Yyrkoon (band)
Encyclopedia
Yyrkoon is a French
death metal
band. The main lyrical themes revolve around occult
ism, horror
/fantasy
, and members' personal philosophies
. The name Yyrkoon is derived from the name of Elric of Melnibone
's cousin in Michael Moorcock
's fantasy
series.
The demo was sent to different French labels and Velvet Music International signed the band. Personal conflicts during the recording of the band's debut album led to a few lineup changes. Banas and Caron left the band, resulting in the recruitment of Jérôme Barouin on guitar and Kristofer Laurent on bass guitar. Stéphane Souteyrand switched to vocals and asked friend Jeff Gautier to perform keyboard parts. The band recorded its first album, Oniric Transition, in 1998 at the Walnut Grove Studio in Amiens
, France.
After not being contacted with another deal from Velvet Music International, Yyrkoon was forced to find a new label. Another demo, entitled Forgotten Past, was recorded and distributed. During this time, Barouin left the band, which went for 7–8 months without a second guitarist. After a difficult search, François Falempin joined on guitar while Kristofer Laurent was fired and replaced by Victorien Villchez. Yyrkoon began touring with other well-known European bands such as Septic Flesh
, Misanthrope
, Aborted
, Gojira
, Scarve
, and Mercyless.
, was released in 2002 to positive reviews albeit a different, more thrash metal
-influenced sound.
was recorded in Denmark at Jacob Hansen studios. Before recording, Harrouart lost motivation to continue with the band because of personal problems. Yyrkoon hired Dirk Verbeuren
(of Soilwork
and Scarve
fame) to record the drum tracks.
Occult Medicine was sent to many different labels before its release since Yyrkoon was displeased with Anvil Prod's management job. After a few weeks, Osmose Productions
signed the band with a two-record deal that included Occult Medicine, with which the band has been quite pleased.
, was released in 2006 on Osmose. After a year of touring, the band was placed on indefinite hiatus in late February 2007 due to Souteryand's lack of motivation and enthusiasm.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band. The main lyrical themes revolve around occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
ism, horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, and members' personal philosophies
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. The name Yyrkoon is derived from the name of Elric of Melnibone
Elric of Melniboné
Elric of Melniboné is a fictional character created by Michael Moorcock, and the antihero of a series of sword and sorcery stories centering in an alternate Earth. The proper name and title of the character is Elric VIII, 428th Emperor of Melniboné...
's cousin in Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
's fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series.
Demos, Oniric Transition
The band was formed in 1995 by Stéphane Souteyrand (guitar & keyboards), Laurent Harrouart (drums), Paul Banas (vocals & guitar), and Sébastien Caron (bass guitar). One year later, Yyrkoon decided to self-record the first 5-song demo tape, Oath, Obscure, Occult…, which included unique sounds to typical death metal like female vocals, violin, and flute. This tape was well-received in the underground.The demo was sent to different French labels and Velvet Music International signed the band. Personal conflicts during the recording of the band's debut album led to a few lineup changes. Banas and Caron left the band, resulting in the recruitment of Jérôme Barouin on guitar and Kristofer Laurent on bass guitar. Stéphane Souteyrand switched to vocals and asked friend Jeff Gautier to perform keyboard parts. The band recorded its first album, Oniric Transition, in 1998 at the Walnut Grove Studio in Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
, France.
After not being contacted with another deal from Velvet Music International, Yyrkoon was forced to find a new label. Another demo, entitled Forgotten Past, was recorded and distributed. During this time, Barouin left the band, which went for 7–8 months without a second guitarist. After a difficult search, François Falempin joined on guitar while Kristofer Laurent was fired and replaced by Victorien Villchez. Yyrkoon began touring with other well-known European bands such as Septic Flesh
Septic Flesh
Septic Flesh is a death metal band from Athens, Greece, which was founded in 1990.- History :Septic Flesh was formed in March 1990 by Sotiris Vayenas , Spiros Antoniou , and Christos Antoniou , and quickly released a debut EP, Temple of the Lost Race in December 1991...
, Misanthrope
Misanthrope (band)
Misanthrope is a French metal band, formed in 1988. The name of the band is taken from Molière's play Le Misanthrope, reflecting the band's very theatrical style and the influence of the French dramatist on their music and lyrics....
, Aborted
Aborted
Aborted is a Belgian death metal band formed in Waregem, Belgium in 1995. The group comprises vocalist and founder Sven de Caluwé, guitarists Eran Segal and Mike Wilson, bassist J.B. Van Der Wal, and drummer Ken Bedene. The band members of Aborted are from Belgium, France, Israel, United Kingdom,...
, Gojira
Gojira (band)
Gojira is a heavy metal band formed in 1996 in Bayonne, France. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier on vocals and guitar, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on guitar and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass...
, Scarve
Scarve
Scarve is a French technical death metal band from Nancy. They have released four full-length albums, the latest being The Undercurrent, released on April 2, 2007 on Listenable Records.- Biography :...
, and Mercyless.
Dying Sun
Following a show in Paris in 2001, Yyrkoon met Stéphane Brulez, manager for the label Anvil Prod, who gave the band a two-album deal. Interestingly, Yyrkoon was the first band signed to Anvil Prod. The band's second album, Dying SunDying Sun
Dying Sun is the second full-length studio album by the French death metal band Yyrkoon.-Track listing:# "Idols Are Burning" – 0:30# "Crystal Light" – 3:42# "Flight of the Titan" – 5:00# "The Clans" – 3:51# "Thrash-em All" – 6:27...
, was released in 2002 to positive reviews albeit a different, more thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
-influenced sound.
Occult Medicine
In 2003, the band begun composing its third album, during which time Falempin left the band and Gautier took over the guitar position from keyboards. Occult MedicineOccult Medicine
Occult Medicine is the third full-length studio album by the French death metal band Yyrkoon. It was released in 2006 on Osmose Productions records.-Track listing:*All Songs Written & Arranged By Yyrkoon...
was recorded in Denmark at Jacob Hansen studios. Before recording, Harrouart lost motivation to continue with the band because of personal problems. Yyrkoon hired Dirk Verbeuren
Dirk Verbeuren
Dirk Verbeuren is a heavy metal drummer for Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork, French melodic death metal band, Scarve , French melodic death metal band, Phaze I, Dutch death-thrash metal band, Anatomy of I, and American thrash metal band, Powermad...
(of Soilwork
Soilwork
Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 by Björn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork .Their sound is a fusion of the classic...
and Scarve
Scarve
Scarve is a French technical death metal band from Nancy. They have released four full-length albums, the latest being The Undercurrent, released on April 2, 2007 on Listenable Records.- Biography :...
fame) to record the drum tracks.
Occult Medicine was sent to many different labels before its release since Yyrkoon was displeased with Anvil Prod's management job. After a few weeks, Osmose Productions
Osmose Productions
Osmose Productions is a French independent record label created in 1991 by Hervé Herbaut, after he had spent three years running a small mail order company...
signed the band with a two-record deal that included Occult Medicine, with which the band has been quite pleased.
Unhealthy Opera and disbanding
The band's fourth album, Unhealthy OperaUnhealthy Opera
Unhealthy Opera is the fourth full-length studio album by the French death metal band Yyrkoon. The symbol on the cover is the yellow sign from the book The King in Yellow.-Track listing:...
, was released in 2006 on Osmose. After a year of touring, the band was placed on indefinite hiatus in late February 2007 due to Souteryand's lack of motivation and enthusiasm.
Discography
- Oath, Obscure, Occult… (demo, 1996)
- Oniric Transition (1998)
- Forgotten Past (mini CD, 2000)
- Dying SunDying SunDying Sun is the second full-length studio album by the French death metal band Yyrkoon.-Track listing:# "Idols Are Burning" – 0:30# "Crystal Light" – 3:42# "Flight of the Titan" – 5:00# "The Clans" – 3:51# "Thrash-em All" – 6:27...
(2002) - Occult MedicineOccult MedicineOccult Medicine is the third full-length studio album by the French death metal band Yyrkoon. It was released in 2006 on Osmose Productions records.-Track listing:*All Songs Written & Arranged By Yyrkoon...
(2004) - Unhealthy OperaUnhealthy OperaUnhealthy Opera is the fourth full-length studio album by the French death metal band Yyrkoon. The symbol on the cover is the yellow sign from the book The King in Yellow.-Track listing:...
(2006)
Current members
- Stéphane Souteyrand - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, vocals- Laurent Harrouart - drums
Former members
- Victorién Vilchez - bass guitar, classical guitar
- Paul Banas – guitar, vocals
- Sébastien Caron – bass guitar
- Jérôme Barouin – guitar (session)
- Kristofer Laurent – bass guitar
- François Falempin – guitar
- Dirk VerbeurenDirk VerbeurenDirk Verbeuren is a heavy metal drummer for Swedish melodic death metal band, Soilwork, French melodic death metal band, Scarve , French melodic death metal band, Phaze I, Dutch death-thrash metal band, Anatomy of I, and American thrash metal band, Powermad...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(session)