Animatronic (album)
Encyclopedia
Animatronic is the third album from Norwegian
Industrial Metal
band, The Kovenant
, and was released in 1999 through Nuclear Blast
.
made Covenant a huge name in Europe
and Norway
because of the success of the album and the Norwegian
Grammy. But the band was in a tight spot now. Sarah was too much trouble for the band and Nagash refused to compromise with her any longer and fired her. Sverd had musical and personal problems within the band, and Astennu had musical obligations with Dimmu Borgir
. Only Hellhammer
remained.
Then a law suit came from Swedish
electronic music
band, Covenant
(of the same name). They had been around since the late 1980s and decided to sue Covenant since they held the original name before them. Not deciding to change their name that drastically, the band switched it from 'Covenant' to 'The Kovenant
'.
After that the band decided to go ahead and make another album. Desiring to move on and their fascination with science fiction, Nagash and Blackheart decided to move away from the black metal
scene and developed into "progressive space metal". Using more electronics and synths and hiring an expert female singer from the German House of Opera, The Kovenant
recorded and released Animatronic in 1999; recording took three months.
Fans were shocked at the drastic change and hardcore black metal
fans denounced their change while some remained and new fans were attracted. Either way the band was nominated for another Norwegian
Grammy. They attended again and won, beating Dimmu Borgir
and Black Debbath
.
With this album they toured both Europe
and the USA. Soon the band members changed their names (Nagash becoming Lex Icon, Blackheart becoming Psy Coma, Hellhammer becoming Von Blomberg) because of the new direction the band was taking.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Industrial Metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band, The Kovenant
The Kovenant
The Kovenant is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo/Hamar. The band originally formed as Covenant in 1993, but in 1999 were forced to change their name to The Kovenant due to a dispute with a Swedish electronic band of the same name....
, and was released in 1999 through Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
.
Album History
The successful release of Nexus PolarisNexus Polaris
Nexus Polaris is the second album recorded by Norwegian black metal band, The Kovenant, and was released in 1998 through Nuclear Blast.- Album history :...
made Covenant a huge name in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
because of the success of the album and the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Grammy. But the band was in a tight spot now. Sarah was too much trouble for the band and Nagash refused to compromise with her any longer and fired her. Sverd had musical and personal problems within the band, and Astennu had musical obligations with Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
. Only Hellhammer
Jan Axel Blomberg
Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
remained.
Then a law suit came from Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
band, Covenant
Covenant (band)
Covenant is a band from Sweden whose music comprises a mixture between electropop and electronic dance music. The band is composed of Eskil Simonsson, Daniel Myer and Joakim Montelius...
(of the same name). They had been around since the late 1980s and decided to sue Covenant since they held the original name before them. Not deciding to change their name that drastically, the band switched it from 'Covenant' to 'The Kovenant
The Kovenant
The Kovenant is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo/Hamar. The band originally formed as Covenant in 1993, but in 1999 were forced to change their name to The Kovenant due to a dispute with a Swedish electronic band of the same name....
'.
After that the band decided to go ahead and make another album. Desiring to move on and their fascination with science fiction, Nagash and Blackheart decided to move away from the black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
scene and developed into "progressive space metal". Using more electronics and synths and hiring an expert female singer from the German House of Opera, The Kovenant
The Kovenant
The Kovenant is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo/Hamar. The band originally formed as Covenant in 1993, but in 1999 were forced to change their name to The Kovenant due to a dispute with a Swedish electronic band of the same name....
recorded and released Animatronic in 1999; recording took three months.
Fans were shocked at the drastic change and hardcore black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
fans denounced their change while some remained and new fans were attracted. Either way the band was nominated for another Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Grammy. They attended again and won, beating Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
and Black Debbath
Black Debbath
The hard rock/metal band Black Debbath is a Norwegian band created by four of the core members of Duplex Records. They often make a political statement, calling their genre "Heavy Politically Incorrect Humor Rock".-Members:...
.
With this album they toured both Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the USA. Soon the band members changed their names (Nagash becoming Lex Icon, Blackheart becoming Psy Coma, Hellhammer becoming Von Blomberg) because of the new direction the band was taking.
Track listing
- "Mirrors Paradise" – 5:01
- "New World Order" – 4:31
- "Mannequin" – 5:01
- "Sindrom" – 5:31
- "Jihad" – 5:59
- "The Human Abstract" – 4:55
- "Prophecies of Fire" – 4:38
- "In the Name of the Future" – 4:56
- "Spaceman" – 5:23 (Babylon ZooBabylon ZooBabylon Zoo were a British rock band of the mid-1990s from Wolverhampton, England, fronted by Jas Mann. They were best known for the song "Spaceman", which on its release on 21 January 1996, went straight to #1 on the UK Singles Chart, selling 418,000 copies in the first week of...
coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
) - "The Birth of Tragedy" – 5:16
Personnel
- Lex IconStian ArnesenNagash or Lex Icon is a Norwegian black metal musician. He plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and does vocals....
– Vocals/Bass/Keyboards/Programming - Psy Coma – Guitars/Keyboards/Programming
- Eileen KüpperEileen KüpperEileen Küpper is a South Africa-born soprano singer, known for her work with metal bands Therion and The Kovenant.-With Therion:* Vovin * Crowning of Atlantis * Deggial -External links:*...
– Female Vocals - Von BlombergJan Axel BlombergJan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg is a three time Spellemannprisen award-winning heavy metal drummer. He is most well known for his drumming with the band Mayhem, with which he began his career...
– Drums