Mínus
Encyclopedia
Mínus is an Iceland
ic alternative rock
/hardcore
band from Reykjavík
. They are signed to the record label Smekkleysa. Mínus have shared the stage with, among others, Metallica
, Foo Fighters
, and Queens of the Stone Age
. Their song "The Long Face" was featured on the UEFA Euro 2004 video game.
Former Members:
, Foo Fighters
and Queens of the Stone Age
. Since their first UK tour of January 2002, Minus have been lighting fires across mainland Europe and America. Following the 2003 release and 2004 re-release of Halldor Laxness they spent most of 2003 and 2004 touring Europe, both as a supporting band as well as several of their own Headlining tours, as well as playing the Main Stage at the 2004 Leeds Festival in the UK. The past years has seen them making friends and sharing stages and with the likes of Muse
, The Distillers, Amen, Biffy Clyro, Hundred Reasons, Hell Is for Heroes
, The Eighties B-Line Matchbox Disaster, and the already mentioned; Metallica, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. Minus saw a breakthrough with their second album 'Jesus Christ Bobby' released 2001 on The Sugarcubes' Smekkleysa label. the music was full of white noise and aural extremities. It introduced Minus to the world and was recognized by the likes of NME, Metal Hammer, Terrorizer and Kerrang!, whose 5/5 review frothed that Minus are - " the most important noise band to emerge in years". Their 3rd release: 'Halldor Laxness' - titled in tribute to Iceland's Nobel Prize-winning author (1908–98) - contained a sound with less screamo and a softer, more melodic approach. This album was also well-received by the critics. Minus released their latest offspring in Iceland, named "The Great Northern Whale Kill", on May 23, 2007. In March 2008 the album then became available in Europe, including the UK. In September 2010 it was reported on the Official Minus Myspace page that they have finished their Fifth Full Length album 'KOL', the follow-up to 2007's The Great Northern Whalekill
.
"one of the Hot 50 Bands You Must Hear in 2004 - 'Halldor Laxness' is the record Queens Of The Stone Age would have produced had they come from the Arctic tundra rather than the desert wastes" Metal Hammer
"every track is strong - 4/5" The Independent
"They might just be the rock 'n roll band the world has been waiting for" 5K- Kerrang! live review
"Minus are a welcome blast of March- fresh air, their maelstrom of thrash guitars and magisterially tortured vocals enough to leave cheeks burning and throats gasping for breath an icicle sharp album" Q 4*
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
/hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band from Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. They are signed to the record label Smekkleysa. Mínus have shared the stage with, among others, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
, and Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
. Their song "The Long Face" was featured on the UEFA Euro 2004 video game.
Members
- Krummi - vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Bjarni - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Bjössi - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Siggi - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Former Members:
- Þröstur - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Ívar - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Frosti - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
History
"The first great rock 'n' roll gang of the 21st century" (Kerrang!) - has supported acts like MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
and Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...
. Since their first UK tour of January 2002, Minus have been lighting fires across mainland Europe and America. Following the 2003 release and 2004 re-release of Halldor Laxness they spent most of 2003 and 2004 touring Europe, both as a supporting band as well as several of their own Headlining tours, as well as playing the Main Stage at the 2004 Leeds Festival in the UK. The past years has seen them making friends and sharing stages and with the likes of Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, The Distillers, Amen, Biffy Clyro, Hundred Reasons, Hell Is for Heroes
Hell Is For Heroes (band)
Hell Is for Heroes was an English post-hardcore band from London. Founder members Will McGonagle and Joe Birch were joined by James Findlay, Tom O'Donoghue and later Justin Schlosberg...
, The Eighties B-Line Matchbox Disaster, and the already mentioned; Metallica, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age. Minus saw a breakthrough with their second album 'Jesus Christ Bobby' released 2001 on The Sugarcubes' Smekkleysa label. the music was full of white noise and aural extremities. It introduced Minus to the world and was recognized by the likes of NME, Metal Hammer, Terrorizer and Kerrang!, whose 5/5 review frothed that Minus are - " the most important noise band to emerge in years". Their 3rd release: 'Halldor Laxness' - titled in tribute to Iceland's Nobel Prize-winning author (1908–98) - contained a sound with less screamo and a softer, more melodic approach. This album was also well-received by the critics. Minus released their latest offspring in Iceland, named "The Great Northern Whale Kill", on May 23, 2007. In March 2008 the album then became available in Europe, including the UK. In September 2010 it was reported on the Official Minus Myspace page that they have finished their Fifth Full Length album 'KOL', the follow-up to 2007's The Great Northern Whalekill
The Great Northern Whalekill
The Great Northern Whalekill is the Fourth Full-Length album released by the Icelandic group Mínus.-Track listing:#"Cat's Eyes" – 4:30#"Black and Bruised" – 3:17#"Shoot The Moon" - 2:56#"Kiss Yourself" – 2:33...
.
Reviews
"the coolest sounding left-field rock band around. KKKKK" Kerrang!Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
"one of the Hot 50 Bands You Must Hear in 2004 - 'Halldor Laxness' is the record Queens Of The Stone Age would have produced had they come from the Arctic tundra rather than the desert wastes" Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
"every track is strong - 4/5" The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
"They might just be the rock 'n roll band the world has been waiting for" 5K- Kerrang! live review
"Minus are a welcome blast of March- fresh air, their maelstrom of thrash guitars and magisterially tortured vocals enough to leave cheeks burning and throats gasping for breath an icicle sharp album" Q 4*
Albums
- Hey Johnny!Hey Johnny!Hey Johnny! is the debut album by the Icelandic band Mínus. It was recorded and produced in October 1999 by Jón Skuggi in Studio Grjótnáman. The album is now out of print and very hard to find.-Track listing:All songs written and performed by Mínus...
(1999) - Jesus Christ BobbyJesus Christ BobbyJesus Christ Bobby is an album by the Icelandic band Mínus. It was recorded and produced in October 2000 by Curver in Studio Rusl and at Frosti's bedroom. Mixed by Ken Thomas at Thule Studios.-Track listing:...
(2000) - Halldór LaxnessHalldór Laxness (album)For the Nobel Prize winning Icelandic author, see Halldór LaxnessHalldór Laxness is an album released by the Icelandic group Mínus. It was recorded and mixed in Studio Sýrland, Iceland, by Ken Thomas and Curver in February and March 2003 except "Last leaf upon the tree", it was mixed at Tími and...
(2003) - The Great Northern WhalekillThe Great Northern WhalekillThe Great Northern Whalekill is the Fourth Full-Length album released by the Icelandic group Mínus.-Track listing:#"Cat's Eyes" – 4:30#"Black and Bruised" – 3:17#"Shoot The Moon" - 2:56#"Kiss Yourself" – 2:33...
(2007) (The title a nod to PanteraPanteraPantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
's 1996 album The Great Southern TrendkillThe Great Southern Trendkill-Credits:* Philip Anselmo – lead vocals* Dimebag Darrell – guitar, backing vocals, 12 string acoustic guitar on "Suicide Note Pt. I"* Rex Brown – bass, backing vocals* Vinnie Paul – drums* Produced, Recorded, and Mixed by Terry Date and Vinnie Paul...
.) - KOL (2011)