ARTILLERY “Legions” /2LP/

Embroidered bordered woven patch.

175x65mm 

The eighth full-length studio album by legendary Danish Thrash Metal band.
Artillery have outdone themselves on "Penalty By Perception". Their eighth full-length is an absolute joy from start to finish, and it sounds fantastic!
It’s been roughly 30 years since Danish Thrash Metal progenitors Artillery released albums like "Fear Of Tomorrow" and "Terror Squad" to critical acclaim, touring with bands like Slayer and King Diamond. After enduring as many line-ups as they had labels, as well as long periods of dormancy as if the band were some Scandinavian volcano, brothers and founding members, guitarists Michael and Morten Stützer, say they are stoked for not only Artillery’s latest 11 songs, but also for making music, touring, and sharing the excitement with their fans. Now, fronted by singer Michael Bastholm Dahl, powered by the rhythm section battery of bassist Peter Thorslund and drummer Josua Madsen, the brothers say they think they’re at the top of their technical, melodic, brutal Metal game.
"Penalty By Perception" is a fantastic album, and it’s done this simply by being what it is: eleven terrific songs, one after the other. This is an album, that will appeal to hardcore and casual Thrashers alike, but even non-Metalheads will find something to enjoy. The songs are terrific, the production is top-notch, and while they won’t win any points for originality, the sheer enthusiasm is obvious even on the first listen. Thrash Metal has a tendency to get a bit one-dimensional sometimes, and while all of these songs are unmistakably the product of the same band, they still squeeze in a surprising amount of variety. If you count yourself as a true Thrash connoisseur, this one is a must-have!
Metal Blade Records GmbH, 2016 (3984-15436-2). Made in Germany. Pressed in Austria. First press.


Tracklist:
1. In Defiance Of Conformity 5:44
2. Live By The Scythe 5:03
3. Penalty By Perception 5:05
4. Mercy Of Ignorance 3:52
5. Rites Of War 4:13
6. Sin Of Innocence 5:19
7. When The Magic Is Gone 4:32
8. Cosmic Brain 4:32
9. Deity Machine 4:54
10. Path Of The Atheist 4:46
11. Welcome To The Mindfactory 4:55
Total playing time: 52:55 min.


Samples: https://artillerymetal.bandcamp.com

The ninth full-length studio album by legendary Danish Thrash/Heavy Metal band.
Danish Metal pioneers Artillery is a bit of an on-off-band. The guys started in the early 80s and release three records that were very well-received by Metalheads. After a hiatus, the band returned in 1999 with "B.A.C.K." album, which was a short intermezzo leading to another split. After a second pause, the band came back in 2007 and since the release of "When Death Comes" productivity increased dramatically. In the last nine years, Artillery released more longplays than they did between 1982 and 2009 and since the quintet follows a two years release pattern.
Since the last album, "Penalty By Perception", which won the band four Danish Metal Awards in 2016 (the best album, best band, the best production and honorary prize), Artillery has toured around the world, including Europe, South America and parts of Asia...
With the "The Face of Fear", quintet stays true to themselves, meaning, they didn’t change a lot. Often no change leads to boredom, which is absolutely not the case with Artillery. The five guys play Thrash Metal with an oldschool appeal, but this time with a big doze of Heavy and even Speed Metal. Smashers like the raging title track and the uptempo "Sworn Utopia" are wrecking balls! Artillery’s new album is a glorious continuation of what started with their official revival in 2007. "The Face Of Fear" is a rock solid Metal release with vigor and dedication!!
...For the rest of 2018, Artillery was on Copenhell’s Metal Cruise and a Denmark tour, plus a release party on High Voltage. In 2019, on tours in Europe, South America and USA... Thumbs up!!!
180 gram Black Vinyl includes Poster and MP3 Download Card with two Bonus Tracks.
Metal Blade Records GmbH, 2018 (3984-15611-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. The Face Of Fear 3:58
2. Crossroads To Conspiracy 4:25
3. New Rage 4:01
4. Sworn Utopia 3:57

Side B
1. Through The Ages Of Atrocity 5:00
2. Thirst For The Worst 4:18
3. Pain 4:12
4. Under Water 2:07
5. Preaching To The Converted 3:56

Total playing time: 35:54 min.



Samples: https://artillerymetal.bandcamp.com

The tenth full-length studio album by legendary Danish Heavy/Thrash Metal band.
Artillery are true veterans when it comes to Thrash Metal. Consider a debut album that was unveiled in 1985, the Danish powerhouse was part of the growing momentum Thrash Metal had at the time. Although Taastrup and the San Francisco Bay Area can’t be really compared, the music that arose at both locations was very connected.
Artillery, that was a bit of an on/off journey during the span of time and can be spilt in three ears of which the first one brought the name on the Metal radar, and it’s the current times that builds on it strongly. Artillery returned with full speed in 2009, when the quintet unleashed "When Death Comes". Although the new album is a next blast, the way to "X" was a rough one. It was in 2019 when Morton Stützer passed away at the age of 57. Such a sad moment affects a band, and Artillery is no exception. It was a new chapter that had to be opened for the band and their new guitarist Kræn Meier was an important factor in this.
Although being rooted in Thrash Metal, Artillery always took a wider approach on music than solely sticking to one genre-given framework. Most of the offering comes with good hook lines, being the bridge to Power Metal. Lyrically, Artillery is a band that addresses various topics and has some reality connected songs on the new album.
"X" is an album that shows the full strength of the Danish Metal pioneers, guys that never get tired of a good riff and a well-forged melody. Mixed with the right level of aggressiveness, the new album transports the heydays of Thrash Metal into the here and now, while still being anchored in the present with a sound that is powerful and dynamic. "X" brings the forerunners of European Thrash Metal again on the agenda of Metalheads, and it's a headbangers delight!
180-gram black vinyl includes download card.
Metal Blade Records, 2021 (3984-15763-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. The Devil's Symphony 4:27
2. In Thrash We Trust 4:02
3. Turn Up the Rage 4:03
4. Silver Cross 4:25
5. In Your Mind 3:31

Side B
1. The Ghost of Me 3:54
2. The Force of Indifference 3:58
3. Varg I Veum 3:42
4. Mors Ontologica (The Death of the Spirit) 4:12
5. Eternal Nights 3:20
6. Beggars in Black Suits 4:57

Total playing time: 44:31 min.



Samples: https://artillerymetal.bandcamp.com

The seventh full-length studio album by legendary Danish Heavy/Thrash Metal band.
Following their comeback in 2007, Artillery able to produce more than decent offerings of considerable quality. Gradually, the band began to stray their stimulating depicted Thrash input into broadly merging classic Heavy Metal insertions that before. With the introduction of “Legions”, following the inauguration of a new vocalist (Michael Bastholm Dahl) and drummer (Josua Madsen), Artillery made another step towards their early 90s phenomenon.
On “Legions” the classy duo of experienced Thrashers, the Stutzer brothers, still behind the songwriting, substantiated that even with age Artillery’s music is stronger and fiercer than ever, igniting the fires of the late 80s while countersigning the modernized sound of the present at their side that might have just partially delivered their old might, but satisfied. Dahl impresses as the new vocalist with his Power Metal pipes. The album’s riffery is as always creative and exceptional, sometimes a reprise of the early days of the band, the older signatures, past aggression initialized at will. However, the Stutzer duo also knew how to compose songs of utter passion and with a measure of severity and chastity.
Fans of the long time Danish Thrashers will definitely find more to love than criticize on "Legions"!
Highly recommended for fans of bands like Anthrax or Testament!!
Metal Blade Records, 2013 (3984-15276-2). Made in Germany. Pressed in Austria. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Chill My Bones (Burn My Flesh) 06:03
2. God Feather 05:11
3. Legions 04:35
4. Wardrum Heartbeat 05:50
5. Global Flatline 06:55
6. Dies Irae 04:52
7. Anno Requiem 04:12
8. Enslaved To The Neither 05:25
9. Doctor Evil 05:31
10. Ethos Of Wrath 06:03
Total playing time: 54:39 min.



Samples: https://artillerymetal.bandcamp.com

The third re-release of the second full-length studio album by legendary Danish Thrash Metal band.
Artillery's storied catalogue of intense Thrash Metal is hidden behind some of the worst cover art of all time… If "Fear Of Tomorrow" was designed to usher you into a new age of hyper-aggressive Power/Thrash, "Terror Squad" assumes you're all caught up and ready for more…
Flemming Rönsdorf seems to have a strong affinity to stimulants of any kind. Rönsdorf's vocals reflect the manic songwriting to a much greater degree this time around. Previously wavering between indecisive operatic and some middle-of-the-road rasps, now Rönsdorf catapults his screams skyward and stays there for the duration. From time to time, he sounds like being in danger of going insane. Be that as it may, his performance is fantastic. He presents every line with utter conviction and covers a broad spectrum of tones.
Without making any kind of compromise, the guitarists create an inferno of almost 40 minutes. They shape songs that are very well-balanced between primitiveness and complexity. No tune falls by the wayside. An appropriate amount of tempo changes guarantees the lively appearance of the tunes. The variety of the riffs also prevents any kind of boredom.
Artillery perform an independent form of Thrash Metal. It can be excluded that the American Thrash pioneers have not been an inspiration for the Danish "Terror Squad". But the band members do not reveal their exact influences. The riffs cannot be described as filigree or elastic so that the Bay Area does not arise before your inner eye. Perhaps because of the geographical proximity, the guys are closer to the relatively rumbling approach of some German formations. But at the end of the day, "Terror Squad" does not need a strong shoulder to lean on. It stands on its own feet and great tracks such as "Therapy" with its somewhat weird riffs, the thunderous title track or the roaring "In the Trash" justify the high rating!
In 1864 the Danish army was defeated by an alliance of the military forces of Prussia and Austria. It seems as if the defenders did not have effective cannons in order to keep the attackers under control. Worse still, it took more than 120 years before the Kingdom of Denmark had a powerful artillery. Well, its gunners were obviously born too late, and they were not really martial. But this kind of artillery definitely shook the European Thrash Metal scene sustainably!!
Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG company/Dissonance Productions, 1987/2019 (0141CDD). Made in UK. Pressed in Austria.


Tracklist:
1. The Challenge 4:09
2. In The Thrash 4:44
3. Terror Squad 5:44
4. Let There Be Sin 3:50
5. Hunger And Greed 5:01
6. Therapy 4:04
7. At War With Science 7:07
8. Decapitation Of Deviants 4:36
Total playing time: 39:15 min.