Rhombus (UK band)
Encyclopedia
Rhombus are a Gothic Rock
band based in West Yorkshire
, England
.
Originally formed in Bristol
, England
in 2002 by bass player Ed Grassby and featuring his Brother and Sister-in-law on guitars, the band started to gain momentum after Ed relocated to Huddersfield
, West Yorkshire
and recruited new guitarists Robert Walker and Simon Cardwell.
The band gigged extensively around they UK for the next few years gaining a reputation for solid live performances, intelligent and often witty lyrics.
The band's profile raised as they scored support gigs with bands such as The Damned
and NFD as well as playing with a number of up and coming bands who went on to form the base of the contemporary UK Goth Rock scene.
A string of self released EPs ('Rat City', 2003, 'Attention Seeker', 2004, 'The Closing Time EP', 2006) lead to their music being added to club and alternative radio plays around the world.
In July 2007 having racked up an impressive 90 shows . the band put out their first proper album. 'Remembrance Day' was released on CD and digital download through Resurrection Records. The album was well received gaining solid reviews which lead to more club and radio play, bigger gigs and a support tour with NFD.
The album featured a number of guest artists including female rock singer Mya and musician Ian Grinn, both of whom had originally met Rhombus at the bands first gig when Rhombus supported 'The Sisters of Murphy' the much loved Sisters of Mercy
tribute act.
Shortly after the completion of the album, the band asked Mya to join full time adding a well received extra dimension to the band's sound. At this time the band started to put more effort into their stage appearance and to take their business a little more seriously.
In June 2009 Simon Cardwell quit the band without notice. With a string of high profile dates already booked, the band approached Ian Grinn to ask if he would step in as second guitarist so that the band could honour the bookings. Ian agreed and joined the band for a rehearsal that very night and a secret gig at Leeds Black Sheep Goth club-night was rapidly arranged to try out the new lineup.
After a positive reaction, Ian was asked to join full time. Ian was better known as a punk rock
, heavy rock and folk singer songwriter though he had been involved in Gothic Rock
as a long serving member of 'The Sisters of Murphy'.
With the new lineup settled and a new rockier sound being well received the band set about writing and recording their second album. The addition of Mya and Ian as both experienced song writers and recording musicians to the fold allowed Ed and Rob, hitherto the creative force behind the band to raise their game further and the result was the album 'Open The Sky' which the band completed recording at their own studio in October 2009.
However, unhappy with initial mastered mix the band took the decision to stop the pressing and drafted in Stephen Carey of This Burning Effigy
, 'Adoration' and The Eden House
to remix.
The band played a storming main venue set at the famous Whitby Gothic Weekend
on the 1st November where they issued a free CD-R named 'Monked up the Sky' to fans by way of apology for the delayed album release.
The remixed and remastered 'Open the Sky' was eventually released through Resurrection Records in the UK and digitally on af-Music worldwide in January 2010. The album received a raft of excellent reviews and the band's profile raised another step.
The band continued gigging throughout 2010 picking up more headline shows.
In January 2011 Rhombus released 'The Anywhere EP', a four track release composed of the song 'Anywhere' and two new tracks 'Timeless and Elegant' and 'Nowhere'. Carey was once again given mixing duties and produced an extended remix of 'Anywhere' to compete the EP.
2011 saw the band pick up their first European dates, their debut being in Berlin in support of former Skeletal Family
and Ghost Dance
lead singer Anne-Marie Hurst
.
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
band based in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Originally formed in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 2002 by bass player Ed Grassby and featuring his Brother and Sister-in-law on guitars, the band started to gain momentum after Ed relocated to Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
and recruited new guitarists Robert Walker and Simon Cardwell.
The band gigged extensively around they UK for the next few years gaining a reputation for solid live performances, intelligent and often witty lyrics.
The band's profile raised as they scored support gigs with bands such as The Damned
The Damned
The Damned are an English gothic punk band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single , an album , to have a record on the UK music charts, and to tour the United States...
and NFD as well as playing with a number of up and coming bands who went on to form the base of the contemporary UK Goth Rock scene.
A string of self released EPs ('Rat City', 2003, 'Attention Seeker', 2004, 'The Closing Time EP', 2006) lead to their music being added to club and alternative radio plays around the world.
In July 2007 having racked up an impressive 90 shows . the band put out their first proper album. 'Remembrance Day' was released on CD and digital download through Resurrection Records. The album was well received gaining solid reviews which lead to more club and radio play, bigger gigs and a support tour with NFD.
The album featured a number of guest artists including female rock singer Mya and musician Ian Grinn, both of whom had originally met Rhombus at the bands first gig when Rhombus supported 'The Sisters of Murphy' the much loved Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
tribute act.
Shortly after the completion of the album, the band asked Mya to join full time adding a well received extra dimension to the band's sound. At this time the band started to put more effort into their stage appearance and to take their business a little more seriously.
In June 2009 Simon Cardwell quit the band without notice. With a string of high profile dates already booked, the band approached Ian Grinn to ask if he would step in as second guitarist so that the band could honour the bookings. Ian agreed and joined the band for a rehearsal that very night and a secret gig at Leeds Black Sheep Goth club-night was rapidly arranged to try out the new lineup.
After a positive reaction, Ian was asked to join full time. Ian was better known as a punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, heavy rock and folk singer songwriter though he had been involved in Gothic Rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
as a long serving member of 'The Sisters of Murphy'.
With the new lineup settled and a new rockier sound being well received the band set about writing and recording their second album. The addition of Mya and Ian as both experienced song writers and recording musicians to the fold allowed Ed and Rob, hitherto the creative force behind the band to raise their game further and the result was the album 'Open The Sky' which the band completed recording at their own studio in October 2009.
However, unhappy with initial mastered mix the band took the decision to stop the pressing and drafted in Stephen Carey of This Burning Effigy
This Burning Effigy
This Burning Effigy were an Irish goth band, originally formed in Dublin in 1993, and consisting of members Stephen Carey , Ger Egan , Micheal Cowley , Brian Fallon...
, 'Adoration' and The Eden House
The Eden House
The Eden House is a collaborative musical project, initiated by Stephen Carey and involving a collection of guest musicians and vocalists; then later joined by Tony Pettitt .Their debut album Smoke & Mirrors was released on April 6, 2009 in the United States and...
to remix.
The band played a storming main venue set at the famous Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend
Whitby Gothic Weekend, often abbreviated to WGW or simply referred to by attendees as Whitby, is a twice-yearly festival for goths, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, organised by Jo Hampshire who runs Top Mum Promotions.-Event history:...
on the 1st November where they issued a free CD-R named 'Monked up the Sky' to fans by way of apology for the delayed album release.
The remixed and remastered 'Open the Sky' was eventually released through Resurrection Records in the UK and digitally on af-Music worldwide in January 2010. The album received a raft of excellent reviews and the band's profile raised another step.
The band continued gigging throughout 2010 picking up more headline shows.
In January 2011 Rhombus released 'The Anywhere EP', a four track release composed of the song 'Anywhere' and two new tracks 'Timeless and Elegant' and 'Nowhere'. Carey was once again given mixing duties and produced an extended remix of 'Anywhere' to compete the EP.
2011 saw the band pick up their first European dates, their debut being in Berlin in support of former Skeletal Family
Skeletal Family
Skeletal Family were an English gothic rock band which formed in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England in December 1982. The band formed from the remaining membership of an earlier group, called The Elements, and took their name from the title of the song "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family"...
and Ghost Dance
Ghost Dance
The Ghost Dance was a new religious movement which was incorporated into numerous Native American belief systems. The traditional ritual used in the Ghost Dance, the circle dance, has been used by many Native Americans since prehistoric times...
lead singer Anne-Marie Hurst
Anne-Marie Hurst
Anne-Marie Hurst was the lead vocalist for the groups The Elements, Skeletal Family, and Ghost Dance. She was the lead vocalist of Elements until 1982. In December 1982, she helped form Skeletal Family...
.
Discography
- 2003: The Soul The Spirit & The Wish : EP
- 2003: Rat City : EP
- 2004: Attention Seeker: EP
- 2006: The Closing Time EP: EP
- 2007: Remembrance Day: Album (Resurrection Records)
- 2010: Open the SKy: Album (Resurrection Records, afMusic)
- 2011: The Anywhere EP: EP (afMusic)