INVOCATOR “Excursion Demise” /Ltd. LP/

The first re-release of the second full-length studio album by cult Danish Technical Thrash/Groove Metal band.
Invocator are a good example of a band that was a little too late to really blow up some dust in their career. Four young boys from Esbjerg started the band in 1987 when Thrash Metal was really a great thing. Like most other ambitious bands in those days, Invocator recorded a bunch of demos and played as many shows as possible. Yet it took them four years to get a record deal with Black Mark Productions, which just started to become a real label and release more than just Bathory albums. But the musical landscape had changed a lot during those four years, and Thrash Metal was not much more than a side note. The Death Metal explosion had just started, and thus the technical Thrash Metal of Invocator seemed a little bit outdated. Yet, they released two albums on Black Mark and another one on Progress Records before they temporarily split up in 1995, just to reform five years later.
Invocator creates a Thrash masterpiece with this album, but beware, this is a different form of Thrash than you're used to, and may be too "Groovey" for some. Having said that, if you like Exhorder, Pantera, or Metallica, you'll probably find this album to be great. If you like Exhorder's "Slaughter In The Vatican", but can deal with a more streamlined and less-rude version, this will be up your alley. It's a total about face from their first album, but "Weave The Apocalypse" is something that is totally different and a true testament to Invocator's mastery of heavy riffing.
“Weave The Apocalypse” saw the light of day in 1993 and was maybe their best known, as it was graced by a classical piece of art from Dan Seagrave.
Remastered by Jacob Hansen, release includes bonus CD and 16-page booklet.
Hammerheart Records, 1983/2022 (HHR 2022-02). Made in Netherlands.


Tracklist:

CD I
“Weave The Apocalypse”
1. Through The Nether To The Sun 4:06
2. From My Skull It Rains 3:10
3. Desert Sands 3:02
4. Condition Critical 4:17
5. Breed Of Sin 2:43
1. Doomed To Be 3:52
2. Lost At Birth 2:33
3. Land Of Misery 3:41
4. The Afterbirth 3:36
5. Weave The Apocalypse 3:21
Running time: 34:21 min.

CD II 
“Live Odense 1994”
1. Excursion Demise 6:48
2. Land Of Misery 4:10
3. From My Skull It Rains 3:17
4. Condition Critical 5:11
5. Occurrence Concealed 5:09
6. The Afterbirth 4:21
7. Breed Of Sin 3:10
8. Lost At Birth 3:15
9. Desert Sands 3:48
10. Doomed To Be 5:53
11. Weave The Apocalypse 3:59
12. Mr. Albert Fish (Macabre cover) 3:27
“Promo 1992”
13. Doomed To Be 3:51
14. Land Of Misery 3:35
15. Lost At Birth 2:32
Covers
16. The Eternal War (Artillery cover) 5:35
17 The Promise Of Agony (Dark Angel cover) 9:26
Running time: 77:27 min.

Total playing time: 111:48 min.

The second re-release of the debut full-length studio album by cult Danish Technical Thrash Metal band.
Not all albums that failed commercially and were released in the 90s were masterpieces or lost gems. Neither, all bands were obscure legends that deserved more than to become cult heroes. But damn, some names should become much bigger. They deserved it as their works have passed the ultimate test, the test of Time. And some albums are damn true jewels. Invocator’s “Excursion Demise” that now at last is available for the first time in more than 30 years, is one of them. Of course Invocator’s debut wasn’t a commercial fail, as it had sold in its first year only around 10 000 copies still you can’t say it was a big hit or something. Originally printed in released in June 1991 via Black Mark Production and produced by Boss, Quorton’s father and the record label’s owner.
If you want to describe this album with one word, then “fast” is the one you are looking for. Yet this LP has more to offer than extreme velocity. Riffs upon riffs hit you like a blast with a plethora of drum patterns often off beat, that enrich their sound and keep the listeners attention and interest high, aggressive vocals that flirt with Death Metal growls blended with fast, furious and brilliant shredding solos that wisely avoid sounding repetitive. “Excursion Demise” is a mad as a hatter combination of high-speed Technical Thrash with a hint of Death Metal at its best. You can find similarities with Dark Angel, Sadus, early Kreator, even Atheist, late 80s early 90s Sepultura and early Pestilence. Some would dare to say that Invocator were something like more technical and closer to proto-Death version of Artillery. 
There isn’t really a bad song on here, all the songs are top-notch on this one. This album is one of those overlooked trashing gems. And when it comes to speed, nobody can touch these guys. They pull off the speed and competence so well. If you like nicely done complex Thrash, or if you like plenty of Thrash with your Death, this album is a must for you. If you don’t have this album, get it right now!
Remastered by Jacob Hansen, re-release includes bonus CD with an all demos, and 16-page booklet.
Hammerheart Records, 1991/2022 (HHR 2022-01). Made in Netherlands.


Tracklist:

CD 1 – “Excursion Demise”
1. Excursion Demise 5:37
2. ...To A Twisted Recess Of Mind 0:33
3. Forsaken Ones 5:56
4. The Persistence From Memorial Chasm 4:09
5. Absurd Temptation 6:56
6. Schismatic Injective Therapy 7:17
7. Occurence Concealed 3:47
8. Beyond Insufferable Dormancy 5:44
9. Inner Contrarieties 4:30
10. Alterations 4:28
Running time: 48:57 min.

CD 2 – The Demos
“Genetic Confusion” (Demo)
1. Dismal Serface 4:49    
2. Inserected Despair 3:39
3. Restraint Life 5:43
4. The Scars Remain 3:25
“Alterations” (Demo)
5. Alterations 4:59
6. Occurrence Concealed 4:14
7. The Persistence From Memorial Chasm 4:11
8. Pursuit Of A Rising Necessity 3:51
Re-recordings
9. Unsurrected Despair 3:28
“Promo 1991”
10. Beyond Insufferable Dormacy 5:26
11. Inner Contrarities 4:32
12. Absurd Temptation 7:12
Running time: 55:29min.

Total playing time: 104:26 min.