Gothminister

乍一聽很像一支德國的哥特電子樂隊(duì)，其實(shí)他們是一支來自挪威的奧斯陸的哥特電子工業(yè)樂隊(duì)。初聽他們的音樂，條頓化的節(jié)奏、泛濫的電子聲效配合猛烈的吉他和怪異的唱腔，其中流露出來的陰森病態(tài)情緒揮之不去。由一個叫Bjorn Alexander Brem的家伙創(chuàng)立于1999年。
 
Bjorn Alexander Brem出生于1974年，他從8歲開始就著迷于恐怖電影和小說，在成立Gothminister之前，他曾加入過不同風(fēng)格的樂隊(duì)，如鞭擊樂隊(duì)Conceptor和工業(yè)金屬樂隊(duì)Disco Judas。1999年Gothminister作為Bjorn個人樂隊(duì)成立，同年參加挪威的地下音樂節(jié)Volapük Festival，獲得了樂迷一致好評，音樂節(jié)舉辦人甚至用&the new gothic wave of the 2nd millennium&和 &The Gothminister will become the greatest gothstar in the world!&等詞句進(jìn)行吹捧。隨后經(jīng)過一系列火爆的演出后，Gothminister擴(kuò)大在樂迷中的影響，同時簽約獨(dú)立廠牌Angel Productions.2001，出版首張EP &Angel& ，初版300張很快銷售一空。
 
不久，Bjorn覺得他的演出需要更多人參與演奏，Halfface， Angel Productions的一個經(jīng)理，作為現(xiàn)場鍵盤手于2001年加入Gothminister。隨后他們錄制了一張小樣ep，并在挪威和德國的巡演中派發(fā)給樂迷。同時在巡演中，他們被著名極端金屬廠牌moonfog的Ann Frestad相中，她幫Gothminister聯(lián)系 Tatra Records.Tatra Records旗下曾經(jīng)有Apoptygma Berzerk和Icon of Coil（這兩個樂隊(duì)我都沒聽說過）這樣的電子樂隊(duì)。起先他們對Gothminister重金屬融入陰暗電子節(jié)拍的風(fēng)格表示懷疑。這時候，Gothminister作為一個個人樂隊(duì)，已經(jīng)不能適應(yīng)現(xiàn)場表演的需要，所以Rico Darum和Ted Skogmann作為吉他手和鼓手加入樂隊(duì)，在沒有找到合適的貝司手的情況下，Bjorn決定以以雙吉他的陣容代替，他招來樂以前呆過的Conceptor和Disco Judas樂隊(duì)的吉他手Machine，從此Gothminister成給五人陣容（還包括鍵盤手Halfface）。
 
2002年4月，Gothminister發(fā)行了他們在Tatra Records第一張單曲，也叫“Angel”.當(dāng)然，里面的曲子都是重新錄制和修改過的。這張單曲非常的成功，進(jìn)入排行榜（這個排行榜叫DAC，但我不知道他是怎樣的排行榜）的前十位，他們也像Rammstein, Moby ，Oasis一樣被樂迷們所熟知。同名曲“Angel”更是成為德國各大俱樂部滾動播放的熱門單曲。同年10月，第二張單曲“Devil”（寒，天使和魔鬼）推出，Devil有著比Angel更加重型的吉他。它上到排行榜第十五位。連續(xù)兩張成功的單曲推出后，Gothminister進(jìn)行第一張專輯的創(chuàng)作和錄音，以滿足樂迷的熱切期待。可惜這個時候，吉他手Rico和鼓手Ted卻離開了樂隊(duì)。但這并沒有阻擋Gothminister在2003年3月推出第一張專輯“Gothic Electronic Anthems”。這張專輯在德國，受到評論家和樂迷的普遍好評，各大音樂雜志和網(wǎng)站都給以滿分，并給予“&The face of goth 2003&， &the electro gothic highlight of the year&等贊譽(yù)。在英國，Gothminister為其歌特樂界帶來一股新風(fēng)。在美國，在澳大利亞，Gothminister歌迷遍及全世界各地。
 
在錄音室里，Gothminister還是Bjorn的單人樂隊(duì)，他一人完成所有的歌曲創(chuàng)作，編程以及部分吉他和制作，而Machine完成吉他演奏和制作。于London Of Midnight等歌特樂隊(duì)一樣，Gothminister現(xiàn)場演出善于運(yùn)用燈光和煙霧，同時配合恐怖電影片斷，以營造歌特氛圍。而Bjorn更是一副加長黑上衣，高帽，猙獰的化妝，如鬼魅般在這光怪陸離的舞臺中，在暴烈而陰森的音樂中。
 
GOTHMINISTER was formed by Bjorn Alexander Brem in 1999. GOTHMINISTER released the debutalbum; „Gothic Electronic Anthems& in 2003 and got fantastic critics in both national and international press. The album reached top 3 on the Dutch clublists. Metal Hammer UK headlines read &the undead are reborn&. GOTHMINISTER has had several successful clubsingles in the top 15 in Germany, like &Angel& and &Devil&. GOTHMINISTER played all the big German Festivals like WGT, Dark Storm Festival, three years in a row invited to the M..Era Luna Festival, and performing for more than 10.000 people at the Schattenreich Festival at ARENA in Oberhausen together with bands like Oomph! , In Extremo and Within Temptation.
 
The second album, „Empire of Dark Salvation& took Gothminister to a totally new level. In Norway Gothminister became historic by being the very first gothic industrial band to be sponsored by Rikskonsertene to do a nightliner tour in the biggest cities, supported by Tristania. Even Bylarm (&Norwegian Popcomm&) organized a gothic event in connection with the release. In Europe, Gothminister did more than 100 shows in over 20 countries to promote Empire of Dark Salvation, touring with Lacuna Coil, Theatre of Tragedy and Mortiis. The smash hit &Monsters& reached no.11 on the German Alternative Charts, and big success also overseas lead to GOTHMINISTERs first US headliner tour, taking on New York to Hollywood.
 
In 2008 the time has come for the long awaited third album „Happiness In Darkness& to be released on Drakkar/SonyBMG November 14th. Packed with greater and catchier songs than ever, GOTHMINISTER is with his third album on the peak of performance!!! The new club single & Dusk Till Dawn& will be released in autumn 2008 together with a fantastic and unique music video with real live footage from Norway..s highest rock concert on &Romsdalshorn& on 1550 m(!) above Trollveggen in the beautiful Norwegian mountains.