ESCUELA GRIND

Bio

With a self-coined moniker that literally translates to “Grind School”, it would seem that Escuela Grind has invited upon itself a landslide of self-pressure. However, and to the contrary, the hard-charging, young Massachusetts band instead defines its self-assured handle through practice, intention, and mindset. Performing upwards of 400 live shows, globally, in the past couple of years alone certainly helps balance the scale. Escuela Grind has established itself as, inarguably, one of the hungriest young groups in music today. “Most of the new album, ‘Dreams on Algorithms’, was written in a van that practically fell apart while we were terminally on the road touring with bands we look up to that might sound different than us,” says Escuela Grind vocalist Katerina Economou. “We are no longer interested in meeting the standards of niche genres. Writing music that draws from our own personal tastes helps the crowds get to know us when they come to see us play.” Economou, an architect by trade, formed Escuela Grind alongside drummer Jesse Fuentes (ex-Kill the Client) in 2016. A tunnel vision mentality, the addition of guitarist Kris Morash, and a seemingly unending live gauntlet combined to forge an accelerated development that now sees Escuela Grind as one of underground music’s ascending acts; its eyes steadfastly on the prize. “As an architect you have to think about a project in both linear terms and in anticipating future scenarios constantly,” Economou offers. “The “critical path method” has infiltrated my life for sure. Since architecture is quite a regimented and structured practice, we are constantly fighting to make order out of chaos, and I think that’s a feeling that every touring musician can relate to. Also designers have the ability to see the beauty in function, which makes what others would call ordinary, extraordinary.” Escuela Grind’s extraordinary work ethic and touring prowess caught the eye of American independent record label MNRK Heavy, which signed the band in 2022 after witnessing its searing live show. The release of the full-length LP, ‘Memory Theater’, later that year catapulted Escuela Grind towards a higher consciousness, organically building its now-rabid fanbase and catching the attention of grindcore forebears, Napalm Death, who took Escuela Grind under its proverbial wing and on its first tours of Europe. Legendary NxDx vocalist, Barney Greenway, would guest on Escuela Grind’s 2024 EP, ‘DDEEAATTHHMMEETTAALL’, trading vocals with Katerina on the electric single “Meat Magnet”. The respect between the two groups is decidedly mutual and the developing kinship is a kindness not lost on Economou, Fuentes, and Morash. “Napalm Death took us on our first nightliner tour, and each individual member gave us time and shared their philosophies with us on a daily basis,” remembers Fuentes. “We learned a lot from their sound guy, Simon, too. We always talked about music and coping mechanisms. Shane and Simon really got in my ear about what they’d like to hear come from a band like us, and it really helped me with my writing process. We’ve definitely become a family through all of it.” Escuela Grind recorded ‘Dreams on Algorithms’ at Salem, MA’s GodCity studio, again working with GRAMMY-winning producer, and Converge guitarist, Kurt Ballou, who had guided

the band on the creation of ‘Memory Theater’, previously. The resulting new recording sees Escuela Grind stepping outside of perceived genre constraints, following its instincts, and entering a new era. “‘Memory Theater’ was recorded in three days, and in Kurt’s words, “it was stressful”, remembers Fuentes. “This time, we had 10 days booked, and finished in nine. We were able to discuss the philosophy behind certain decisions we made musically, then make changes, and took some risks! There were times I had to question my own train of thought behind the songwriting itself. Kurt even flexed his Grammy on me one time, and it was the most gangster shit ever. Mad respect to him.” Speaking on the album title, 'Dreams on Algorithms', Economou says, "We wanted to write an album that identifies what it’s like to consume in this era we live in: what we receive through our phones, the social media landscape, and personalized algorithms, and how it is translated by our subconscious. I think most people can relate to something in their online sphere infecting their dreams. This transfer was something we really wanted to expand on, and all of the songs have themes relating to dream analysis and technology." On the fantastical cover artwork of the new LP, Economou details, “We wanted a similar expression as our last album, but with a different color palette. The art of Kurt Seligmann, Bauhaus theater sets, Eiko Ishioka, and the Cremaster Cycle were source materials of inspiration for this visual storytelling.” 'Dreams on Algorithms' is advanced by the tracks “Always Watching You”, rooted in a fantastical, Nightmare on Elm Street-style narrative and “Turbulence”, which showcases clean vocals over an earworm chorus -- a first for Escuela Grind -- without pulling away from unhinged brutality. 'Dreams on Algorithms' will see an October 18, 2024 release date via MNRK Heavy.

Diskografie

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