Mnemic
Encyclopedia
Mnemic is a Danish
metal
band, formed in Aalborg
, Denmark
in 1998. Their music has been described as a fusion between metalcore
, melodic death metal
, industrial metal
and progressive metal
, with additional elements of thrash metal
and groove metal
, to form a style the band themselves have described as "Future Fusion Metal." Named as one of Metallica's favorite bands, they have opened for Metallica
in Europe both in 2007 and 2008.
The band have charted in the Top 100 in Denmark with The Audio Injected Soul and were the first Danish metal band to open the Orange Stage at Roskilde Festival
in 2004, one of Europe's biggest mainstream festivals with 80,000 spectators. They have worked with Down
and The Fugees
producer Warren Riker on the Passenger album, collaborated with Roy Z
(Judas Priest
and Bruce Dickinson
producer) and are featured on the soundtracks of Alone in the Dark
, Echo
(with Kim Bodnia
) and Nordkraft movies.
They have released four full length albums, and have toured with bands such as Metallica
, Deftones
, Machine Head
, Meshuggah
, Arch Enemy, All That Remains
, Fear Factory
, The Haunted
, Soilwork
and God Forbid
.
guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie, bassist Mikkel Larsen and ex-Invocator
session drummer Brian Rasmussen. The band were signed to Nuclear Blast
Records, and produced their first album Mechanical Spin Phenomena
in 2002 with producer Tue Madsen. After the recording of the album, Larsen was replaced by ex-Grope bassist Tomas "Obeast" Koefod.
The band toured with Disbelief
, Darkane
, Mystic Prophecy
and Death Angel
in Europe, and alongside Machine Head
in Germany.
, at AntFarm Studios in Århus, Denmark
with Madsen. The album was notable for including a cover version of Duran Duran
's "Wild Boys
", and also for being the first album in the world to be recorded using binaural recording
technology. This style of recording allowed enhanced audio for listeners with special head sets. The album debuted at 97 in the national Danism album charts.
The album spawned two music videos - "Deathbox" (directed by Patric Ulleaus), which was filmed at the Revolver Studios in Gothenburg, and "Door 2.12", which was filmed in Berlin
.
, but was subsequently replaced in April 2006 by ex-Scarve vocalist Guillaume Bideau.
, was produced by Christian Olde Wolbers
of Fear Factory
, featuring artwork by Asterik Studios, and guest vocals by Jeff Walker (of Carcass
and Brujeria
) and Shane Embury (of Napalm Death
, and Brujeria). The album spawned a music video for the song "Meaningless", directed by Patric Ullaeus
of the Revolver Film company.
The album was released in February 2007, with the Japanese version containing a bonus track, titled "Zero Synchronized".
was distributed via Nuclear Blast Records, and released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010.
It was recorded in the bands own studio, with producer Tue Madsen (who worked with the band on previous releases Mechanical Spin Phenomena and The Audio Injected Soul).
Sons of the System includes eleven tracks, plus three bonus tracks (including a worldwide iTunes
exclusive, and a remix available in North America only).
The band describes the production of the album as "Very eclectic, very diverse, and nothing that you would imagine coming from a band like us. Let's just say it has become more theatrical, more electronic, and just more catchy, as we have put all our focus on writing good songs and not being afraid of experimenting."
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
band, formed in Aalborg
Aalborg
-Transport:On the north side of the Limfjord is Nørresundby, which is connected to Aalborg by a road bridge Limfjordsbroen, an iron railway bridge Jernbanebroen over Limfjorden, as well as a motorway tunnel running under the Limfjord Limfjordstunnelen....
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1998. Their music has been described as a fusion between metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
, melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
, industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
and progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
, with additional elements of thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
and groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
, to form a style the band themselves have described as "Future Fusion Metal." Named as one of Metallica's favorite bands, they have opened for Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
in Europe both in 2007 and 2008.
The band have charted in the Top 100 in Denmark with The Audio Injected Soul and were the first Danish metal band to open the Orange Stage at Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival
Roskilde Festival is a festival held south of Roskilde in Denmark and is one of the six biggest annual music festivals in Europe . It was created in 1971 by two high school students, Mogens Sandfær and Jesper Switzer Møller, and promoter Carl Fischer...
in 2004, one of Europe's biggest mainstream festivals with 80,000 spectators. They have worked with Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
and The Fugees
The Fugees
Fugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...
producer Warren Riker on the Passenger album, collaborated with Roy Z
Roy Z
Roy Z is a guitarist, songwriter and producer known for his work with Bruce Dickinson , Rob Halford and Judas Priest. He also is the founder of Tribe of Gypsies, a hard rock band with Latin influences.-Biography:...
(Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
and Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
producer) and are featured on the soundtracks of Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark (2005 film)
Alone in the Dark is a 2005 horror film, loosely based on Infogrames' popular video game series of the same name. It is directed by Uwe Boll, and stars Christian Slater as supernatural detective Edward Carnby and Tara Reid as the scientist assisting him...
, Echo
Echo (2007 film)
Echo is a Danish film.Awards, 2007 Flanders International FILM Festival – Nominated: Grand Prix...
(with Kim Bodnia
Kim Bodnia
-Movie career:He has appeared in several of the successful Danish films from the 1990s and 2000s, e.g. Nattevagten , Pusher, and Bleeder, the latter two directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, and the two Lasse Spang Olsen films In China They Eat Dogs, Old Men in New Cars and Terribly Happy.Bodnia has...
) and Nordkraft movies.
They have released four full length albums, and have toured with bands such as Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
, Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
, Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, Arch Enemy, All That Remains
All That Remains (band)
All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, which formed in 1998. They have released five studio albums, a live CD/DVD, and have sold nearly 800,000 records...
, Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, The Haunted
The Haunted
The Haunted is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1996.The original members were Anders & Jonas Björler, Peter Dolving, Adrian Erlandsson and Patrik Jensen...
, Soilwork
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...
and God Forbid
God Forbid
God Forbid is an American heavy metal band formed in 1996 in East Brunswick, New Jersey.-Biography:Building up a following in the late 1990s by touring with bands such as GWAR, Nile, Cradle of Filth and Candiria, God Forbid's first full album Reject the Sickness was released by 9 Volt Records in 1999...
.
Formation and Mechanical Spin Phenomena
Mnemic (an acronym for 'Mainly Neurotic Energy Modifying Instant Creation') was formed in the town of Aalborg, Denmark in 1998, by vocalist Michael Bøgballe, ex-MercenaryMercenary (band)
Mercenary is a metal band from Denmark that was formed in 1991. Although they are usually labelled as a melodic death metal band, they use aspects of power metal in their music, as well as thrash metal in their earlier work.-Biography:...
guitarist Mircea Gabriel Eftemie, bassist Mikkel Larsen and ex-Invocator
Invocator
Invocator are a Danish technical thrash metal band featuring Esbjerg-based guitarist/singer Jacob Hansen, founder of the band. They are considered influential on the European thrash metal/heavy metal scene, and known for incorporating elements from death metal, thrash metal, groove metal and...
session drummer Brian Rasmussen. The band were signed to Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
Records, and produced their first album Mechanical Spin Phenomena
Mechanical Spin Phenomena
-Credits:* Michael Bøgballe - vocals* Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar/Keyboards* Rune Stigart - Guitar* Mikkel Larsen - Bass* Brian Rasmussen - drums...
in 2002 with producer Tue Madsen. After the recording of the album, Larsen was replaced by ex-Grope bassist Tomas "Obeast" Koefod.
The band toured with Disbelief
Disbelief
Disbelief is a metal band from Hesse, Germany. Their music is rooted in death metal, but has melancholic tendencies.- Biography :...
, Darkane
Darkane
Darkane is a melodic death / progressive thrash metal band that originated in Helsingborg, Sweden in 1998. Their music contains ample thrash elements interspersed with acoustic interludes and symphonic features, such as the in studio use of synthesizers and occasionally full orchestras and choir...
, Mystic Prophecy
Mystic Prophecy
Mystic Prophecy is a power metal band from Bad Grönenbach, Germany. They have been described as sounding like US-power metal, similar to bands such as Iced Earth , but still without losing the melodies found in European power metal.The band was formed by Valley's Eve bandmates R.D. Liapakis and...
and Death Angel
Death Angel
Death Angel is a Filipino-American thrash metal band from Concord, California, initially active from 1982 to 1991 and again since 2001. Death Angel has released six studio albums, two demo tapes, one box set and two live albums....
in Europe, and alongside Machine Head
Machine Head (band)
Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
in Germany.
The Audio Injected Soul
In 2004, Mnemic recorded their second album The Audio Injected SoulThe Audio Injected Soul
-AM3D:The tracks "The Audio Injection" and "Deathbox" are the only two tracks from the album to include the AM3D technology, developed by Mnemic themselves. At the back and in the inlay of the "The Audio Injected Soul" album it's written: "The AM3D positional headphone technology presents a way of...
, at AntFarm Studios in Århus, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
with Madsen. The album was notable for including a cover version of Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
's "Wild Boys
The Wild Boys (song)
"The Wild Boys" is the twelfth single by Duran Duran, released in October 1984.The song was the only studio track on the live album Arena, and was produced by Nile Rodgers, who had previously remixed the single "The Reflex"...
", and also for being the first album in the world to be recorded using binaural recording
Binaural recording
Binaural recording is a method of recording sound that uses two microphones, arranged with the intent to create a 3-D stereo sound sensation for the listener of actually being in the room with the performers or instruments. This effect is often created using a technique known as "Dummy head...
technology. This style of recording allowed enhanced audio for listeners with special head sets. The album debuted at 97 in the national Danism album charts.
The album spawned two music videos - "Deathbox" (directed by Patric Ulleaus), which was filmed at the Revolver Studios in Gothenburg, and "Door 2.12", which was filmed in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Vocalist change
In 2005, vocalist Bøgballe left the band and was replaced by former Transport League and B-Thong vocalist Tony Jelencovich. Jelencovich filled in for the bands North American tour with MeshuggahMeshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, but was subsequently replaced in April 2006 by ex-Scarve vocalist Guillaume Bideau.
Passenger
Mnemic's third studio album, titled PassengerPassenger (Mnemic album)
-Credits:* Guillaume Bideau - vocals* Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - guitar, keyboards* Rune Stigart - guitar* Tomas Koefoed - bass* Brian Rasmussen - drums- References :...
, was produced by Christian Olde Wolbers
Christian Olde Wolbers
Christian Olde Wolbers , is the guitarist of the metal band Arkaea. He is the former bassist and guitarist of the industrial metal band Fear Factory, and is now in Beowülf.-Biography:...
of Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, featuring artwork by Asterik Studios, and guest vocals by Jeff Walker (of Carcass
Carcass (band)
Carcass are an extreme metal band from England, who formed in 1985 and disbanded in 1995. A reunion was enacted in 2008 without one of its original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons....
and Brujeria
Brujeria (band)
Brujeria is an extreme metal band formed in Tijuana, Mexico in 1989. Their name comes from the Spanish word for "witchcraft". Their songs, which are sung in Spanish, are focused on Satanism, anti-Christianity, sex, immigration, narcotics smuggling, politics....
) and Shane Embury (of Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, and Brujeria). The album spawned a music video for the song "Meaningless", directed by Patric Ullaeus
Patric Ullaeus
Patric Ullaeus is an award winning director, photographer and artist. He is the founder of Revolver Film Company which is based in Sweden.-Videography:2011Patric Ullaeus is an award winning director, photographer and artist...
of the Revolver Film company.
The album was released in February 2007, with the Japanese version containing a bonus track, titled "Zero Synchronized".
Sons of the System
Mnemic's fourth album Sons of the SystemSons of the System
Sons of the System is the fourth album by Danish industrial metal band Mnemic, released in Europe on January 18, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010....
was distributed via Nuclear Blast Records, and released in Europe on January 15, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010.
It was recorded in the bands own studio, with producer Tue Madsen (who worked with the band on previous releases Mechanical Spin Phenomena and The Audio Injected Soul).
Sons of the System includes eleven tracks, plus three bonus tracks (including a worldwide iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
exclusive, and a remix available in North America only).
The band describes the production of the album as "Very eclectic, very diverse, and nothing that you would imagine coming from a band like us. Let's just say it has become more theatrical, more electronic, and just more catchy, as we have put all our focus on writing good songs and not being afraid of experimenting."
Band members
- Guillaume Bideau – vocals (ex-ScarveScarveScarve is a French technical death metal band from Nancy. They have released four full-length albums, the latest being The Undercurrent, released on April 2, 2007 on Listenable Records.- Biography :...
) (2006–present) - Mircea Gabriel Eftemie – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1998–present) - Victor-Ray Salomonsen Ronander - guitar (2011-present)
- Simone Bertozzi - bass guitar (2011-present)
- Brian Larsen - drums (2011-present)
Former members
- Thomas 'Obeast' Koefod - bass guitar (2003–2011)
- Michael Bøgballe – vocals (2001–2005)
- Mikkel Larsen – bass guitar (1998–2003)
- Mark Bai - Vocals (1998–2001)
- Rune Stigart – guitar (1999–2011)
- Brian "Brylle" Rasmussen – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1998–2011)
Touring members
- Tony Jelencovich – vocals (2005–2006)
- Victor-Ray Salomonsen Ronander - guitar (2009-2010)
- Brian Larsen - drums (2011)
Studio albums
| Year of Release | Title | Label |
| 2003 | Mechanical Spin Phenomena Mechanical Spin Phenomena -Credits:* Michael Bøgballe - vocals* Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - Guitar/Keyboards* Rune Stigart - Guitar* Mikkel Larsen - Bass* Brian Rasmussen - drums... |
Nuclear Blast |
| 2004 | The Audio Injected Soul The Audio Injected Soul -AM3D:The tracks "The Audio Injection" and "Deathbox" are the only two tracks from the album to include the AM3D technology, developed by Mnemic themselves. At the back and in the inlay of the "The Audio Injected Soul" album it's written: "The AM3D positional headphone technology presents a way of... |
Nuclear Blast |
| 2007 | Passenger Passenger (Mnemic album) -Credits:* Guillaume Bideau - vocals* Mircea Gabriel Eftemie - guitar, keyboards* Rune Stigart - guitar* Tomas Koefoed - bass* Brian Rasmussen - drums- References :... |
Nuclear Blast |
| 2010 | Sons of the System Sons of the System Sons of the System is the fourth album by Danish industrial metal band Mnemic, released in Europe on January 18, 2010 and in North America on January 26, 2010.... |
Nuclear Blast |
Singles
- "Ghost" (2003)
- "Liquid" (2003)
- "Deathbox" (2004)
- "Door 2.12" (2004)
- "MeaninglessMeaninglessMeaningless is singer-songwriter Jon Brion's 2001 debut solo album. Initially slated for release on Lava Records, the album was ultimately released independently by Brion on his own "Straight to Cut-Out" label, sold through his website and CD Baby....
" (2007) - "Diesel Uterus" (2010)