The Band

Biography

Frail Grounds is a five-piece metalwork from Lillestrøm, Norway. With their varied and melodic metal, they present complex and evolving, yet emotional soundscapes. Classic melodic metal, progressive elements and the brutality of extremmetal; Everything mixed together in perfect order and structure, shaping up the ground you follow as you venture unto frail grounds...

The earliest seeds and ideas of Frail Grounds came to life in 2003, when Morten Søbyskogen decided to create the music which he enjoyed. There were no bands in his area that played the "darker type of heavy metal", and he also wanted to write the songs he was to sing.

Inspired by Halford and Bruce Dickinson, he started writing the first riffs that was later to become the epic progressiv Sweet suffering. For Morten, lyrics and concept was a most important element to accompany the music, and inspired by Clive Barkers hellraiser-mythology he started writing an independant story set within that universe.

Amongst the first songs created was Sweet suffering, Darker glory and War against the flesh, all which still are a part of their setlist and can be found on their debut-EP "Corrosion", released in 2008. He got together with Mardon Sandberg and they rehearsed a little bit, but due to time and commitent this didnt work out at the current time.

Morten spent the rest of 2003 and spring/summer of 2004 creating music, writing lyrics and trying to gather a band.

In autumn 2004 Morten managed to gather musicians to the first version of Frail Grounds, currently named Deus Ex Machina. This lineup consisted of Trond Carlsen (guitar), Vegard Venli( guitar; ex-Predatoria, Pegasus) and Alvar (Drums). They were rehearsing for a debut-gig at Kjeller'n Rock in December, but due to circumstances it didnt work out at that time. Within a couple of months he therefore laid the band to a temporary rest. Though dissapointed by the outcome he kept his focus on making more music and searching for the right musicians to bring Frail Grounds to life.

In Autumn 2005 he hooked up with Mardon Sandberg again, and this was the real beginning for Frail Grounds. The name Deus Ex Machina was already being used by too many bands, and Morten wanted to have a original and unique name. And as if touched by fate, Frail Grounds appeared. Morten and Mardon rehearsed the rest of 2005, and in January 2006, Morten's long-time friend Trond Carlsen joined again, along with Daniel Westbye on lead-guitar. Things felt good, the songs were being rehearsed and some months later Thomas Oppedal joined on bass. Thomas had moved to Oslo from bergen and was looking for a band to join, and he immediately kicked on the demo-songs he heard.

Morten had always made the songs with a synth in mind. Not very dominant, but still the songs needed the synth for the little extra feeling. Gunnar Gudmundsen, a friend Morten and Trond had played with earlier, was at the time being in military, but wanted to join when he came back in January 2007. So while they kept searching for a temporary synth-player, they always had this in mind.

By the end of summer, it became clear that Mardon unfortunately didn't have the time and commitment necessary for playing in the band, and chose to leave. Again they were very lucky, as Emil Moen (ex-predatoria) was looking for a band and decided quickly to join. This was a very boost for the band, and they were now utterly focusing on performing the songs as good as possible before playing live.

In January 2007 Gunnar joined on synth, and they got their first gig in february, at Connect in Lillestrøm supporting Backstreet Girls. This concert was a blast, and they recieved good feedback. During the spring and summer they played several more concerts, and also talking about recording a demo. But unexpected things were to happen, and by the end of summer Daniel had to leave. Playing with only one guitarplayer was not an option as the music is complex and made up by two guitars.

Finding the right successor was not easy, so they spent the rest of the year recording their debut-Ep, Corrosion. Mainly recorded at Roxx studios and mastered at Skrekk & Skru Studios, it was released in January 2008, recieving very good reviews. The bands vision was always to keep a certain standard in everything the band does, and it was important that their first recording showed that. The result is a professionaly pressed cd, with 8 page coloured booklet and 35 minutes of great melodic heavy metal. Something to please the band,the fans and hopefully the record-companies.

In March Gøran Hoff Mikkelsen took contact, wanting to be the new guitarplayer, and after one rehearsal he was in. Skilled, precise and a great guy, he was just what Frail Grounds needed. This proved to be a solid lineup, and they played several concerts spring/summer 2008. After playing with Highland Glory at Gamla (Oslo) 28th June, they took a summerbreak.

Trond Carlsen had decided to pursue the art of studying, so Vegard Amundsen, a friend of Gøran and Emil, stepped in to help the band with their concerts throughout 2008.

TO BE UPDATED SHORTLY!