New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Born from of a desire to create music in an environment where guitars don't exist. Bassists Benoît Forté (The Lonely Sidewalkers/Coco Méliès/ex-Fallstaf/ex-North East Bistro) and Nicolas Miquelon (Norilsk/Mortör/ex-Kintra) created the dark collective known as THE GREAT RUSSIAN EMPIRE (TGRE). Inspired by the 1980's new wave and early 1990's alternative genre, by way of modern folk and various rock influences, their debut EP "Low Ends" is dark in content with lyrics crafted around tragic personal events, and layered with vocals, violin and cello.
Now available as of
September 8th, the EP is now streaming in full and can be downloaded or be purchased on CD version presented in a gatefold digi-sleeve at the following link on Bandcamp: https://thegreatrussianempire.bandcamp.com/album/low-ends.
Bassist Ben Forté comments:
"LOW ENDS wasn't originally supposed to be recorded, well not for our first release. We (Ben Forte and Nic Miquelon) had worked on 6-7 instrumental songs that were supposed to see the day of light on this recording. Let say we were done about 75% and there was still a lot of work to be done and we didn't feel that we were ready to lay everything down in studio. So... I (Ben Forte) had these other songs almost all done, with lyrics and a good vision of the arrangements. I felt going instrumental right after my other past projects FALLSTAF and NORTH EAST BISTRO would leave me hanging with things not said. So I asked my friend Jason from DIRTCAKE if he could sing on the recordings and he agreed the second I asked and he did an amazing job. I also felt the tracks were a little empty with a few basses and a drum kit so I added strings to support the songs and brought in a cello and a violin.
David Méliès recorded almost everything and produced the whole project. Took almost 5 five years to complete this EP and looking back, these first songs we wrote are great because of the literal Low Ends."
Track Listing:
1. Full of Blood (6:19)
2. The Hands That Bring The Road Kill To The Side (3:49)
3. If Tomorrow Ever Comes (Cop Shoot Cop cover) (6:03)
4. Blood Everywhere (3:52)
5. Pig's Blood (3:56)
6. The Fence (4:15)
EP Length: 28:19
EP Band and Live Line UP:
Benoît Forté - Bass
Nicolas Miquelon - Bass
Mathieu Lassonde - Drums
Additional guest musicians:
Jason Mateus - Vocals
Sara
Jasmin - Violon
Julien Thibault - Cello
For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatRussianEmpire
"Speaking about unusual music, here is The Great Russian
Empire and their astounding debut EP....Although they are genre-bending, constantly jumping from one style to another, the dark rock foundation always stands. Type O
Negative meets Nick Cave meets Ween meets Joy Division, something like. Something pretty damn contagious too, I can guarantee you that." - Merchants of Air
"Who needs a guitar!? A haunting & emotive listen, the EP is more than just dark & throbbing bass. It's layered with gorgeous vocals & symphonic string instruments, sharing much with the 90's alternative style of rock (Type O Negative, Faith No More). The Great Russian
Empire have managed to craft an exciting & unique piece of work that is far more than just a bunch of throwaway songs." - Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life
"TGRE has their own distinct sound, which 9 of 10 bands fail to discover or create. This band not only makes the double bass attack work, but makes it their own. Well done." - Gears of Rock
"Canadian rockers THE GREAT RUSSIAN EMPIRE have eschewed the guitar option and gone for two basses instead. It really shouldn't work but in a bass loving bass clandestine amalgamation it does, and some - By Guy Shankland. The surprise is just how damn good and dark it sounds. 'The Low Ends' E.P oozes pure black current concentre head tilting Rock 'N' Dark." - Original Rock
"Now, to be honest with you, I can't quite get my head around this band! ... How is it they can do what they do AND make it work - with impact! ... And so superbly as well!" - Way Out Radio
