AqME (pronounced ; previously known as Neurosyndrom) was a French rock band from Paris, consisting of four members. The band was part of a French nu metal movement called "Team Nowhere", but they eventually split up with the Team in order to have more independence.
Biography
Beginning and University of Nowhere (1999–2001) Aqme was created in the end of 1999 after the break-up of Neurosyndrom, which were one of the founding bands of the music collective Team Nowhere. The band name is inspired from the Ancient Greek word "akmê" meaning the climax or turning point of something. At the time of its formation, Aqme's line-up was composed of ETN (Étienne) on drums, Ben (Benjamin) on guitar, Sofy (Sophie) on bass (who will later be replaced by Charlotte), and Koma (Thomas) on vocals. Six months after the formation of the band, the quartet released a five track demo known as "University Of Nowhere". It is at this period, when the band started appearing in several compilations, that Sofy left the band. She was then replaced by Charlotte. They reissue 2000 copies of University of Nowhere in April 2001.
Sombres efforts and Polaroïds and Pornographie (2001–2004)
Not very satisfied of their previous releases, the band decided to work in studio during a year in order to create their first album. They went to record in Sweden with the Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand, who is known for working with Meshuggah, In Flames, and Misery Loves Co. The band then came back to France and played in concerts with other French bands such as Unfold and Mass Hysteria. The band's new songs attracted more people to the concerts and the band eventually had a larger audience.
Aqme's critical acclaim occurred after the release of their first album, Sombre Efforts (French for "Dark Efforts"). They went on a relatively big tour across France between September 2002 and October 2003, with a notable success at the Eurockéennes de Belfort. At the end of 2003, the Parisian band went back to studio recording in order to make their second album, Polaroïds & Pornographie (French for "Polaroids & Pornography"). AqME publicly announces his departure from the Team Nowhere on 2004, 12 September.
La Fin des Temps and Live(s) (2005–2006) The band began recording their third album, this time without Daniel Bergstrand, after a lengthy tour. They chose Steve Prestage as a producer and stayed in Paris for recording. The album was released in October 2005, under the name La Fin des Temps (French for "The End of Times"), and Pas assez loin was even played on the radio. This third album had more prominent guitar parts but still continued to be playable live. The lyrics centered around different topics such as euthanasia (Ainsi soit-il), apprehension of death (La Belle Inconnue), the downfall of the world (La Fin des Temps), and human relationships. Aqme has opened the concerts for Indochine during their tour since AqME had recorded a track with Indochine (Aujourd'hui je pleure), which is featured on Indochine's album Alice & June.
The band also releases his first Live DVD titled Live(s), recorded 2 June 2006 on Nantes.
On 21 October 2006, following a concert at the Olympia, the band announced that they were planning on disappearing the following year in order to come back with a fourth album in 2008.
Break (2006–2007) Three out of the four members have now a side-project. On 26 November 2006, Étienne's side-project, "Grymt", released its first record called "My Dark One". In June 2007, Thomas and Ben have announced via MySpace that they're both working on their new bands ("Vicky Vale" and "Die on Monday") debut album.
The band lists Nirvana, Soundgarden, Cold, Chokebore, , Deftones, Korn as their primary influences.
Hérésie and En l'honneur de Jupiter (2007–2010)
Their fourth studio album, entitled Hérésie (French for "Heresy"), was released on 4 February 2008.
After ten years of music with his mates, Ben left AqME in November 2008 in order to work entirely on his own group, Die on Monday. Next to latent period, the band integrates Mulder (Julien Hekking) as guitarist in January 2009, this one and ETN both performed within the band Grymt. This new quartet records a fifth album, En l'honneur de Jupiter (French for "In Honour of Jupiter") which is released on 19 October 2009.