BiografiePLANKS is a three-piece outfit from Mannheim/Germany. Fromed in the early months of 2007 their aim was to play heavy, mid-tempo centered music in direction of MASTODON, BARONESS, BREACH, OLD MAN GLOOM, ISIS and likes. After Frank and Ralph’s old band broke up and both were tired of playing Fastcore, they found a third man in Benny. He played/s in another band from the area called GUNMOB. A mutual friend brought them together to talk ideas and shortly after a first rehearsal was set.

After some time a demo of four songs was recorded in the basemant of the JUZ Mannheim. NARSHARDAA Records from Kiel liked this and agreed to take care of a first record. Around that time, Ralph’s good friend Mike Hill (Ex-Andoyne) had a new band as well. TOMBS. The idea to do a Split record was born very fast. A full length record as well as three song for this very Split were recorded again at the JUZ Mannheim. Narshardaa released the self-titled debut and some months later BLACK BOX released the Split, followed by a TOMBS/PLANKS UK tour. PRÜGELPRINZ RECORDS from Germany released a European version of this split half a year later. Until this time, all songs, art and ideas were centered around a nautic concept. Metaphors for emotional settings in a deep sea setting.

By that time Planks already played around 100 shows and several bigger DIY festivals. After the UK tour the band started writing new songs. Due to emotional struggles the whole atmosphere grew darker, the mood more negative and the music more diverse. Where the first record could be grouped along the genres Sludge/Doom/Metal/Hardcore the new songs took a different direction. The founding stones of a three-piece/noise rock dynamic mixed with Breach atmosphere blended in with dark wave/post punk dynamics and black metal dynamics. Planks never intended to become a Black Metal band but took parts from that genre and used it as a means to an end. The result was the acclaimed “THE DARKEST OF GRAYS” full-length. It was released by legendary German label PER KORO in October of 2010. The record was concept record in two parts – a manifest to darkness, depression and the total downfall of everything considered “human” in a person.

In August of 2010, Planks did a first US tour with their friends in Tombs.

In the same session as “The Darkest Of Grays” four additional song had been recorded that were supposed to be part of a Split with Leipzig’s BLACK FREIGHTER. Unfortunately they broke up before the project came to life. The four songs ended up on a one-sided 12” called “SOLICIT TO FALL”, which was released by INSTITUT FÜR MENTALE HYGIENE in Febuary of 2011.

Mid 2011 the band recieved an email by Greg Anderson of Southern Lord and SunnO))) fame, asking allowance to re-release the last two outputs via Southern Lord on CD. Band and label agreed and the CD version was released in late summer of 2011.

After more festivals, tours and shows, Planks entered the LUNARCITY STUDIOS (Darmstadt/Germany) again. Here they had recorded both “The Darkest of Grays” and “Solicit To Fall”. In October of 2011 the band started to record yet again with their friend and producer Lari Eiden. 14 songs are currently in the making. It will be a full-length (to be released by a yet to be determined label) and Split with LENTIC WATERS to be released by APOCAPLEXY RECORDS, REACT WITH PROTEST and IFB (US).Quelle: http://walkingonplanks.com/ www