The Grey Wolves
Encyclopedia
The Grey Wolves are a British
Industrial music
group. They were formed in 1985 by Dave Padbury and Trevor Ward.
' subgenre in industrial music. Their work has also been described as 'dark ambient
' and as 'power electronics
'. They have not limited themselves to simply producing music however, but engage in what they describe as "Cultural Terrorism", issuing manifestos, pamphlets and utilizing the mail art
network to get their message across, as well as being an active part of the cassette culture
. The Grey Wolves have issued many tapes of their own music. They have also been responsible for creating Death Pact International
, under whose name anyone was free to record their own work, and have released theirs, and others, collaborations on cassette under this moniker. As well, both members each have their own tape labels, Open Wound and Sol Niger, both focusing on industrial music.
The Grey Wolves frequently collaborate with other groups. Some of these bands include Academy 23
,
Kapotte Muziek
, Macronympha
, Psychic Workshop, Shock City, Streicher, Sudden Infant, Vandal X, Vidna Obmana
, and most often Con-Dom, with whom they have released many split recordings as well.
The Grey Wolves are controversial because of their use of fascist
imagery and have been criticized for this aspect of their presentation. However, while acknowledging the criticism, the group does not apologize for this, instead insisting it is an integral part of their critique of society.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Industrial music
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...
group. They were formed in 1985 by Dave Padbury and Trevor Ward.
History
The band has been credited with pioneering the 'death industrialDeath industrial
Death industrial is an industrial sub-genre typified by a dense atmosphere, low-end drones and screamed or distorted vocals. It can be differentiated from power electronics by a slower, more atmospheric sound reminiscent of dark or ritual ambient, and a less abrasive sound...
' subgenre in industrial music. Their work has also been described as 'dark ambient
Dark ambient
Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that features foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. Although it had its roots in the 1970s, Dark ambient emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of newer, smaller, and more affordable Effects units, synthesizer and sampling technology...
' and as 'power electronics
Power electronics
Power electronics is the application of solid-state electronics for the control and conversion of electric power.-Introduction:Power electronic converters can be found wherever there is a need to modify a form of electrical energy...
'. They have not limited themselves to simply producing music however, but engage in what they describe as "Cultural Terrorism", issuing manifestos, pamphlets and utilizing the mail art
Mail art
Mail art is a worldwide cultural movement that began in the early 1960s and involves sending visual art through the international postal system. Mail Art is also known as Postal Art or Correspondence Art...
network to get their message across, as well as being an active part of the cassette culture
Cassette culture
Cassette culture, or the cassette underground , refers to the practices surrounding amateur production and distribution of recorded music that emerged in the late 1970s via home-made audio cassettes...
. The Grey Wolves have issued many tapes of their own music. They have also been responsible for creating Death Pact International
Death Pact International
Death Pact International is a musical concept project created by "power electronics" and "death industrial" project The Grey Wolves during the 1980s. The essential concept behind Death Pact International is that anyone can produce music, perform live, or utilise any other media, under the name...
, under whose name anyone was free to record their own work, and have released theirs, and others, collaborations on cassette under this moniker. As well, both members each have their own tape labels, Open Wound and Sol Niger, both focusing on industrial music.
The Grey Wolves frequently collaborate with other groups. Some of these bands include Academy 23
Academy 23
Academy 23 was a British experimental music project created by Andy Martin and Dave Fanning, immediately after disbanding their former group The Apostles. Founded in London in 1989, the band released music primarily on audio cassette, as part of the cassette culture movement...
,
Kapotte Muziek
Kapotte Muziek
Kapotte Muziek is the musical improvisation project of Frans de Waard, Peter Duimelinks and Roel Meelkop. Active since 1984, it is one of the most internationally visible improvisation and experimental project hailing from the Netherlands. The group began as the solo noise music project of Frans de...
, Macronympha
Macronympha
Macronympha is an American noise group formed 1990 by Joseph Roemer and Rodger Stella in Pittsburgh, PA. Tim Oliveira Stimbox and Dominick Fernow Prurient have occasionally appeared on Macronympha recordings and live performances....
, Psychic Workshop, Shock City, Streicher, Sudden Infant, Vandal X, Vidna Obmana
Vidna Obmana
Vidna Obmana is a pseudonym used by Belgian composer and ambient musician Dirk Serries. The name Vidna Obmana, a phrase in Serbian, literally translates to "optical illusion" and was chosen by Serries because he felt it accurately described the music...
, and most often Con-Dom, with whom they have released many split recordings as well.
The Grey Wolves are controversial because of their use of fascist
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
imagery and have been criticized for this aspect of their presentation. However, while acknowledging the criticism, the group does not apologize for this, instead insisting it is an integral part of their critique of society.
Albums
- 1992 - Punishment (Tesco OrganisationTesco OrganisationTesco Organisation is a German record label, mail order company and distributor, specialising in industrial, noise, neofolk and ambient music. Tesco has also organised music festivals in the past such as “Heavy Electronics”, “Tesco Disco” and “Festival Karlsruhe” -Formation:Tesco Organisation...
) - 1995 - Incarceration (Slaughter Productions / Blade Records)
- 1995 - The Age Of Dissent (Tesco OrganisationTesco OrganisationTesco Organisation is a German record label, mail order company and distributor, specialising in industrial, noise, neofolk and ambient music. Tesco has also organised music festivals in the past such as “Heavy Electronics”, “Tesco Disco” and “Festival Karlsruhe” -Formation:Tesco Organisation...
/ Open Wound) - 1996 - Catholic Priests Fuck Children (Praxis Dr. Bearmann / Open Wound)
- 2001 - Victory Through Violence (Robben Island Records)
- 2002 - Many Are Called But Few Get Up (Live) (Power And Steel)
- 2002 - Blood And Sand (Old Europa CafeOld Europa CafeOld Europa Cafe is an Italian independent record label and mail order service specializing in ambient music, noise music, electronic music, and industrial music. It is based in Pordenone. Originating in the early 1980s Old Europa Cafe began as a small cassette label. Some of the original Old...
/ Cold SpringCold Spring (label)Cold Spring is an independent record label based in Northamptonshire, England, specialising in "all forms of extreme media, but particularly: black/dark Ambient, Neo-classical/Neo-folk, Orchestral, Power Electronics/Noise, Japanese Noise, Minimal, Death Industrial, Dark Soundtracks, Experimental,...
) - 2003 - Pure hatred (Membrum Debile Propaganda)
- 2003 - Division (Tesco OrganisationTesco OrganisationTesco Organisation is a German record label, mail order company and distributor, specialising in industrial, noise, neofolk and ambient music. Tesco has also organised music festivals in the past such as “Heavy Electronics”, “Tesco Disco” and “Festival Karlsruhe” -Formation:Tesco Organisation...
) - 2009 - Judgement (Hospital Productions)
Singles
- 1995 - "A Wealth Of Misery" / "Lest We Forget" (Xn Recordings)
- 1996 - "Zero Tolerance" Pic7"(Membrum Debile Propaganda)