The Anthroposition EP. Grenadeers

Bands fold faster than they are started nowadays it seems. At times I have only just heard about a band, to read that the members call it quits. Grenadeers is one of those band, although it's not final (yet?)

With The Anthroposition EP the band does go out with a bang, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, the influences in the music of the band stick out like a sore thumb. As much, yes, I like the EP. The songs are inspired and fiery. They bounce and are very much alive. This sounds only logical, right? But in the alternative rock segment Grenadeers are active in, it becomes crucial to be so.

Grenadeers debuted on these pages with a single, 'Single Filter Exit', last April. The band from Utrecht had its new record ready for some time, but not unlike many other artists and people alike, were halted in its tracks. Now that the time has come to release the self-recorded EP, the band decided to call it quits.

On The Anthroposition climate change is the central theme. Where the cover of the single of last spring showed all the steam and smoke being belched out of the steelworks in Beverwijk, the EP's cover art is harder to determine the link on. Plastic, a rain coat, rising sealevels? Only with some extra knowledge the link becomes clear.

Grenadeers are not afraid to let its music rip, although there's always some reticence and keeping in control before the beast escapes. 'Insta-Model' shows this already. The opening song underscores this observaton. It is loud, rocks out, but Grenadeers always remains in control. The guitar riffs colour within the lines in the way a band like QOTSA colours within the lines. The rhythm is oh so tight, the rhythm guitar in tandem with the bass. This does allow for the drums to produce some extracurricular fills or the bass to produce a nice walking line, while progressing to the next chord. But all within that supertight environment.

With QOTSA as a clear main influence, now imagine Soulwax coming in as well. The Soulwax of its first two albums that is. Its first album was produced by Chris Goss, so the desert rock connection becomes even closer. Now influences are all nice but not if the songs are just so so. Rest assured, The Anthroposition contains six fine songs that range from stark rockers to alternative rock ballads ('Rear View Mirror'). The mix in approach makes the EP an even better album. Note the little high-pitched background vocals as well. Grenadeers knows exactly how to adorn its songs a little more to make them even more interesting. A rock band letting in some small pop elements, in my ears usually scores an extra point here and there. The already mentioned single can be found on the EP as well and certainly is the most ambitious song there.

Taken over all, The Anthroposition EP is an album that totally succeeds.

Drummer Guy Pek, released a solo EP in September called, 'Mixed Messages'. I did not have the time to review it then, but it is certainly worthwhile checking out. The percussion is more prominently mixed than with his band. The melodies and singing are more than okay, whiles Pek takes his listeners on a tour of decades of pop music and influences.

Wout de Natris