Grotesque was a Swedish

death metal Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

band.Daniel Ekeroth
''Swedish Death Metal''
Second edition. Brooklyn, NY: Bazillion Points 2009, p. 249, accessed on 8 October 2012.

History

The band formed in

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

, Sweden in September 1988 by former members of Conquest: Kristian Wåhlin (Necrolord) and Per Nordgren (Virgintaker), with the addition of Tomas Lindberg (Goatspell). The band was, however, short-lived and recorded a few demos and an EP. The band's original drummer Shamaatae formed the black metal band

Arckanum Arckanum was a Swedish black metal solo band formed in 1993 by Johan "Shamaatae" Lahger, who was the only constant member. Arckanum ranks among the most influential and popular in the Swedish black metal scene. Shamaatae is also an author of ...

in 1993. After the demise of Grotesque, Lindberg and Svensson started

At the Gates At the Gates is a Swedish death metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. The band was a major progenitor of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal alongside In Flames and Dark Tranquillity. Prior to their first disbandment in 1996, At the Ga ...

, while Necrolord created his own band Liers in Wait and focused more on creating artwork for several bands including

Dissection Dissection (from Latin ' "to cut to pieces"; also called anatomization) is the dismembering of the body of a deceased animal or plant to study its anatomical structure. Autopsy is used in pathology and forensic medicine to determine the cause o ...

and

Emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

. In 1996, three members—Goatspell, Necrolord, and Offensor—got back together and recorded two songs for the release of a compilation album, which was later re-released as a split album with At the Gates EP ''

Gardens of Grief At the Gates is a Swedish death metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. The band was a major progenitor of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal alongside In Flames and Dark Tranquillity. Prior to their first disbandment in 1996, At the ...

''. Grotesque briefly reformed in 2007 for a single invite-only concert on January 26 in

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

, to celebrate the publication of Daniel Ekeroth's book ''Swedish Death Metal''.

Nirvana 2002 Nirvana 2002 was a Swedish death metal band active between 1988 and 1991. The band was originally called Prophet 2002, but decided to change its name to Nirvana. However, it had to add the "2002" after seeing an advertisement for Nirvana's debut s ...

and Interment also reunited for the concert.

Members

Tomas Lindberg Tomas Lindberg (born 16 October 1972), also known as "Tompa" and "Goatspell", is a Swedish vocalist who has fronted many death metal bands, most notably At the Gates. He has been active as a musician and composer since the late 1980s. He also te ...

(Goatspell) - Vocals (1988–1990, 1996, 2007) *

Kristian Wåhlin Kristian Wåhlin (born 4 December 1971) is a Swedish musician, singer, graphic designer and album cover artist for many bands in the extreme metal scene worldwide. He is often credited under his pseudonym Necrolord. Biography Wåhlin's interes ...

(Necrolord) - Guitar (1988–1990, 1996, 2007) *Insultor - Guitar (2007) *Per Nordgren (Virgintaker) - Bass (1988, 2007) *Tomas Eriksson (Offensor) - Drums (1989–1990, 1996, 2007)

Former members

* Alf Svensson - Guitar (1990) *Nuctemeron - Bass (1988–1989) * Shamaatae - Drums (1988–1989)

Discography

*''Ripped from the Cross'' (demo, 1988) *''The Black Gate Is Closed'' (demo, 1989) *''Incantation'' (EP, 1990) *'' In the Embrace of Evil'' (compilation, 1996)

References

External links

Black Sun Records Page with biography, discography, and sample
- Currently Offlline

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grotesque (Band) Swedish black metal musical groups Swedish death metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1988 Musical quintets