Toxic Smile

Toxic Smile is a German progressive metal group founded in January 1996 by keyboard player Marek Arnold and drummer Daniel Zehe in Leipzig. The project begins as an answer to the members’ frustration with playing student jazz, and it develops into a band with a changing line-up and a sound shaped in part by its vocalists and keyboard-led arrangements.

Early line-up and first releases

Guitarist Uwe Reinholz joins the band in May 1996. A vocalist is added two years later, with Larry B. becoming the singer and establishing what the band describes as a distinctive vocal trademark. Bass player Robert Brenner joins in January 2000, completing the line-up after several demo recordings have already been made. The group then begins work on its debut CD, Madness and Despair, recorded at Foen Studio.

The album appears as MAD on F.act-records in October 2000. It becomes especially successful in Asia, leading to interest from BMG Seoul. Toxic Smile signs with BMG South Korea, and the album is later reissued in Asia as M.A.D. with extra tracks and a new master mix. Korean guitarist Ahn Hete supports the band as a special promotion guest during this period, and the group tours South Korea to promote the release.

Second album and classical projects

From October 2001 to November 2002, the band concentrates on material for a second album before parting ways with BMG because of differences over the recorded music. The follow-up is recorded between February and April 2003 by Marek and Uwe at Wizard Studios, then mixed and mastered in July and August 2003 at Famous Kitchen Studios with Andy Horn. It is released as Retrotox Forte on 15 March 2004 by Famous Kitchen.

In summer 2004, Toxic Smile starts work on the classical project Waldenburg. Daniel Zehe leaves the band in September 2004 and Antonius Gruetzner joins as drummer within two weeks. Gruetzner’s first performance with the group appears on the limited DVD Live at the Progparade V. In February 2005, rehearsals take place for the classical DVD Toxic Extension, which is recorded in Waldenburg on 5 March and released in November 2006 as Toxic Smile in Classic Extension.

Later years

During 2007 and 2008, the members increasingly focus on individual careers. Gruetzner leaves in 2008 after recording drums for an upcoming EP, with Marek handling the recording and mixing. The EP is released in June 2009 on Progressive Promotion, the label of Oliver Wenzler. By then, Robert Eisfeld, founder and owner of the Dresdner Drumfestival, has taken over drum duties. The band’s album I’m Your Saviour follows in January 2011.