of the lyrics were written by him. On their other albums the lyrics have been written by their vocalist Christian Liljegren. Grimmark is also given credits as a producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
on several of Narnia's albums.
Grimmark has become a highly acclaimed guitarist in the Christian hard rock music genre as more people are exposed to his solid technical abilities, which can be exemplified by the fact that he is credited for playing every instrument on Narnia's first album, Awakening, and his unique approach towards incorporating a neo-classical sound into his music.
Narnia
- Awakening (1998)
- Long Live the KingLong Live the KingLong Live The King is the second album by the Power metal band Narnia.Some versions of Long Live the King omit track 7 but some versions have a bonus track: "Star Over Bethlehem"...
(1999) - Desert LandDesert LandThis article is about the album by the band Narnia. For the Super Mario Bros. 3 World, see Super Mario Bros. 3.Desert Land is the third album by the Swedish Christian power metal band Narnia...
(2001) - The Great FallThe Great FallThe Great Fall is the fourth album by the Power metal band Narnia.This is the only Narnia album not released in Japan.-Track listing:#"War Preludium" - 1:41#"The Countdown Has Begun" - 5:12#"Back from Hell" - 7:31#"No Time to Lose" - 6:27...
(2003) (Not released in Japan) - At Short Notice... Live in GermanyAt Short Notice... Live in GermanyAt Short Notice... Live in Germany is the first live album by the Power metal band Narnia.-Track listing:#"Introduction" - 2:23#"Inner Sanctum" - 5:49#"The Mission" - 4:04#"The Countdown Has Begun" - 5:05#"Back from Hell" - 7:26...
(2006) - Enter the GateEnter the GateEnter the Gate is a 2006 album by the Swedish Christian melodic metal band Narnia.-Track listing:# "Into this Game" - # "People of the Bloodred Cross" - # "Another World" - # "Show all the World" - # "Enter the Gate" -...
(2006) - Decade of ConfessionDecade of ConfessionDecade of Confession is a compilation album by the Swedish Christian power metal band Narnia.- Disc 1 :#"In His Majesty's Service"#"Into This Game"#"Show All the World"#"Judgement Day"#"Innocent Blood"#"The Countdown Has Begun"...
(2007) - Course of a Generation (2009)
Saviour MachineSaviour MachineSaviour Machine is an American Christian metal band that formed in 1989. They have released five studio albums and two live albums on Frontline and subsequently on MCM Music, distributed through Massacre Records...
- Legend Part III:I (2001)
- Live in Deutschland (2002)
- Rarities/Revelations (2006)
- Legend Part III:II (TBA)
Various
- Guitar Odyssey: Tribute to Yngwie Malmsteen (2001)
- Return to Fantasy: A Tribute to Uriah Heep (2003)
Rob RockRob RockRobert Rock is a heavy metal singer and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead singer of the band Impellitteri from 1992 to 2000, and now in 2008. He has also released four albums as a solo artist.-Biography:...
- Eyes of EternityEyes of EternityEyes of Eternity is a 2003 heavy metal album released by Rob Rock. The album is his second release as a solo artist.-Track listing:# "Rock the Earth" # "Stranglehold" # "Eyes of Eternity"# "The Everlasting"...
(2003) - Holy HellHoly HellHoly Hell is a heavy metal album released in 2005 by Rob Rock. It is his third solo release and is known for being his heaviest and most aggressive album to date. It was produced by Roy Z who is also known for producing solo albums by Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson. Roy Z is also credited for...
(2005) - Garden of ChaosGarden of ChaosGarden of Chaos is a heavy metal album released in 2007 by Rob Rock. It is his fourth solo release.- Track listing :# "Garden of Chaos" # "Satan's Playground" # "Savior's Call" # "This Time Is the Last Time"...
(2007) - The Voice of Melodic Metal - Live in Atlanta (2009)
DivinefireDivinefireDivinefire is a Christian Symphonic Power metal group founded in the spring of 2004 by Finnish guitarist Jani Stefanovic, and Swedish singer Christian Liljegren. Liljegren is the former frontman of the band Narnia....
- Glory Thy NameGlory Thy NameGlory Thy Name is the debut album by the Divinefire.The Japanese version contains the bonus song "Free Like An Eagle".-Track listing:#"From Death To Life" - 1:49#"The World's On Fire" - 4:09#"Never Surrender" - 6:03#"The Sign" - 5:07...
(2004) - HeroHero (Divinefire album)-Track listing:#"Resurrection" - 1:56#"Secret Weapon" - 4:36#"Divinefire" - 4:31#"Hero" - 3:46#"United as One" - 4:57#"Leaving the Shadows" - 4:46#"Open your Eyes" - 4:24#"New Beginning" - 4:21#"Cryptic Passages" - 5:20...
(2005) - Into a New DimensionInto a New Dimension-Track listing:#"Vision of the New Dawn" - 1:44#"Passion & Fire" - 5:02#"Time's Running Out" - 3:29#"Into a New Dimension" - 3:44#"Facing the Liar" - 4:18#"Live or Die" - 4:06#"Alive" - 4:21#"All for One" - 4:31#"The Final Victory" - 5:09...
(2006)
See also
- List of rock instrumentals
- Neo-classical metalNeo-classical metalNeo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
- Shred guitarShred guitarShred guitar or shredding is lead electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast guitar solos. While some critics argue that shred guitar is associated with "... sweep-picked arpeggios, diminished and harmonic minor scales, finger-tapping and ... whammy-bar abuse", several guitar...