姓名： Grunt 英文名：- 性别：- 国籍：- 出生地：- 语言：- 生日：- 星座：- 身高：- 体重：-
Grunt was formed in Finland in spring 1993 to create hard audio filth. After more than 10 years of activity, it is still going strong. Various styles of noise electronics is always hammered with such pressure, it usually transforms into known grunt-noise, even if new methods are used. Grunt is also known from using strong visuals and lyrics in many of the releases. They represent various moods and approaches and different kinds of topics. However, many of them have proved to offend or disturb some people, including the videomaterial used in live shows.
Since early days, Grunt has been part of international underground power electronics-noise scene. There has never been desire to attract attention in academic noise circles, or promote it in media outside the core of noise-underground. However, neither there is desire to follow genre restrictions. Grunt is tightly connected to the vision of Freak Animal Records label and has also handful of other forms what can be understood as bands of their own or branches separated from the main project. All releases are small editions directed for disturbed fanatics.
1993-1994
Early years of Grunt was trying different kinds of directions. Couple earliest recordings was merely tuning down guitar string until they were hanging loose over the guitar mics and making rumbling noises. Lack of any kind of effects or even amplifiers made noise the most simple and primitive wall of noise. In 3rd release in autumn '93 various metal objects were included in tracks, making sound often rhythmic industrial noise with low tuned string abuse, radio-noise, vocals, metal junk noises. Still some musical elements were tried, influenced by industrial bands like Godflesh or Einturzende Neubauten.
In 1994 new era of sound was introduced with more experience in making connections in devices, creating interesting results with internal feedback. Sound took direction closer to old school power electronics, even if that was not intention. Many of the recordings were buzz of electronics and feedback, some with vocals. First live show was played in 1994, with traditional instruments and session members: guitar feedback, vocals, drums. Not very successful result caused long break until next attempt to perform live.
All early recordings came out as cassette tape releases, being distributed in small editions between 15 and 150 copies, most being closer to 50. Many of them went through trading to various small noise artists as well as people from other scenes, who many disappeared from the scene, resulting that hardly anyone currently involved in international noise scene, ever heard the early recordings.
1995-1996
Getting introduced to first effect pedals, changed approach to the sound. Use of heavy delay effect on screaming vocals and abundance of echoing metal junk and droning feedback became traditional Grunt elements what still continues ten years later. Recordings took place if not daily basis, then at least weekly. '95 was the time when Grunt slowly started to make more and more connections among the international noise community, with putting out records and getting distributed by better known labels. It remained relatively low profile still for the upcoming years. Even if being involved with international scene, there was never intention to join "harsh noise" or "power electronics" scenes, but somewhere between, where all the noisy sounds melt together into bizarre mix.
1997-2000
From 1997 you can see kind of new era of Grunt beginning. When enough seemed to be happening with musical side, there came need to focus more into content and even if since early days some of the themes / topics / subject matter was being used, it all become more dominating during these years. While in past all recordings were never processed from sound, but merely actual recordings happening then, in late 90's method of creating loops out of pre-recorded source sounds became trademark of Grunt sound. Crushing repeating loops with near random metal junk noise and feedback on the top, with furious vocals and samples. There was never intention to make too similar sounding releases. Grunt is usually labeled as "power electronics noise". There is brutal edge of harsh noise and use of different sound sources what is missing from many of those who rely solely on synthesizers and/or computers. There's no limit on the sound sources or subject matter what Grunt uses. It always reflects the state of mind of current period of time.
Live shows played between 1998-2000 was always based on tape playback, where live vocals and some electronic noise created the live. It took until 2002 when decision to abandon all background tapes was done, and focus for real live playing started.
2001-2004
Many of this era Grunt recordings have been utilizing more of loud recording methods. First time also analogue synthesizers were used among other things. Doing live recordings (usually without audience) with PA system, and later mastering or editing the final touch. This gives new touch the the sound, compared to material which is created with low volumes by using field recordings or other such sources. Some of the recent field recording / sample / vocal based tracks can be heard on V/A "Don't Hunt What You Can't Kill" 3xCD, "Hanging high on every streetlamp" card CDr, etc. and more live recording based material on Grunt / Perkust split CDr, and some next releases what are under work. Since most of Grunt material is being released quite late after it's completed (for example most of material of 2000-2003 dates back to '97-98), it's hard to hear current form of Grunt. It's most often something done 1-5 years ago when it's released.
After doing first all-live liveshow in 2002, it was noticed that live situation brings new kind of challenge for creating material. First ones was still about learning how to manage to create desired sound live, but after 5 shows in 2004 it seemed that right tools and methods had been found.
2005
Early 2005 was also released 5 vinyl LP's of Grunt. Half LP versions of stuff what earlier came on CDr. Despite large number of releases, there isn't really properly done "album" for Grunt yet. All solo LP/CD releases have been collections of previously released tape/CDr material, or live or such things.
Grunt did first longer tour, 5 gigs in japan in april. Also long time first Grunt solo show in Finland. All of these were noisier and more improvised. Same methods was used in UK gigs in late 2004. This allows gigs to be spontaneous, when none of loops or sounds have been prepared in advance. Possibility of failure adds some excitement, and few times due malfunctioning minimal equipment, shows have transformed into full force harsh noise. For new tour in UK, equipment was stripped down to the absolute minimum, removing all the unnecessary gear. No synthesizers, no samplers, no MD or CD players and so on. Shows were played without backing videos, keeping them short and to the point. Later 2005 follows with couple more live shows and growing amount of new releases, making Grunt more active than ever before since 95/96 !
2006-2008
Since releasing "Seer of Decay" 2xCD, Grunt avoided any new "major works", only live recordings on tape format and contributions for small scale releases, compilations etc. Focus of attention was on live shows around the world, and finally in 2009 there was being published 3xCD box set with live documentation of those years, pretty much all the successfully performed (and recorded) gigs from live actions 23 to 41. Few unrecorded gigs do no appear on the box set. This set sums together well the time after album, and upon its release decision was made to fade live activity down in favor of more attention to studio recordings.
2009
"Petturien Rooli" album was completed in september 2009. On & off recording process during 3 years resulted most diverse and most experimental mix of Grunt releases so far. Leaving away the previously "obligatory" harsh noise blasts (not that Grunt would have abandoned style. Prepared recordings simply dropped out of this album to make it reflect better idea how it should sound like), in favor of more textured and detailed and experimental approach to PE/industrial-noise.
Source sounds and equipment utilized in recording includedvarious metal objects,wood,water,stones,glass,sand & mud,concrete,tools from showels to lawnmoverto cement mixer,metallic pipes (wind instrument),radiotransmissions,digital keyboardsanalogue synthesizer, analoguewalkmenwith field recordings and tape manipulations,8-track MD,4-trackanaloguetape,digital hard-drive recorderfor field recordings, various effects,bass-amp,PA system,guitar-amp,.... Extensive research on suitable locations or equipment to produce needed sounds was always done the wholeness in mind. Sound varied from intentionally damaged and fierce brutality to soundscapes that are carefully EQ'ed and adjusted for maximum range of sonic qualities. Intent was to keep the spirit of old experimental industrial-noise there. Something what was missing from a lot of modern recordings what are ultra compressed and maximally distorted to flat sterility. "Petturien Rooli" album never aimed to compete with volume and join the 0dB maximum compression -club. It's dynamic variation goes from quiet to loud, frequencies from highest to deep sub-bass pulses. It could be interesting for fanatics of PE as well as those looking for more experimental edge on sound.
Future will show direction of next releases. There has been plans of most noisiest and disturbing releases, as well as even more experimental approach, but it all remains yet to be decided.
