Can you tell us about the origin of the band name, a history of the band and a little bit about the various members?

Gjero: GREH was a very long and gradual process. Until 2018, I had been making music as a session bassist for over 10 years. I suffered severe hearing loss in mid-2018 and therefore stopped listening to music until 2021 as I constantly got earaches.

When things got better in mid-2021, I bought a guitar and started composing music. As I continued writing the music, I realized that there was one component in particular that I was missing: playing live.

Than I brought two guys with live experience into the band. Martin (vocals) and Monne (drums) bring influences from different genres, which gives the whole thing its own sound.

The band name GREH comes from my Macedonian origins, where I lived as a teenager. It is pronounced “grEHH”. It comes from the local Slavic people in their religious context and means “death sin”. This means that GREH is a violation of God’s law! It’s about reverence for self-determination. From belief to reality. From belief to disregard.

Are you all from the same area? How did you get together as a band?

Gjero: We all live in the same region of the Black Forest, more precisely in Karlsruhe. We met through online ads and private contacts and got along very well. It has now become a friendship that I am very proud of.

Who are your favourite artists/bands and how have they influenced your own sound?

Gjero: I’m inspired by a lot of bands, it’s not easy to list them. Here is a small list to give you an idea: Hexis, Heriot, AHAB, Nails, Mantar, Abest, Thou, Ophis, Konvent, Conan, Predatory Void. They are all very adorable and you can learn a lot from them.

Did you always have the ambition to be a musician and in a band or did you originally have other plans?

Gjero: I’ve been playing in bands since I was 18. Now I’m 44 and I think I’ll keep doing this until it’s possible or it feels healthy and fun.

What songs or albums are on your current playlist?

Gjero: Sweven – The Eternal resonance, Abstracter – Abomination, as well as a large amount of wave and drone songs.

Do you sing in the shower?

Gjero: Yes, I sing in the shower. It’s a great time to try new tunes. Sometimes some of my best song ideas even come from there!

Do you have any plans for the band for this year and into next year?

Gjero: We are working on our first joint album “Dysphoric Devotion” which will be released in winter 2024. Until then we will release some singles and play dozens of shows. We are working on playing festivals in 2025. Stay tuned, there’s a lot coming your way!

Do you currently have any new songs/albums ready to be released?

Gjero: Ohhhhh yes! On April 1st, 2024 we will release our second single “Illusional Cenotaph”. The track is wrapped in melancholic and very intense dark soundscapes that offers an ingenious mixture of atmospheric black and death metal with doom elements, that is drilling deep into the wound of the bloody senselessness of war.

If you could play at any venue in the world where would you choose?

Gjero: This is actually a very good question. I think we would mainly play at festivals like: Dong Open Air, Hell Fest, Rage Aginst Racism Fest, Dark Easter Metal Meeting or Hell Over Hamburg…

Do you have a favourite album? If so, what is it?

Gjero: My favorite album is “The Mysterious Ways of Repetitive Art” by the band “Chapel of Disease”

Do you have any guilty pleasure songs/albums?

Gjero: All Europop songs from the 90s are always a joyful and embarrassing pleasure for me.

If you were putting together the greatest show on earth, who would be playing?

Gjero: This question is actually very difficult because there are many good bands in the world. I will list a few more here: Throne, Mantar, Nightmarer, Convent, Conan, Predatory Void, Amenra, Hexis…

Can you remember the first album you bought with your own money? What was it and do you still have it?

Gjero: My first album was a mini album because I didn’t have enough money with me at the time. It was “Yesterdays” by the band “Guns ‘n Roses”. Unfortunately, I no longer have the maxi CD. I enjoyed listening to it a lot and for a long time.

As your fans will be reading this, is there any message you would like to send out to them?

Gjero: Support concerts, because only together can we continue to build the underground scene!

Finally, let us know all your social media sites so your fans, old and new, can find and follow/like you!

Website https://greh.band

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@grehdoom

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bandgreh

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/greh.metal

Bandcamp https://grehmetal.bandcamp.com

We, at The Metal Asylum, would like to thank you for your time. Is there is anything further that you would like to add?

Gjero: Thank you for your exciting questions. I hope your readers enjoy the interview.

This interview is the property of The Metal Asylum