Grailknights
Encyclopedia
Grailknights is an epic melodic death metal
band, with Viking metal
influences, from Hanover
.
and Hanover
as Galactic Grailknights. After having played several local shows, the band released their first album which they had produced on their own, called Across the Galaxy – the word Galactic had already been dropped from the band name. Numerous concerts in Northern Germany
followed. The second album Return to Castle Grailskull had already been completely recorded by then, and was released in the same year (2006). On June 24, 2008, the third record, entitled Alliance, was released.
In fall 2008, Grailknights went on a tour across Europe as support of the Swedish power metal
band Sabaton
.
In November 2009, the Knights played their first headline tour across Europe, with the US Power Metal band Zandelle.
In spring 2010, Duke of Drumington left the band, and has been replaced by Baron van der Blast.
In December 2010, Grailknights first DVD 'Live at the Gates of Grailham City' was released.
. The Knights, resident in Castle Grailskull, battle evil Dr. Skull. Therefore they dress up as superheroes, including Corpsepaint. In contrast to black metal
, the Grailknights use lively colours such as red (Mac Death), blue (Lord Lightbringer), green (Sir Optimus Prime
) and yellow (Baron van der Blast).
With their multicolored costumes and self-deprecating appearance, the band stands out from the crowd of rather dark heavy metal
bands. Nevertheless, the band uses the established cliché
s, such as the heroic warriors which fight dark forces – therefore, many think of the band as a heavy metal persiflage.
Their shows are staged as humorous epic battles. Evil Dr. Skull has stolen the Holy Grail
from the Grailknights, which has to be reconquered by the Knights. Several side-characters appear on stage, for both parties (Beer Beauty for the Knights, Morph the swarf and Urks for Dr. Skull). The audience, which the band calls their "Battlechoir", is integrated into the show via stories and jokes. Their battle cry is "Grailknights Battlechoir", and the audience answers with "Yes Sire!".
Additionally, the band has created several stories around the plot, which can be seen at YouTube
, called Grail TV.
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...
band, with Viking metal
Viking metal
Viking metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its galloping pace, keyboard-rich anthemic sound, bleakness and dramatic emphasis on lyrical themes of Norse mythology, Norse paganism, and the Viking Age...
influences, from Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
.
History
The band was founded at the end of 2002 by musicians from WunstorfWunstorf
Wunstorf is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 22 km west of Hanover. The following localities belong to the city of Wunstorf: Blumenau , Bokeloh, Grossenheidorn, Idensen , Klein Heidorn, Kolenfeld, Luthe, Mesmerode, Steinhude, Wunstorf....
and Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
as Galactic Grailknights. After having played several local shows, the band released their first album which they had produced on their own, called Across the Galaxy – the word Galactic had already been dropped from the band name. Numerous concerts in Northern Germany
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
followed. The second album Return to Castle Grailskull had already been completely recorded by then, and was released in the same year (2006). On June 24, 2008, the third record, entitled Alliance, was released.
In fall 2008, Grailknights went on a tour across Europe as support of the Swedish power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band Sabaton
Sabaton (band)
Sabaton is a Grammis-nominated power metal band from Falun, Sweden formed in 1999. The band's main lyrical themes are those of historical wars. This is heard in albums Primo Victoria, Attero Dominatus and Coat of Arms where all of the songs, except final tracks, take inspiration from historical...
.
In November 2009, the Knights played their first headline tour across Europe, with the US Power Metal band Zandelle.
In spring 2010, Duke of Drumington left the band, and has been replaced by Baron van der Blast.
In December 2010, Grailknights first DVD 'Live at the Gates of Grailham City' was released.
Concept
The eternal battle of good against evil is the core of the concept of the band, which is evocative of the Masters of the UniverseMasters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe is a media franchise created by Mattel....
. The Knights, resident in Castle Grailskull, battle evil Dr. Skull. Therefore they dress up as superheroes, including Corpsepaint. In contrast to 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....
, the Grailknights use lively colours such as red (Mac Death), blue (Lord Lightbringer), green (Sir Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
) and yellow (Baron van der Blast).
With their multicolored costumes and self-deprecating appearance, the band stands out from the crowd of rather dark heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands. Nevertheless, the band uses the established cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
s, such as the heroic warriors which fight dark forces – therefore, many think of the band as a heavy metal persiflage.
Their shows are staged as humorous epic battles. Evil Dr. Skull has stolen the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
from the Grailknights, which has to be reconquered by the Knights. Several side-characters appear on stage, for both parties (Beer Beauty for the Knights, Morph the swarf and Urks for Dr. Skull). The audience, which the band calls their "Battlechoir", is integrated into the show via stories and jokes. Their battle cry is "Grailknights Battlechoir", and the audience answers with "Yes Sire!".
Additionally, the band has created several stories around the plot, which can be seen at YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, called Grail TV.
Band
- Sir Optimus Prime (Guitar & Vocals)
- Count Cranium (Bass)
- Sovereign Storm (Guitar & Backing Vocals)
- Baron van der Blast (Drums)
Former Members
- Mac Death (Bass & Vocals)
- Lord Lightbringer (Guitar & Backing Vocals)
- The Duke Of Drummington (Drums)
Allies
- Battlechoir
- Zapf Beauty, the beer-supplying steed
- Mohrrüben-Mann (German for "carrot-man")
Opponents
- Dr. Skull
- Morph the Swarf (Dr. Skull's henchman, similar to Dr. Frankenstein's Igor)
- Urks (a dragon)
- Professor Pain
Discography
- Across the Galaxy (2004)
- Return to Castle Grailskull (2006)
- Alliance (2008)
Videos
- "Across the Galaxy" (Trailer; December 2004)
- "Moonlit Masquerade" (December 2007)
- "Tranquility's Embrace" (June 2008)
External links
- http://www.grailknights.de Grailknights homepage