Dragnerve
Dragnerve a London based heavy metal band formed in 2007. Founded by guitarist Grizz and drummer Paul and original guitarist Scott when they decided to get serious after disbanding a covers band.
Band history
Prior to Dragnerve Paul and Lee have made music together since 1996 whether in bands or music projects such as 'Fluid and the Weird Guys', 'Futureproof', a drum and bass band; but it was their love for heavy metal that pushed them into forming the covers band that led them to form 'Dragnerve. Paul has also trained as a studio engineer which is put into practice on Dragnerve tracks.
Andy joined the band in November 2007 after a very long search and very mediocre auditions, Dragnerve finally found 'THE' voice. He has been singing in various bands in and around the South East of England for over a decade. From playing the London club circuit in Undertow and Dash-K, he hooked up with now defunct Southend noise merchants Stoopi in 2000, and recorded their debut album Unspoken Word in 2001 to a fair amount of critical acclaim for an underground UK band. However, the band eventually split due to label issues.
In February 2009, Rolly became a full time member of Dragnerve replacing Alain who left to pursue an alternate career in Law. Rolly originally from the critically acclaimed bandFlict filled in on bass duties when Alain was studying to become a lawyer.
Founding member Lee has been in bands all his life as music has always been his passion. He currently divides his time between writing tracks for Dragnerve and being an effects artist on motion pictures.
Film work
Dragnerve have contributed a track to the motion picture The Age of Stupid starring Pete Postlethwaite.
"The film was "crowd-funded", with the £450k budget being raised by selling “shares” to 223 individuals and groups. These groups range from a hockey team and a women’s health centre. This is mostly to give it the best chance of reaching a mainstream multiplex audience, but also to retain complete editorial control. These investors all own a percentage of the film - as do the crew, who are working for heavily reduced rates."
The film will have a major release on the 20 March 2009 in 35 cinemas across the UK.
The Soundtrack will be released in conjunction with the release of the film. The soundtrack includes songs from Radiohead, Depeche Mode, Dragnerve and The Band of Holy Joy, as well as an original orchestral score written by Chris Brierley
Reviews
"Dragnerve, they're not about blasting you with blast beats and kind of froggy vocals you know, they've got a bit of melody and have an old school kind of groove to them as well. Think Pantera mixed with Machine Head with a bit of Metallica as well!" - Johnny Doom - Kerrang Radio
"Formed in London as recently as December 2007, Dragnerve are out to fly their flag against the forces of metal-gone-pop they see much of the present day metal scene to be devolving into. So when we say they play a metal rooted in the sounds of Metallica and Pantera, it'd be easy to think 'here's another nostalgia act'. Thankfully, what we have here is a band who use their influences as just that. Which is why the likes of 'A Life In Ashes', could have existed a decade ago, but still sounds remarkable fresh today. Vocalist Andy Hutton's vocals are used mostly in a soulful Scott Weiland croon to a thuggish, Anselmo growl to a full on monsters scream. For a demo, and for a band less than a year old, this is impressive work." - Phill May - Rock Midgets.com
"London based metallers Dragnerve have only been together since the [...]-end of 2007 and already they've released this, their debut demo...I do detect a hint of something special here. First up, the music is as vibrant as hell, with the guitars in particular, sounding extremely fresh, with hints of old school Metallica, early Machine Head and the obligatory Pantera influence...The Thrashy undertones have huge potential and Dragnerve sound genuinely exciting when the intensity kicks in". -Live4Metal
"This is a band who are surely destined to be a British institution, 'cos they give it plenty & there's plenty of it!! Well worth checking out, I tell ya!! Destined for big things I’m sure!!! - Big Jim - The RockShow
Discography
- A life in Ashes Age of Stupid Soundtrack (2009)