Drain STH
Encyclopedia
Biography
Noted today for their Seattle/GrungeGrunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
sound, Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
all female quartet Drain STH have undergone many direction changes in both musical style and image. Guitarist Flavia Canel and drummer Martina Axén have been together in many acts starting with punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Livin' Sacrifice
Livin' Sacrifice
Livin' Sacrifice was one of the earliest all girl punk bands in Sweden. The band started in a basement in Spånga in 1978. They soon got a reputation for being a good live band and was quickly signed to Rosa Honung...
(not to be confused with the 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...
band Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice
Living Sacrifice is a Christian heavy metal band that formed in September 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. The band has released seven studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren Johnson as a more thrash metal and death metal...
). As this act progressed the sound developed into more of a hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
vein.
Living Sacrifice evolved into "Aphrodite" with Axén, Canel vocalist Malin Ekholm and bassist Anna K, Aphrodite folded upon Ekholm's departure in 1990.
Axén, Canel and Anna K formed a new band called "Ragdoll" in 1991 that also included vocalist Annie Gutå.
With Gutås departure, Axén, Canel and Anna K joined forces with former Necronancy guitarist turning vocalist Maria Sjöholm, now wife of Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
guitarist Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
. They changed the name to "Drain" and signed a deal with MVG Records in 1994. For the American market the band was known as Drain STH. Live promotion in North America included second stage appearances at the Ozzfest
Ozzfest
Ozzfest is an annual festival tour of the United States featuring performances by many heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon Osbourne, both of whom also organize each yearly tour with their son Jack Osbourne...
event in 1997 and 1999, and tours with Type O Negative, Corrosion of Conformity, Machine Head, Megadeth, Godsmack and Black Sabbath among others . The 1999 album Freaks Of Nature would be noted for the inclusion of the track Black, co-written by Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, along with 2 tracks "Simon Says" and "Right Through You" co-written by Max Martin
Max Martin
Martin Karl Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. Raised in Stenhamra, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, he broke through as a producer and songwriter in the mid to late 1990s after crafting a string of hits for pop artists like the Backstreet Boys,...
Despite heavy publicity, the band would ultimately fold in 2000, with Axén and Anna K (Axen switching to vocals) created Superfix in union with guitarist China and drummer Sid from Sinisstar. Progress with this new unit was slow, a second demo and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
showcase gig being delivered in August 2002 with the project laid to rest soon after.
During 2001 Flavia Canel re-emerged touting her new project, the Brooklyn, New York based Anotherday. In early 2002 Axén would also announce the formation of a high profile side endeavour dubbed Dr. Fungus. Joining her on this venture would be Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber is an American alternative metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1993. Prior to Coal Chamber, Dez Fafara and Meegs Rascón formed the band She's In Pain in 1992. The two decided to create Coal Chamber. They disbanded in 2003 after ten years together, but announced a reunion in...
bassist Nadja Puelen, Adema
Adema
-2003–2004: Unstable, Mark Chavez's and Mike Ransom's departure:Adema's second album, Unstable, was released by Arista in August 2003. It was produced by Howard Benson, whose credits also include producing albums with P.O.D., Hoobastank and Cold....
drummer Kris Kohls and Unida
Unida
Unida was an American stoner rock band that was formed after the dissolution of Kyuss and Slo Burn. The band originally consisted of John Garcia , Arthur Seay , Miguel Cancino and Dave Dinsmore . Dinsmore was later replaced by Scott Reeder, who was in turn replaced by Eddie Plascencia...
guitarist Arthur Seay.
By mid 2003 Flavia Canel, working alongside vocalist / guitarist Niklas Fagerström, ex-SELPH guitarist Serban Carapancea and drummer Tony Baioni, was touting a fresh Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
based band entitled Blowsight. That summer bassist Anna K was to be found joining New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
industrial
Industrial music
Industrial music is a style of experimental music that draws on transgressive and provocative themes. The term was coined in the mid-1970s with the founding of Industrial Records by the band Throbbing Gristle, and the creation of the slogan "industrial music for industrial people". In general, the...
band Hanzel Und Gretyl's
Hanzel und Gretyl
Hanzel und Gretyl are an Industrial metal music group formed by members Kaizer Von Loopy and Vas Kallas in February 1993. In the 1990s their sound was described as a genre-defying blend of sci-fi metal/electronic and experimental, but into the new millennium they adopted a decidedly heavier sound...
'Fukken Über' US tour, a band she stayed with until 2005. In 2006 Anna K was recruited by 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...
for the re-union tour of Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks
Revolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
and in 2007 she joined the LA based Opiate for the masses
Opiate For The Masses
Opiate for the Masses was a post-hardcore band from Arizona. They formed in Phoenix in 1999 by Ron Underwood, Elias Mallin, Dustin Lyon and Jim Kaufman. The meaning of their name comes from the Karl Marx quote that says the organized religion is nothing but an opiate for the masses. In June 2009,...
. June 2004 had reports emerging that Axén had joined Snake River Conspiracy
Snake River Conspiracy
-Former members:*Martina Axén *Bobby Hewitt *Neil Taylor *Eric Hendrikx *Fab Fernandez *Tobey Torres *Mitch Doran...
to replace the exiting Tobey Torres, but in early 2006 it was announced that Axén had quit SRC to focus on her solo work.
Line-Up
- Maria Sjöholm (lead vocals)
- Flavia Canel (guitar)
- Anna K (bass)
- Martina Axén (drums, backing vocals)
Discography
Albums- 1995 Serve the Shame [EP]
- 1996 Horror WrestlingHorror WrestlingHorror Wrestling is the first studio album by the Swedish all-female alternative metal band Drain STH, released on June 5, 1996...
[expanded in 1998] - 1999 Freaks of NatureFreaks of Nature (Drain sth album)-Band members:*Maria Sjöholm - vocals*Flavia Canel - guitar*Anna Kjellberg - bass*Martina Axén - drums, backing vocals-Additional musicians:*Nico Elgstrand - acoustic guitar*Stefan Brisland-Ferner - strings on "I Wish ..."...
- 1999 "Detroit Rock City" Soundtrack
Chart positions
Album – Billboard (USA)| Year | Album | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Horror Wrestling | ||
| 1999 | Freaks Of Nature | Heatseekers | 25 |
Singles – Billboard (USA)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | I Don't Mind | Mainstream Rock | 33 |
| 1998 | Crack The Liar's Smile | Mainstream Rock | 25 |
| 1999 | Enter My Mind | Mainstream Rock | 34 |
| Simon Says | Mainstream Rock | 24 |
Careers of members
- Maria Sjöholm married Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
guitarist Tony IommiTony IommiAnthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, and is now retired from music. - Martina Axén sang in Snake River ConspiracySnake River Conspiracy-Former members:*Martina Axén *Bobby Hewitt *Neil Taylor *Eric Hendrikx *Fab Fernandez *Tobey Torres *Mitch Doran...
and is now recording a solo album. - Flavia Canel, is now Manager of Sonic SyndicateSonic SyndicateSonic Syndicate is a melodic death metal band from Falkenberg, Sweden. They are influenced by Swedish melodic death metal bands such as In Flames, Soilwork and metalcore bands like Killswitch Engage.....
and is not playing guitar professionally anymore. - Anna K played in Hanzel Und GretylHanzel und GretylHanzel und Gretyl are an Industrial metal music group formed by members Kaizer Von Loopy and Vas Kallas in February 1993. In the 1990s their sound was described as a genre-defying blend of sci-fi metal/electronic and experimental, but into the new millennium they adopted a decidedly heavier sound...
, Revolting CocksRevolting CocksRevolting Cocks, also known as RevCo, is an American–Belgian industrial rock band and sometime supergroup that began as a musical side-project for Richard 23 of Front 242, Luc Van Acker, and Al Jourgensen of Ministry.-History:...
, Opiate for the MassesOpiate For The MassesOpiate for the Masses was a post-hardcore band from Arizona. They formed in Phoenix in 1999 by Ron Underwood, Elias Mallin, Dustin Lyon and Jim Kaufman. The meaning of their name comes from the Karl Marx quote that says the organized religion is nothing but an opiate for the masses. In June 2009,...
and is currently working on a Stockholm Sweden based project involving members of ClawfingerClawfingerClawfinger is a rap metal band from Sweden and was one of the earliest bands to adopt this sound. Clawfinger is known for aggressive but melodic music and tackling political and anti-racist themes in their songs.-Band history:...
and Skintrade.