Invocator

Invocator is a Danish thrash metal band featuring Esbjerg-based guitarist/singer Jacob Hansen, considered influential on the European thrash metal/heavy metal scene.

[edit] History

1988 – Invocator’s first demo Genetic Confusion is released. The band play numerous shows. Among other supporting Artillery.

1989 - Alterations, the demo that sold nearby 2000 copies, is released. 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.

1991 - The debut album Excursion Demise is recorded at Montezuma Studios, 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".

1992 - Invocator again plays numerous shows (Evil Dead, Laaz Rockit, Massacre, Immolation, Pungent Stench, Atrocity etc.) and tour with legendary US metal act Dark Angel throughout Europe. Roskilde Festival is played in front of 5.000 people.

1993 - The recordings of 2nd album Weave The Apocalypse commence 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.

1995 - Dying To Live, the band's third album is recorded and released, Denmark is toured, but the chemistry within the band suffers from different musical directions and the band decides to split.

2000-2001:

Original frontman, guitarist and vocalist Hansen starts to write new songs together with guitarist Flemming C. Lund (ex-Autumn Leaves). 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.