The band was formed in 1993 under the name Grip as a five-piece band featuring former Overkill bass player Bobby Gustafson on second guitar. After Gustafson and bass player Chaz Grimaldi left the band, Grip Inc hired Jason Viebrooks (Heathen) and recorded their first album, The Power Of Inner Strength. The release of the album was followed by European tour with Motörhead and, later, with Kreator. After releasing their second album in 1997, Viebrooks was replaced by Stuart Carruthers.
The release of their third album, Solidify, in 1999 was followed by a co-headlining tour with Italian band Lacuna Coil (one of the many bands produced by Sorychta). Despite Dave Lombardo's return in Slayer in 2001, Grip Inc released a fourth album in 2004.
Since then, Sorychta founded Eyes Of Eden and Enemy Of the Sun while Gus Chamber joined Squealer A.D.. On 16th August 2008, Gus Chambers joined Enemy Of The Sun on stage for an exclusive Grip Inc. oriented set In Bochum (Germany).
Unfortunately, Gus Chambers passed away on October 13, 2008 at the age of 52. Chambers, who resided in Coventry, England, reportedly took his own life.
Discography
The Power of Inner Strength (1995)
Nemesis (1997)
Solidify (1999)
Incorporated (2004)
Empress
Grip Inc. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beaten down, exploited, left in bits
No hint of self seeking, cold hard facts overlooked
While the ritual of disgust begins
Premeditation, no trace
Rigid execution
Of plans severe
Trust overlooked
While draining emotions
Avoiding with grace
Concerns unanswered
Slowly, methodically, breaking bonds of blood
Gown of tradition, splashed with crimson
Hidden deep in the belly of hate
Black widows bite dealt with precision
Trading her body in the pretense of love
Prevention of instinct
Survival never a second throught, submit
The wall to survive, buried absolute
Avoiding with unanswered
Hanesty betrayed
The struggle for breath begins
The web is spun breath begins
Never to let the children see the
Gown of tradition, splashed with crimson
Hidden deep in the belly of hate
Black widows bite, deaaalt with precision
Trading her body in the pretense of love
The song 'Empress' by Grip Inc. touches on the themes of exploitation, abuse and subjugation. The lyrics describe the struggles of a woman who is trapped in a lifeless, loveless marriage. She is a victim of domestic violence and her husband's perverse desires. The first verse highlights her state of despair as she is being drained of all energy and life by her husband's constant beatings, leaving her in bits. Despite her situation, she is depicted as being selfless and putting the needs of others before her own, however cold hard facts are overlooked. The ritual of disgust refers to the cycle of abuse and the sense of entrapment that she feels.
As the song progresses, the mood becomes darker and more sinister, as the lyrics describe the premeditated acts of violence that are being inflicted upon the woman. The execution of these acts, the plans that have been put in place and the trust that has been overlooked all serve to amplify the gravity of her situation. The woman's emotions are being drained and she is struggling for breath. The lines "Black widows bite dealt with precision, trading her body in the pretense of love" suggest that her husband is using her as a means of fulfilling his own twisted desires.
The chorus repeats the image of the woman's "gown of tradition, splashed with crimson". This is a metaphor for the societal expectations that women face in traditional roles, which can turn bloody and violent. The song ends with the woman feeling totally alone and trapped, as she is unable to escape her husband's grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
Driven to tears while being sucked dry
Feeling emotionally drained and exploited to the point of tears
Beaten down, exploited, left in bits
Subjected to abuse, taken advantage of, and left in a vulnerable state
No hint of self seeking, cold hard facts overlooked
Choosing to be selfless even though it means ignoring the harsh reality of the situation
While the ritual of disgust begins
As the abusive behavior is repeated as a sickening ritual
Premeditation, no trace
Planning the abuse carefully and leaving no evidence behind
Rigid execution
Carrying out the plan systematically and with precision
Of plans severe
Carrying out plans that are cruel and not easily forgiven
Trust overlooked
Ignoring the need for trust and instead focusing solely on power over another person
While draining emotions
Taking away any emotional energy or capacity for healthy relationships
Avoiding with grace
Showing outward avoidance of the situation, but really just hiding behind polite excuses
Concerns unanswered
Ignoring any questions or concerns about the situation
Slowly, methodically, breaking bonds of blood
Deliberately and carefully destroying familial ties
Gown of tradition, splashed with crimson
Wearing the guise of tradition, but with bloodstains to represent the pain and suffering beneath the surface
Hidden deep in the belly of hate
Hiding the true motivations and feelings behind violent and hateful actions
Black widows bite dealt with precision
Harming others with calculated and efficient methods like a venomous spider
Trading her body in the pretense of love
Using physical intimacy as a means of manipulation and control under the guise of affection
Prevention of instinct
Shutting down natural survival instincts in order to submit and endure the abuse
Survival never a second thought, submit
Putting aside all thoughts of personal welfare and submitting fully to the abuser
The wall to survive, buried absolute
Building a wall of defense to mentally survive the trauma, but burying one's true self in the process
Avoiding with unanswered
Continuing to avoid the situation even though there are questions left unanswered
Honesty betrayed
Having trust broken by deceit and dishonesty
The struggle for breath begins
Feeling suffocated and overwhelmed by the weight of the abuse
The web is spun breath begins
The cycle of abuse continues, making it harder to breathe and escape
Never to let the children see the
Doing everything possible to protect the children involved from the horrors that are happening
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: DAVE LOMBARDO, GARY KENNETH CHAMBERS, WALDEMAR SORYCHTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind