Grenouer
Presence with War

August 2004
Released: 2004, CD-Maximum
Rating: 3.0/5
Reviewer: Night of the Realm

It has taken four albums under their belt, but it looks to me like Russian death metallers Grenouer have broken out of their homeland and reached across the sea. Despite being active since 1992, Grenouer has remained unknown to me until their latest release, PRESENCE WITH WAR arrived in my mailbox.



Searching back through the band’s discography, it would appear that Grenouer have evolved from a death-gore band in the early 90s into more of a technical death metal band. The nine songs here on PRESENCE OF WAR are not your straight-up brutal death metal, but rather the mid-paced variety with a strong groove, a touch of thrashiness, and a thick wall of sound kind of feel to it. The end result is not unlike that style played by Obliveon, Cryptopsy, or even some Bolt Thrower.



I really do not have a lot to say about this album, actually. Unfortunately, the CD I received will not play in any of my CD players, and it crashes my computer whenever I try to load it. Perhaps this is a manufacturing defect, or because it is a Russian CD, though I have never had that issue before. In any case, the only time I can listen to this album is in my truck stereo. At least it makes for some good driving music. Fans of technical/progressive death metal will certainly enjoy it.