Mesrine - Biography
This band's profile is 'invisible', meaning that it's much less prominent on the site - either because it's incomplete, or maybe doesn't entirely fit MS format.
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1998-
Biography
MESRINE came about around summer of 1997, although the actual name was found in 1998. The original line-up was Fred (guitar), Dan (drums) and Crocko (bass/vocals). The idea was to play old school grindcore mixed with d-beat hardcore.
In 1998 the band found a practice space in Québec without Crocko meaning there was no bass player or singer that year. Needing a singer, a couple dudes tried out for the vocal spot with Félix Théberge finally making the cut. That summer, MESRINE played it's first gigs with this line-up until Félix left the band. In November '98 a demo and an intended split 7'' with ROT were recorded using a 4-track. Dan ended up doing most of the vocals, although Félix did show up to do a few tracks. Unsatisfied with the recording, very few copies of the demo tape were given away and different material was re-recorded for the split with ROT.
In 1999 the band recruited Tchen-Lé (aka Jack), who was playing in a band called B.L.A.K. whom they were sharing a jam space with to play bass. Crocko also rejoined as vocalist. With this line-up, a bunch of songs were written and in May '99 MESRINE entered a recording studio for the first time. The studio material was used for a 3-way split CD with TRAUMATISM and NYCTOPHOBIC as well as the split 7"" with ROT. No gigs were played with this line-up as Tchen-Lé moved to Montreal. Once again, without a bassist, it was Dan and Fred rehearsing as a two-piece for the remainder of 1999. A bunch of songs were written, but never recorded. Eventually, a new bass player was found in Kevin Bottiau (guitarist in TRAUMATISM) and the trio (along with Crocko still in the fold) started over writting new material from scratch.
In May 2000, with the line-up of Dan, Fred, Kevin and Crocko, the band entered Sonum Studios to record 4 songs for a split 7"" with DAHMER. A couple of gigs were played during that summer but Kevin, who was also playing full-time in TRAUMATISM, started missing many rehearsals and by the time recording a 1st full lenght came around, he only knew about half the songs so Fred ended up playing bass on most of the album. Crocko also had problems with his voice during the recording and was unable to do his vocal tracks so Dan recorded most of the vocals, aside from a few guest vocals by Seb Dionne of DAHMER. "GOING TO THE MORGUE" was released on CD with bonus tracks taken from the second session recorded in 1998 originally intended for the split with ROT. By the end of 2000 a new bassist was found in Steve Cormier as well as a new vocalist: Steve "Le Barbu" Poirier.
In April 2001 MESRINE ventured to Toronto (Ontario) with this new line-up and that summer, played throughout Québec. In July split EPs with NOISECORE FREAK, GLAUCOMA, IRRITATE and CARBONO 14 were recorded. The latter was never released so, instead, the songs were used for a split 7"" with SEPTICEMIE. The rest of the year was spent playing gigs and writting new material.
In July 2002 the "SHOT TO DEATH" 7" EP was recorded along with two split EPs; one with NEEDFUL THINGS and the other with GORED FACE. Gigs were played in Montreal, Toronto, Oshawa and also in Jonquière. The gig in Jonquière was recorded on a 4-track and mixed in Montreal by former bassist, Jack. This material would appear on split EPs with NEUROVISCERAL EXHUMATION and REBELION DISIDENTE.
In early 2003, Crocko, who had moved to Montreal, decided it was too much hassle to play in a band 2 and a half hours away so he decided to quit. He was replaced shortly thereafter with David Corneau. In September, with the line-up of Fred (guitar), Dan (drums), Steve (vocals), Cormier (bass/backing vocals) and Corneau (vocals), a split CD/LP with DEPRESSION was recorded. This would be Cormier's last recording with MESRINE as he left the band soon after and was quickly replaced by Yohan Robichaud of DIFAMATION.
The first months of 2004 were spent rehearsing for more gigs. In May Corneau was fired and in June, as a 4-piece consisting of Fred (guitar), Dan (drums), Steve (vocals) and Yohan (bass), the band embarked on it's first tour (halfway) across Canada with gigs in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Following that tour Yohan left the band. That fall, more material was recorded for upcoming split EPs and Jack (formely known as Tchen-Lé) was welcomed back into the fold as bassist. In December/January, a 2nd full lenght titled "I CHOOSE MURDER" was recorded.
In April 2005 12 cover songs were recorded for a split CD with BAD TRIPPE, which was released later in 2005. In August, "I CHOOSE MURDER" was released, as well as a split picture 7" with NEEDFUL THINGS and a 7" discography CD titled "JACK IS DEAD (1999-2004)". In September, MESRINE toured Europe for the first time, playing 27 gigs in 7 countries.
A slew of releases appeared in 2006 including: the split MCD with REBELION DISIDENTE, the split CD with BAD TRIPPE, a split 7" with EPITOME, a split 7" with FUCK THE FACTS, a split 7" with ARCHAGATHUS and finally, an appearance on the "GIANTS OF GRIND II" DVD, taken from a performance at the festival of the same name that took place in Salzgitter, Germany in September 2005. Gig-wise not much happened except for a mini 4-gig tour in June with MISERY INDEX and DISFEAR around Ontario and Québec. The remainder of 2007 was spent working on a 3rd full lenght album.
2007 was the slowest year as far as releases go, as only one record saw the light of day... "UNIDENTIFIED" was released in June, almost one year after recording began from which a videoclip was also produced for the second track on the album "First Victim". A two-week cross-canadian tour in June took the band all the way to British Columbia, sharing western dates with powerviolence trio SUCKCESS. Not much happened for the next few months of the year as Fred broke his wrist. Not wanting to cancel any gigs, a couple of shows were played with no bass and Jack handling guitar. In late 2007 a 3-way split CD with TREPAN'DEAD and ROGER MOORE was released. Tracks from these splits were taken from a live recording done at the GV Hotel in Timmins (Ontario) during the canadian tour earlier that summer.
In April 2008 another session was recorded at the rehearsale space for split EPs with ABORTION and P.L.F. as well as a split CD with PLAGUE RAGES and in July, the band embarked on a 2-week tour in Europe with WHO'S MY SAVIOR? and ROGER MOORE with shows in: Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France; including a slot on the OBSCENE EXTREME and the GRIND THE NAZI SCUM festivals. Other than a handful of gigs in Québec and the maritimes, the rest of the year was very quiet as the band took a little break.
In early 2009 writting began for a 4th album titled "OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE", which was entirerly produced by Jack in the band's jam space (except for drums which were recorded in a studio). A few releases surfaced throughout 2009, including: LP versions of "UNIDENTIFIED" and "GOING TO THE MORGUE", a split 7" with IRON BUTTER, and the split CD with PLAGUE RAGES. A few shows were played throughout that year, including some gigs in eastern Canada.
2010 saw the release of "OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE" as well as a split 7" with SPERMBLOODSHIT. In August the band toured 9 days throughout Ontario and Québec, teaming up with partners in grind DISLEKSICK, G.O.D. and DISGUST along the way. Following this tour, long-time friend of the band and G.O.D. bassist, Esteve Decalisse, joined on bass and Jack switched to second guitar. A few shows were played with this new line-up in the fall/winter 2010 around the province of Québec as well as an appearance at the 7th annual BLOODBUCKET FESTIVAL in Toronto.
By early 2011 new material was being written and a tour in Europe with sicilian band, HAEMOPHAGUS, was beginning to take shape. A couple of shows were played in Quebec and Montreal that spring and by June 2011, 14 new songs were recorded for tentative splits, including a split 7" with EMBALMING THEATRE. In early July the long-awaited split 7" with SAKATAT saw the light of day just as the band embarked on it's 3rd European tour, starting at the OBSCENE EXTREME FESTIVAL in Czech Republic and playing shows in Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Austria along the way before finishing with the PLAY FAST OR DON'T FESTIVAL. Upon returning home, Esteve quit the band. So once again we have a new bass player, this time it's the one and only Crocko, who is actually an original member of the band who did vocals with us in the early years. So for the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012, we will be working on songs for the next album which we hope to record by spring/summer 2012.
In 1998 the band found a practice space in Québec without Crocko meaning there was no bass player or singer that year. Needing a singer, a couple dudes tried out for the vocal spot with Félix Théberge finally making the cut. That summer, MESRINE played it's first gigs with this line-up until Félix left the band. In November '98 a demo and an intended split 7'' with ROT were recorded using a 4-track. Dan ended up doing most of the vocals, although Félix did show up to do a few tracks. Unsatisfied with the recording, very few copies of the demo tape were given away and different material was re-recorded for the split with ROT.
In 1999 the band recruited Tchen-Lé (aka Jack), who was playing in a band called B.L.A.K. whom they were sharing a jam space with to play bass. Crocko also rejoined as vocalist. With this line-up, a bunch of songs were written and in May '99 MESRINE entered a recording studio for the first time. The studio material was used for a 3-way split CD with TRAUMATISM and NYCTOPHOBIC as well as the split 7"" with ROT. No gigs were played with this line-up as Tchen-Lé moved to Montreal. Once again, without a bassist, it was Dan and Fred rehearsing as a two-piece for the remainder of 1999. A bunch of songs were written, but never recorded. Eventually, a new bass player was found in Kevin Bottiau (guitarist in TRAUMATISM) and the trio (along with Crocko still in the fold) started over writting new material from scratch.
In May 2000, with the line-up of Dan, Fred, Kevin and Crocko, the band entered Sonum Studios to record 4 songs for a split 7"" with DAHMER. A couple of gigs were played during that summer but Kevin, who was also playing full-time in TRAUMATISM, started missing many rehearsals and by the time recording a 1st full lenght came around, he only knew about half the songs so Fred ended up playing bass on most of the album. Crocko also had problems with his voice during the recording and was unable to do his vocal tracks so Dan recorded most of the vocals, aside from a few guest vocals by Seb Dionne of DAHMER. "GOING TO THE MORGUE" was released on CD with bonus tracks taken from the second session recorded in 1998 originally intended for the split with ROT. By the end of 2000 a new bassist was found in Steve Cormier as well as a new vocalist: Steve "Le Barbu" Poirier.
In April 2001 MESRINE ventured to Toronto (Ontario) with this new line-up and that summer, played throughout Québec. In July split EPs with NOISECORE FREAK, GLAUCOMA, IRRITATE and CARBONO 14 were recorded. The latter was never released so, instead, the songs were used for a split 7"" with SEPTICEMIE. The rest of the year was spent playing gigs and writting new material.
In July 2002 the "SHOT TO DEATH" 7" EP was recorded along with two split EPs; one with NEEDFUL THINGS and the other with GORED FACE. Gigs were played in Montreal, Toronto, Oshawa and also in Jonquière. The gig in Jonquière was recorded on a 4-track and mixed in Montreal by former bassist, Jack. This material would appear on split EPs with NEUROVISCERAL EXHUMATION and REBELION DISIDENTE.
In early 2003, Crocko, who had moved to Montreal, decided it was too much hassle to play in a band 2 and a half hours away so he decided to quit. He was replaced shortly thereafter with David Corneau. In September, with the line-up of Fred (guitar), Dan (drums), Steve (vocals), Cormier (bass/backing vocals) and Corneau (vocals), a split CD/LP with DEPRESSION was recorded. This would be Cormier's last recording with MESRINE as he left the band soon after and was quickly replaced by Yohan Robichaud of DIFAMATION.
The first months of 2004 were spent rehearsing for more gigs. In May Corneau was fired and in June, as a 4-piece consisting of Fred (guitar), Dan (drums), Steve (vocals) and Yohan (bass), the band embarked on it's first tour (halfway) across Canada with gigs in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Following that tour Yohan left the band. That fall, more material was recorded for upcoming split EPs and Jack (formely known as Tchen-Lé) was welcomed back into the fold as bassist. In December/January, a 2nd full lenght titled "I CHOOSE MURDER" was recorded.
In April 2005 12 cover songs were recorded for a split CD with BAD TRIPPE, which was released later in 2005. In August, "I CHOOSE MURDER" was released, as well as a split picture 7" with NEEDFUL THINGS and a 7" discography CD titled "JACK IS DEAD (1999-2004)". In September, MESRINE toured Europe for the first time, playing 27 gigs in 7 countries.
A slew of releases appeared in 2006 including: the split MCD with REBELION DISIDENTE, the split CD with BAD TRIPPE, a split 7" with EPITOME, a split 7" with FUCK THE FACTS, a split 7" with ARCHAGATHUS and finally, an appearance on the "GIANTS OF GRIND II" DVD, taken from a performance at the festival of the same name that took place in Salzgitter, Germany in September 2005. Gig-wise not much happened except for a mini 4-gig tour in June with MISERY INDEX and DISFEAR around Ontario and Québec. The remainder of 2007 was spent working on a 3rd full lenght album.
2007 was the slowest year as far as releases go, as only one record saw the light of day... "UNIDENTIFIED" was released in June, almost one year after recording began from which a videoclip was also produced for the second track on the album "First Victim". A two-week cross-canadian tour in June took the band all the way to British Columbia, sharing western dates with powerviolence trio SUCKCESS. Not much happened for the next few months of the year as Fred broke his wrist. Not wanting to cancel any gigs, a couple of shows were played with no bass and Jack handling guitar. In late 2007 a 3-way split CD with TREPAN'DEAD and ROGER MOORE was released. Tracks from these splits were taken from a live recording done at the GV Hotel in Timmins (Ontario) during the canadian tour earlier that summer.
In April 2008 another session was recorded at the rehearsale space for split EPs with ABORTION and P.L.F. as well as a split CD with PLAGUE RAGES and in July, the band embarked on a 2-week tour in Europe with WHO'S MY SAVIOR? and ROGER MOORE with shows in: Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France; including a slot on the OBSCENE EXTREME and the GRIND THE NAZI SCUM festivals. Other than a handful of gigs in Québec and the maritimes, the rest of the year was very quiet as the band took a little break.
In early 2009 writting began for a 4th album titled "OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE", which was entirerly produced by Jack in the band's jam space (except for drums which were recorded in a studio). A few releases surfaced throughout 2009, including: LP versions of "UNIDENTIFIED" and "GOING TO THE MORGUE", a split 7" with IRON BUTTER, and the split CD with PLAGUE RAGES. A few shows were played throughout that year, including some gigs in eastern Canada.
2010 saw the release of "OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE" as well as a split 7" with SPERMBLOODSHIT. In August the band toured 9 days throughout Ontario and Québec, teaming up with partners in grind DISLEKSICK, G.O.D. and DISGUST along the way. Following this tour, long-time friend of the band and G.O.D. bassist, Esteve Decalisse, joined on bass and Jack switched to second guitar. A few shows were played with this new line-up in the fall/winter 2010 around the province of Québec as well as an appearance at the 7th annual BLOODBUCKET FESTIVAL in Toronto.
By early 2011 new material was being written and a tour in Europe with sicilian band, HAEMOPHAGUS, was beginning to take shape. A couple of shows were played in Quebec and Montreal that spring and by June 2011, 14 new songs were recorded for tentative splits, including a split 7" with EMBALMING THEATRE. In early July the long-awaited split 7" with SAKATAT saw the light of day just as the band embarked on it's 3rd European tour, starting at the OBSCENE EXTREME FESTIVAL in Czech Republic and playing shows in Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy and Austria along the way before finishing with the PLAY FAST OR DON'T FESTIVAL. Upon returning home, Esteve quit the band. So once again we have a new bass player, this time it's the one and only Crocko, who is actually an original member of the band who did vocals with us in the early years. So for the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012, we will be working on songs for the next album which we hope to record by spring/summer 2012.