Invocator

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Invocator
Background information
Origin	Esbjerg, Denmark
Genres	Thrash metal, Death metal, Progressive metal, Groove metal
Years active	1986–1995 2000-present
Labels	Black Mark, Progress, Scarlett
Members
Jacob Hansen Flemming C. Lund Jacob Gundel
Former members
Jacob Schultz Perle Hansen Soren Christensen Carsten Mikkelsen Per Jakobsen Otto Hansen Mikkel Henssel Jesper Jensen Finn Pedersen Erik Ziega Per Möller Jensen Brian Rasmussen Simon Melsen

Invocator are a Danish technical thrash metal band featuring Esbjerg-based guitarist/singer Jacob Hansen, founder of the band. They are considered influential on the European thrash metal/heavy metal scene, and known for incorporating elements from death metal, thrash metal, groove metal and progressive metal into their style.

[edit] History

Invocator’s first demo Genetic Confusion was released in 1988. The band play numerous shows. Among other supporting Artillery. Alterations, the demo that sold nearly 2000 copies, was released in 1989. The band play successful shows with bands including Entombed, Edge Of Sanity, Psychotic Waltz, Gorefest, Incubus (now Opprobrium), etc. Invocator sign with Swedish/German label Black Mark Production. The debut album Excursion Demise is recorded at Montezuma Studios in 1991, Stockholm where bands including Memento Mori and Edge Of Sanity have recorded albums. Nominated for a Danish Grammy for "best heavy metal album of the year". Musically, the album is an instance of high paced death thrash metal. Invocator again plays numerous shows (Evil Dead, Lääz Rockit, Massacre, Immolation, Pungent Stench, Atrocity etc.) and tour with legendary US metal act Dark Angel throughout Europe in 1992. Roskilde Festival is played in front of 5,000 people. The recordings of 2nd album Weave The Apocalypse commence in 1993 with engineer/producer Eric Greif, (uncredited) Death co-producer (Spiritual Healing) and manager, at Elsound Studio in Copenhagen. The release is well received and garners positive reviews. Weave the Apocalypse is remembered by fans and critics alike as perhaps the strongest Invocator record in terms of songs, musicianship and production. The band tour with Paradise Lost on their "Icon" Denmark tour. Invocator support Sepultura at their Danish "Arise" show and then record 2 cover songs for a CD featuring their old demo tapes in a remastered version. The cover songs are "The Promise Of Agony", originally performed by Dark Angel, and "The Eternal War" (Artillery). The CD is called "Early Years" and marks a label change from Black Mark to Progress/Die Hard Music. Weave The Apocalypse is much more technical than the predecessor and less high paced. Dying To Live, the band's third album, which musically combines groove metal with the technicality off the predecessor, is recorded and released in 1995. Denmark is toured, but the chemistry within the band suffers from different musical directions and the band decides to split. Original frontman, guitarist and vocalist Hansen starts to write new songs together with guitarist Flemming C. Lund (ex-Autumn Leaves) in early 2000s. A temporary drummer is found in Brian Rasmussen (Behind The Curtain, Mnemic), and the demo 2002 is recorded. As Hansen had continued contact over the years with earlier bassist Carsten N. Mikkelsen, who played on "Dying To Live", Mikkelsen was an obvious choice. He had been playing all kinds of music at pre-school in the conservatory, and there he met drummer Jakob Gundel (ex-Withering Surface). When Hansen and Lund spoke to Mikkelsen about re-joining on bass, Mikkelsen mentioned Gundel, and an audition was made and he joined Invocator as well.

[edit] Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Label
1991	Excursion Demise	Black Mark
1994	Weave The Apocalypse	Black Mark
1994	Early Years	Progress/Die Hard Music
1995	Dying To Live	Progress/Die Hard Music
2003	Through The Flesh To The Soul	Scarlet

Demos

Year	Title
1988	Genetic Confusion
1989	Alterations
2002	Demo 2002