Grope

Led by guitarist and vocalist Tue Madsen, the Danish extreme metal outfit Grope adopted its name after a friend proposed a deliberately undignified title. Although the band’s foundation lay in death rock, its breadth of style stood out right away, an openness traceable in part to Madsen’s decade-long stint behind the counter of a record shop. In 1995 the group cut a version of Björk’s “Army Of Me” and also contributed to tribute collections honoring Metallica and Slayer. Drawing from hardcore punk as readily as from classic metal acts like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Grope made an immediate impact with the 1995 album Primates. Despite receiving scant promotional support, the record found favor across mainland Europe and was swiftly succeeded by The Fury. The latter’s crushing volume and ferocity prompted ready comparisons to Machine Head, a likeness the band viewed as flattering. Grope kept issuing albums well into the new century, launching their own imprint to release 2002’s If You Were My Dog.