Skrew
Encyclopedia
Skrew is an influential industrial metal
band. Formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1998, the group announced its return in 2009.
, by Adam Grossman
(guitars/vocals/programming) and Danny Lohner
(guitars/background vocals/programming). The band rose from the ashes of crossover thrash
band Angkor Wat, of which Grossman and Lohner were members. Skrew recruited local Austin area musicians, as well as Al Jourgensen
of Ministry
, to record and produce its 1991 debut album Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame. The album fared well commercially (out-selling every debut on the Metal Blade catalog) and received high praise from critics. It was during this period that Lohner left the band initially auditioning for the Red Hot Chili Peppers before being hired by Nine Inch Nails.
Skrew proceeded to work on its second release, Dusted, which was released in 1994. This album saw the addition of keyboardist Jim Vollentine, who would remain with the band for the remainder of its career. Like its predecessor, Dusted was highly praised by critics and fans, and is still considered a classic in field of industrial metal
by many fans of the genre. Commercially, however, it was less successful than Burning.
The band's music then underwent significant change, probably due to a head on automobile collision that Grossman experienced in 1995, the result of which was the 1996 album Shadow of Doubt. The album largely moved away from the band's previous sound, featuring more of a slow, extreme thrash metal
sound somewhat similar to other 1990s metal bands such as Machine Head
. The band went through several member changes in the next year, but by 1997, Grossman had a stable line-up and released the band's final album, Angel Seed XXIII, which featured a style somewhat reminiscent of the then-emerging nu metal
genre. The album received even less attention than its predecessor due to a lack of support from their label. Skrew announced its break-up in 1998.
In late 2009 Grossman began putting the pieces of SKREW back together again. SKREW are set for their live Debut on February 12, 2011 in Austin, Texas with a follow-up appearance in March 2011 at the SXSW music festival. The new material is much more politically oriented in terms of lyrics and musically might be more comparable to the Scandinavian extreme metal scene all the while maintaining the roots of what always set SKREW apart from the field, a twisted, sickly bed of electronic discomfort.
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...
band. Formed in 1990 and disbanded in 1998, the group announced its return in 2009.
Biography
Skrew was formed in 1990 in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, by Adam Grossman
Adam Grossman
Adam Grossman is the guitarist and singer of the Texas-based Industrial metal band Skrew and the crossover thrash band Angkor Wat, both of which he co-founded with his friend Danny Lohner...
(guitars/vocals/programming) and Danny Lohner
Danny Lohner
Daniel Patrick "Danny" Lohner , frequently known as Renholdër, is an American rock musician who plays bass guitar, electric guitar, and keyboards. He worked with Trent Reznor on numerous occasions, both with Nine Inch Nails and on the now defunct Tapeworm project...
(guitars/background vocals/programming). The band rose from the ashes of crossover thrash
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
band Angkor Wat, of which Grossman and Lohner were members. Skrew recruited local Austin area musicians, as well as Al Jourgensen
Al Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
of Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, to record and produce its 1991 debut album Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame. The album fared well commercially (out-selling every debut on the Metal Blade catalog) and received high praise from critics. It was during this period that Lohner left the band initially auditioning for the Red Hot Chili Peppers before being hired by Nine Inch Nails.
Skrew proceeded to work on its second release, Dusted, which was released in 1994. This album saw the addition of keyboardist Jim Vollentine, who would remain with the band for the remainder of its career. Like its predecessor, Dusted was highly praised by critics and fans, and is still considered a classic in field of 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...
by many fans of the genre. Commercially, however, it was less successful than Burning.
The band's music then underwent significant change, probably due to a head on automobile collision that Grossman experienced in 1995, the result of which was the 1996 album Shadow of Doubt. The album largely moved away from the band's previous sound, featuring more of a slow, extreme 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...
sound somewhat similar to other 1990s metal bands such as 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 ,...
. The band went through several member changes in the next year, but by 1997, Grossman had a stable line-up and released the band's final album, Angel Seed XXIII, which featured a style somewhat reminiscent of the then-emerging nu metal
Nu metal
Nu metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It is a fusion genre which combines elements of heavy metal with other genres, including grunge and hip hop...
genre. The album received even less attention than its predecessor due to a lack of support from their label. Skrew announced its break-up in 1998.
In late 2009 Grossman began putting the pieces of SKREW back together again. SKREW are set for their live Debut on February 12, 2011 in Austin, Texas with a follow-up appearance in March 2011 at the SXSW music festival. The new material is much more politically oriented in terms of lyrics and musically might be more comparable to the Scandinavian extreme metal scene all the while maintaining the roots of what always set SKREW apart from the field, a twisted, sickly bed of electronic discomfort.
Current members
- Adam GrossmanAdam GrossmanAdam Grossman is the guitarist and singer of the Texas-based Industrial metal band Skrew and the crossover thrash band Angkor Wat, both of which he co-founded with his friend Danny Lohner...
(Guitars, Programing, Vocals) (Angkor Wat) - Bill Ables (Guitars)
- Dusty Kohn (Guitars)
- Myke Bingham (Bass)
- Paul Gooch (Programing, Percussion, Backing Vocals)
- David Baxter (Drums, Programing)
- Ty Pickett aka VSYR (Vocals)
Former members
- Danny LohnerDanny LohnerDaniel Patrick "Danny" Lohner , frequently known as Renholdër, is an American rock musician who plays bass guitar, electric guitar, and keyboards. He worked with Trent Reznor on numerous occasions, both with Nine Inch Nails and on the now defunct Tapeworm project...
(Guitars/Vocals) (Angkor Wat, Nine Inch Nails) - Mike "Possum"/"Riggs" Robinson (Guitars) (Prong, Rob Zombie)
- Clay Campbell (Guitars) (Burn, Scum Of The Earth)
- Bobby Gustafson (Guitars) (Cycle Sluts From Hell, Overkill, Response Negative)
- Mike Peoples (Bass) (16 Volt, Daniel Ash)
- Brandon Workman (Bass) (Burn, Scum Of The Earth)
- Robb Lampmann (Guitars)
- Jason Chipman (Guitars)
- Chris Ault (Keyboards)
- Mark Dufour (Drums)
- Chadwick Davis (Bass)
- Eddie Travis (Drums) (Chlorine)
- Steve "Snake" Green (Guitars) (Re:Ignition, Skinlab)
- Marc "Frap" Frappier (Bass) (Circus Of Power)
- Jim Vollentine (Keyboards)
- Chris Istas (Drums) (Pitbull Daycare, Torso, Vox Demonna, Moore)
- Kyle Sanders (Bass) (Blood Simple. Monstro)
Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame (1991)
- Orifice
- Burning in Water, Drowning in Flame
- Cold Angel Press
- Charlemagne
- Gemini
- Inderstructible
- Feast
- Once Alive
- Symphathy for the Devil
- Poisonous
- Prey Flesh
Dusted (1994)
- In Tongues
- Seeded
- Picasso Trigger
- Albatross
- Jesus Skrew Superstar
- Skrew Saves
- Season for Whither
- Sour
- Mouthful of Dust
- Godsdog
Shadow of Doubt (1996)
- She Said
- Black Eye
- Knotted Twig
- Head
- Swallow
- Sam I Am
- Going Down
- Generator
- Dark Ride
- Crawl
Angel Seed XXIII (1997)
- Open Up
- Sea Man
- Seventh Eye
- King of the Hole
- Porcelain
- Kosmo's Seed
- Sputnik
- Angel Suck
- Horsey (Man)
- Slip
- Helter Skelter (Bonus)
External links
- http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=19 - Interview with Adam Grossman (2006)
- http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=289 - Interview with Adam Grossman (2009)
- http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=386 - Interview with Adam Grossman and Ty Pickett (2011)
- More than sounds - Interview of Adam Grossman about the future and past of SKREW
- [ AllMusic entry]