Anorexia Nervosa (band)
Encyclopedia
Anorexia Nervosa is a French symphonic black metal
band that started as an industrial metal
act from Limoges
, France
. The band was formed in 1995 and was active for ten years thereafter. They are currently "on hold" due to the departure of vocalist RMS Hreidmarr.
band called Necromancia whose line-up consisted of Stefan Bayle (guitar), Marc Zabé (guitar), Pier Couquet (bass), Nilcas Vant (drums) and Stéphane Gerbaud (vocals). As Necromancia they produced a demo in 1993, Garden of Delight. At that time, the band was playing industrial death metal
with elements of dark wave which gave it ambience. A second demo, Nihil Negativum, gave Anorexia Nervosa its place in the underground world. The demo featured the dark, industrial atmosphere that their album Exile
was later known for. During a concert in the south of France
, Michael Berberian, from Season of Mist Records, noticed the band and offered them a contract for an album. Exile, was released in 1997. Reminiscent of their previous work, Nihil Negativum, Exile had an eerily industrial sound to it, and often switched between fast tempos and thrashing guitars back to a slow, ambient style consisting of only a "white noise" - like sound lightly draped over grim vocals. Not only was the album unique in the history of the band, but in the entire black metal
genre itself. Being a concept album, Exile based itself on themes of neurosis
and experimentation on madness. Twenty-four hundred copies of the album were sold, allowing access to a larger audience and onto a series of concerts with Cradle of Filth
, Absu, Misanthrope
, amongst others.
They left the label after the release of Exile, and replaced Gerbaud and Zabé with new singer RMS Hreidmarr and keyboardist Neb Xort. They then pursued a new, self-described, "dark nihilistic metal" direction featuring a very fast, hysterical and powerfully orchestrated sound, with second album Sodomizing the Archangel, recorded at the band's own Drudenhaus Studio and released by Osmose Productions
in 1999. They followed this with the Drudenhaus album (2000), which was released in March 2000, and proved to be a huge success for the band.
Further evolving the style was their 2001 release, New Obscurantis Order
, which proved to be their most groundbreaking release to date, involving even faster tempos, more polished orchestrations and an all-around more violent sound. They toured all over Europe with the likes of Cradle of Filth
, and Rotting Christ
, by now an established symphonic black metal band. Anorexia Nervosa then went on hiatus for three years, returning with a new album, Redemption Process
in 2004, now on Listenable Records. The album is not as frantic as New Obscurantis Order, but features richer orchestrations and more of a "raw" sound. Redemption Process is a concept album that focuses on lyrics about finding redemption.
Approximately one year later, the band released The September E.P.
which features a director's cut of Sister September, three cover tracks, and four live tracks. The EP
was released to be a "goodie" from the band until they are ready to record their next studio album.
On December 20, 2005, vocalist Rose Hreidmarr quit the band. His statement on the matter reads as follows:
Soon afterwards, the remaining band members held auditions for a new singer, but failure to find a replacement has caused guitarist Stefan Bayle to put the band in "stand-by" mode, fearing the group may become "some sort of parody" of itself. It remains unknown when, or if the band may resurface.
Since his departure from Anorexia Nervosa, Rose Hreidmarr has been singer for The Cosa Nostra Klub
, a black/industrial metal band.
Stefan Bayle and Neb Xort also participated in Jensara Swann and Ben Notox's band The Veil
, both on their first album "Sleeping Among Serpents", released in 2006 and as session musicians for their first concerts. Neb Xort is still involved with the band as producer, and engineered The Veil's second album "Vestige" in 2008, and Ad Inferna's Trance N Dance in 2009. Bayle produced The Cosa Nostra Klub's second album, L'Hymne la Joie, in 2007.
Symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal is a black metal subgenre that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The genre is known for its symphonic and orchestral elements and is centralized in Europe.-Characteristics:...
band that started as an 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...
act from Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The band was formed in 1995 and was active for ten years thereafter. They are currently "on hold" due to the departure of vocalist RMS Hreidmarr.
Biography
Anorexia Nervosa (full name Anorexia Nervosa the Nihilistic Orchestra) was formed in 1995 from the ashes of a death metalDeath metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band called Necromancia whose line-up consisted of Stefan Bayle (guitar), Marc Zabé (guitar), Pier Couquet (bass), Nilcas Vant (drums) and Stéphane Gerbaud (vocals). As Necromancia they produced a demo in 1993, Garden of Delight. At that time, the band was playing industrial death 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...
with elements of dark wave which gave it ambience. A second demo, Nihil Negativum, gave Anorexia Nervosa its place in the underground world. The demo featured the dark, industrial atmosphere that their album Exile
Exile (Anorexia Nervosa album)
Exile is French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa's debut album, released by Season of Mist, and was produced by Stéphane Buriez in 1997...
was later known for. During a concert in the south of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Michael Berberian, from Season of Mist Records, noticed the band and offered them a contract for an album. Exile, was released in 1997. Reminiscent of their previous work, Nihil Negativum, Exile had an eerily industrial sound to it, and often switched between fast tempos and thrashing guitars back to a slow, ambient style consisting of only a "white noise" - like sound lightly draped over grim vocals. Not only was the album unique in the history of the band, but in the entire black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
genre itself. Being a concept album, Exile based itself on themes of neurosis
Neurosis
Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, and thus those suffering from it are said to be neurotic...
and experimentation on madness. Twenty-four hundred copies of the album were sold, allowing access to a larger audience and onto a series of concerts with Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
, Absu, Misanthrope
Misanthrope (band)
Misanthrope is a French metal band, formed in 1988. The name of the band is taken from Molière's play Le Misanthrope, reflecting the band's very theatrical style and the influence of the French dramatist on their music and lyrics....
, amongst others.
They left the label after the release of Exile, and replaced Gerbaud and Zabé with new singer RMS Hreidmarr and keyboardist Neb Xort. They then pursued a new, self-described, "dark nihilistic metal" direction featuring a very fast, hysterical and powerfully orchestrated sound, with second album Sodomizing the Archangel, recorded at the band's own Drudenhaus Studio and released by Osmose Productions
Osmose Productions
Osmose Productions is a French independent record label created in 1991 by Hervé Herbaut, after he had spent three years running a small mail order company...
in 1999. They followed this with the Drudenhaus album (2000), which was released in March 2000, and proved to be a huge success for the band.
Further evolving the style was their 2001 release, New Obscurantis Order
New Obscurantis Order
New Obscurantis Order is the third album by the French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa.-Track listing:# "Mother Anorexia"# "Châtiment De La Rose" # "Black Death, Nonetheless"# "Stabat Mater Dolorosa"...
, which proved to be their most groundbreaking release to date, involving even faster tempos, more polished orchestrations and an all-around more violent sound. They toured all over Europe with the likes of Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth
Cradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
, and Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ
Rotting Christ is a Greek black metal band formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first black metal bands within this region, as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene.- Line-up :...
, by now an established symphonic black metal band. Anorexia Nervosa then went on hiatus for three years, returning with a new album, Redemption Process
Redemption Process
Redemption Process is the fourth album by the French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa. This album saw a change in lyrical content from lyrics dealing with violence and depression to redemption.-Track listing:# "The Shining"# "Antinferno"...
in 2004, now on Listenable Records. The album is not as frantic as New Obscurantis Order, but features richer orchestrations and more of a "raw" sound. Redemption Process is a concept album that focuses on lyrics about finding redemption.
Approximately one year later, the band released The September E.P.
The September E.P.
The September EP is a 2005 EP by French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa.-Track listing:# "Sister September" # "La Chouanne" *# "Quintessence" *# "I'll Kill You" *# "The Shining" *# "Stabat Mater Dolorosa" *...
which features a director's cut of Sister September, three cover tracks, and four live tracks. The EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
was released to be a "goodie" from the band until they are ready to record their next studio album.
On December 20, 2005, vocalist Rose Hreidmarr quit the band. His statement on the matter reads as follows:
"Leaving Anorexia Nervosa was definitely not the easiest thing to do as we've shared so much during our time together as this band had become a vivid part of my daily life. For seven years, the band has been giving me so many opportunities on a musical and human level and has heavily contributed to become the person I'm today. Still, I honestly thought I had reached the end of a personal era with the album 'Redemption Process' and I now feel the need to take a different path. I'm also absolutely proud of what I have been able to achieve with the rest of the band members who will always remain my best friends and I wish them the very best for the future."
Soon afterwards, the remaining band members held auditions for a new singer, but failure to find a replacement has caused guitarist Stefan Bayle to put the band in "stand-by" mode, fearing the group may become "some sort of parody" of itself. It remains unknown when, or if the band may resurface.
Since his departure from Anorexia Nervosa, Rose Hreidmarr has been singer for The Cosa Nostra Klub
The Cosa Nostra Klub
The Cosa Nostra Klub is a French black metal/industrial metal band, founded in Clermont-Ferrand, in 1996 by Mr Hreidmarr and Mr Heinrich Von B...
, a black/industrial metal band.
Stefan Bayle and Neb Xort also participated in Jensara Swann and Ben Notox's band The Veil
The Veil
The Veil is the title of an American horror/suspense anthology television series produced in 1958 by Hal Roach Studios.The series was hosted by Boris Karloff, who also acted in every episode but one, and was allegedly based upon real-life reports of supernatural happenings and the unexplained...
, both on their first album "Sleeping Among Serpents", released in 2006 and as session musicians for their first concerts. Neb Xort is still involved with the band as producer, and engineered The Veil's second album "Vestige" in 2008, and Ad Inferna's Trance N Dance in 2009. Bayle produced The Cosa Nostra Klub's second album, L'Hymne la Joie, in 2007.
Current members
- Stefan Bayle: Guitar (1995-)
- Nilcas Vant: Drums (1995-)
- Pier Couquet: Bass (1995-)
- Neb Xort: Keyboards (1998-)
Former members
- Marc Zabé: Guitar/Keyboard (1995–1998)
- Stéphane Gerbaut: Vocals (1995–1998)
- Rose Hreidmarr (Nicolas st Morand): Vocals (1998–2005)
Studio albums
- ExileExile (Anorexia Nervosa album)Exile is French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa's debut album, released by Season of Mist, and was produced by Stéphane Buriez in 1997...
(1997) - DrudenhausDrudenhausDrudenhaus is the second studio album by the French Symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa. The album received very positive reviews from critics, and it meant a European breakthrough for the band.-Track listing:# "A Doleful Night in Thelema"...
(2000) - New Obscurantis OrderNew Obscurantis OrderNew Obscurantis Order is the third album by the French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa.-Track listing:# "Mother Anorexia"# "Châtiment De La Rose" # "Black Death, Nonetheless"# "Stabat Mater Dolorosa"...
(2001) - Redemption ProcessRedemption ProcessRedemption Process is the fourth album by the French symphonic black metal band Anorexia Nervosa. This album saw a change in lyrical content from lyrics dealing with violence and depression to redemption.-Track listing:# "The Shining"# "Antinferno"...
(2004)
Compilation albums
- Suicide Is Sexy (2004)
- DisturbedDisturbed (album)Disturbed is the second album by Coo Coo Cal, released on September 18, 2001 through Tommy Boy Records. Most of the album was produced by Bigg Hank, though Bink, DJ Cipha Sounds, Rated X and Kay Gee of Naughty by Nature also contributed production to the album.-Background:The album is perhaps best...
(2009)