In late 2004, founding members and brothers Chris and Alan Meyer got together for an informal Jam at Chris’s practice room after not being in the same room for almost a year. A few Jams later and former Sutherland singer Sean Leary was invited to listen to what the brothers had been doing the chemistry was almost immediate and the debut song of the band ‘Once in Your Life” was written.

Essentially the band had started writing songs and defining a style before even having a name. The members started mulling over a band name that they felt would not only represent them but the style of music that had been written, a few names were thrown forward, but when Sean said the words Grind Rod Muse it just fitted right in. So with a total arsenal or 6 songs they decided to do a demo recording of the song “Once in Your Life”.

The song was recorded by Brandon van Eden (crossing point) in the practice room as a favour to Chris who had sessioned for his band at live shows and on their debut album. The song was handed out to a few mates and caused and immediate buzz in the Durban scene and even gained some air time with Barney Simon (5fm) even though it was only a demo. Music lover and promoter Wicked Mike loaded the song on to his site and started promoting the band and song, he all so decided to arrange a debut gig for the band which took place at The Winston Pub with other new comers Bohra and Habit to. The gig was a huge success and the Winston was packed out for the entire show with record attendance (an interesting fact about the three bands on the bill is that each band walked away with winning the Burn the bands completion in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively).

All the bands playing at the Winston that night new that something special was happening. In 2005 after building on some very strong performances at Splashy Fen (free stage) and some other local shows GRM entered the inaugural Burn the bands competition and went on to win the survivor style competition. After playing various festivals such as Woodstock, Splashy Fen and opening for Most Precious Blood (USA) GRM learnt that they were being sued by South African logistic giants Grindrod for name and trade mark infringements. This devastated the band and after a few name changes they decided to take a break as things did not feel the same and inner reflection was needed.

Chris decided to continue playing with other bands in the interim and managed to secure a slot with local band Porcelain Truck Drivers where he met future GRM bass player Garry Bell (although nobody knew this at the time)

After a yearlong sabbatical GRM got back together and after much discussion decided to keep the name and just change the spelling as it was something they were proud of at this point Garry joined the band as their previous bass player had moved to JHB, GRM started to add more material to their list of songs and in mid 2008 started preparing to record their debut album on a shoe string budget and a local studio.

All in all it took the band 5 days to do the whole album from beginning to end and in August 2008 the debut album “The Violence of Apathy” was officially released . A powerful album with music and lyrics that related to all genres across the board and the band set on touring and gigging South Africa in support of their debut album. Once in your life was submitted to radio stations across the country with almost all the varsity radio stations picking it up and putting it on their high rotation playlist.

GRM continued gigging throughout 2008 / 9 and in their spare time started to write new material.
In late 2009 GRM decided to enter the studio to record their follow up album Bloodline. After some lengthy discussions the band decided to in listed the same studio and producer who recorded ‘VOA’, initially the band was going to follow the same structure and process as was followed in the debut album due to budget restraints and on entering the studio they moved forward as planned. During the sessions the producer convinced the band to take one song and really concentrate on production and getting it right, the results of that effort was the first ball busting single “Blood & Scars” the result also forced the band to re-examine the budget and to focus and really bring out a quality product that was worthy of the songs that have been written.

What was planned to be a 10 day studio trip turned out to be a 4 month studio experience and the results spoke for its self. Bloodline was released in May 2010 and its first single “Blood & Scars” picked up on varsity radio stations and has been play listed on various overseas web radio metal stations as well. The album has received good reviews all round and was really well received between the fans and supporting people. Both albums have since then been distributed electronically throughout the world.
GRM continued to tour under the new album in 2010 racking up some more mileage on their instruments, 2011 however will be a bit different as the band will slow down gigging and selecting shows they want to play so they can start writing new material for the next album that will start preproduction in late 2011.
GRM’s journey from birth to destruction has been a long tale of success and disappointments over the years but the bond the members have formed with each other and friends alike will long be there after journey ends.

2005

Splashy Fen Free stage 2005
Winners of the Burn Battle of the Bands in 2005
Support act for Most Precious Blood (USA)
Finalists in the RPM Emerging Sounds competition at Caesar’s Palace
Woodstock 2005

2006

Splashy Fen Main stage
Band takes sabbatical

2008

Band returns to write debut album
Violence of Apathy is released
Official web site goes live
First Single ‘Once In Your Life’
MFM playlisting
UJFM playlisting
KovsieFM playlisting
PukFM playlisting (high rotation)
#1 on WickedRock.co.za downloads for July and August 2008
Track of the Day on GarageBand.com
#3 on SAMP3.com Top 30 SA Downloads
“once in your life” - Track of the Day on GarageBand.com
Second single “Sometimes” released December 2008.
Second single “Sometimes” put on play list at local clubs.
Second single - Track of the Day on GarageBand.com

2009

Band Tours under debut album (VOA)
Band donates time for ROWACA at their own expense and tour around the country in support
Start recording second album “Bloodline”

2010

Bloodline is released
First Single “Blood & Scars”
Overseas Web Based Radio Station picks up on Rotation play.
Band tours under second album
“Bloodline” gets online Distribution worldwide in the following stores:
iTunes Mexico, IMVU, MySpace Music, Zune, Amazon MP3, Thumbplay, Napster, Shockhound, Amie Street, iTunes U.S., iTunes Australia/N.Z., LimeWire Store, Amazon On Demand, iTunes Canada, Nokia, eMusic, iTunes UK/European Union, iTunes Japan
To date “Blood & Scars” has been down loaded 2500 times over various sites.
Second single “Bloodline”
Bloodline play listed on The Rock & Roll Psycho Circus

2011

Thornfest 2011
“Blood & Scars” to debut on ‘Rock Band’ video game

2000

Successfully organised High and Dry concert on the Pavilion rooftop with around 2000 people attending.

2001

First EP “Netherworld” Released
First single “Netherworld” gets air time on 5FM.
Splashy Fen Blunt stage

2002

Second EP “Throne” Released
First single “Throne” gets playlisted on 5FM’s NightZoo
First single “Throne” enters 5FM’s Modern Rock Chart at number 10 and climbs to number 3 over the following 6 weeks.
Finals of the RP Emerging sounds competition.
Splashy Fen Main stage
3 week tour to Cape Town
Flux Festival

2003

Opening act for Entombed (Sweden)
Splashy Fen
Witchfest
Universal records ask the band to do a tribute show for the promotion of the upcoming Metallica album St. Anger in SA. The show was such a huge success that the band decided to take it on tour around South Africa and lasted 6 month. It ended where the first show started with a massive bang.
Opened for Entombed (Sweden)
MEDIA and REVIEWS

Wickedrock -

The history of GRYND RODD MUSE (GRM) is extremely underground with thrills and disappointments appropriate to a life of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s bankruptcies, band fights, name changes and being unjustly sued by a giant corporation without the cash to defend themselves. That’s versus the upside of supporting Entombed and Most Precious Blood as well as appearing to huge crowds at South Africa’s longest running festival, Splashy Fen. After a decade, 3 of the 4 band members have seen it all and found glue to recruit Garry Bell (ex bassist from grunge outfit, Porcelain Truck Drivers) and release their debut CD, The Violence of Apathy.

The hostile artwork, a mixture of death and authority, is the brainchild of Robin Gombert. It stamps a good, first impression. The production could’ve been bigger but how they managed to get it this good with only 6 days of recording and mixing defies belief. No doubt, sound engineer, Brent Quinton (ex Arapaho), is owed a bunch of credit.
Inside it’s metal and hard rock grooving together with strong, old school revival.

This is for Pantera and Skinlab fans although the first single, ‘Once in Your Life’, is raucous and fun in the vein of System of A Down. ‘Sometimes’ kicks it up a notch, vocalist, Sean Leary aiming for high notes and hitting them well. I find him at his menacing best when unhurried and poignant, notably with ‘On Your Knees’ and my favourite, ‘Eden’. As lyricist, he falls prey to repetition but sings with such conviction he has to be forgiven. And the catchphrase of “sticking it in” from ‘Methane Betrayal’ is so damned effective that i can’t get it out of my head. The GRM majick is accessibility, catchy riffs and refrains abounding. Add exceptional musicianship from brothers, Chris and Alan Meyer, drums and guitar respectively, and you’ve got a well rounded band where every member gets his due. The tracks are well ordered, varied but flowing, raging yet with sufficient dark spaces to catch one’s breath.
GRYND RODD MUSE seethe with energy; bitterness and affirmation well directed so that The Violence of Apathy is one of 2008’s best releases.

The Zine -

“Hypnotically heavy, with a bass and guitar riff that tears from the speakers like an angry Pit Bull growling a warning. The production is fat... no, make that F A T ! GRM's experienced musicianship and songwriting is unmistakable in this terrific track that'll have metalheads moshing their ever lovin' heads off!” – Joe Day

Sunday Tribune, 23 Nov 2008 –

“Another band I was much impressed with last week is Grynd Rodd Muse. Playing to a captivated audience at The Winston, they’re a slick heavy ensemble whose secret weapon is their vocalist, Sean, who has absolute vocal control and clarity.
I’ve been lurking around waiting for a Durban metal band to really break out and I think this is the band that has everything going for it to really make a difference.
Backtracking to the old days again, when V and their ilk ruled the roost, it was a fine time in local metal history. Durban metal has since become a bit lost in the new gathering of clean-cut bands such as City Bowl Misers and Gonzo Republic. It’s great to see a bunch of long-haired, sweaty and accomplished musicians hit the stage with vigour and glory in their fingertips.

Though Grynd Rodd Muse are not a new band in any sense of the word, whatever they’re doing to refine a solid metal sound is working, and we can only hope that they soon start getting the respect and national festival spots they deserve”.

Garage band dot com -

“Somehow reminded me of a mixture of James from metallica and that original singer from drowning pool. A lot of good dynamics… made me feel like getting in a car chase with the police” –

Wickedrock –

South Africa’s GRYND RODD MUSE reaches out to all with their sophomore release, from the quick-fix playstation generation to true metallers. Even cavemen would be unable to resist headbanging. Accessibility, pounding and manly, is the beauty of the Bloodline CD.

‘Blood & Scars’, the blasting first single, is a strong representative of what’s to come. It’s crammed with attitude; violent and self-assertive. Like other groove metallists (Pantera, Coal Chamber) before them, the songs are in-your-face, an honesty that always let’s you know where you stand…and with it is a better place to be.

Good musicianship is the foundation. Allan’s guitaring is consummately appreciative of the genre, fill of riffs but with excursions into thrash and the delightful rarity of short, melodic soling. Chris is the rock, his drumming rhythmic and well directional, possessing more excitement than ever presented before. When he gives respite the silence is made more poignant by his quick return to power. Garry’s bass is the man-at-war accompaniment. Considering the extensive history of the other band members when he joined them for the last CD, The Violence of Apathy, he was a newcomer, an oddity in this smoke-too-much crowd. But he’s drunk them under the table, shrugged off his post-grunge origins and embraced Bloodline with his best bass yet. Singers bear much responsibility as it’s too them that the general public most identifies with. Sean’s lyrics are strongest in single sentences but overall, objectively, seem too simple and repetitive yet, somehow, subjectively, become hypnotic, a rock mantra for those not seeking peace but rather release. Some have compared his voice to Peter Hayes’ (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club). Although it’s a compliment, and i can hear it sometimes, i do find him to be more infectious in the choruses, his semi-automatic delivery as meaningful as the breakdowns.

Compliments would be incomplete without a nod to producer Brent Quinton of Sesalos Studios in Durban. He seems an unlikely choice considering his large association with radio rock, acoustic and pop acts. I’d have expected overproduction but instead he’s found the natural resonance in the band, emphasized it with subtle flair whilst retaining their grittiness.

As for the songs themselves, it’s damn difficult to choose a favourite. In fact, i listed 7 of the 10 songs when trying to choose which has resulted in me listening to the CD on repeat. Sayings such as “balls to the walls” and “metal up your arse” aren’t cliched descriptions here, instead primal fundamentals exploring the roots of hard rock gaining the razor’s edge. GRYND RODD MUSE’s Bloodline is an exceptional contribution to 2010.