(NCS contributor Israel Flanders has been working his butt off to bring us music that may have been overlooked or become under-appreciated with the passage of time. Today he looks back at the discography of a trail-blazing Danish band.)
It goes without saying that there are so many good bands out there that overlooking one here or there is entirely inevitable. I would like to think I’m bringing music to you guys that’s surprising in the most pleasant of ways since I’m trying to develop a knack for digging out gems from the nether regions of the music world. Today I’m here to do an overall piece on one of the most shamefully underrated thrash metal bands in existence. Who is that you wonder? It’s Invocator.
Invocator are very important to Denmark’s music scene. They were the gateway band that proved to other aspiring musicians in Denmark, hey, you can do this metal thing in our small country and it works. Among others, they inspired legendary deathrashers Hatesphere (and if you don’t know who Hatesphere are, stop reading and come back after getting some education), and Invocator’s frontman and guitarist Jacob Hansen essentially aided in the establishment of a heavy music scene in Denmark. The man has produced so many albums it’s nuts, but not only has he done that, he has coined his own signature production sound. Invocator is Jacob Hansen’s baby and a band with a truly unique sound that I think stands out. (more after the jump . . .)
So, how to describe Invocator? Invocator are a thrash band at their core, but they add in a healthy dose of NYHC, and include a heavy element of the groove metal movement that cropped up in the 90’s. Invocator developed a rather odd style of groove-oriented thrash which proved that groove metal didn’t have to suck by any means. Jacob Hansen knows how to spit out riff after tasteful riff while also spitting his lyrics in a vicious hardcore tone.
In the band’s first outing, Excursion Demise (1991), the groove element is present, even with the band’s obvious worship for the Kreator style of frantic speed. The album that defined this band, however, was their second effort, Weave The Apocalypse (1993). Here was a truly interesting album that brought the elements I previous described into full focus. Nothing but groovy slabs of intense riffage that I personally find to be totally undeniable.
They released a third album, Dying To Live (1995), which brought more experimentation into the groove side of things, and then finally — about eight years later — a fourth called Through The Flesh To The Soul (2003), which proved that Jacob Hansen could adapt to modern aesthetics. It brought relevancy to Invocator while maintaining the signature sound.
I am talking about their discography because I think people need to know of this band. If you liked the attitude and style of Merauder‘s Master Killer (an album I intend to provide with its own little special review), you’ll more than likely enjoy Invocator, especially with the other musical elements they include. I hope you guys enjoy this music as much as I do.
You’ll notice that these albums have oddly spread-out release dates. Jacob Hansen runs Invocator in an unusual manner in that he and the band essentially just put out albums when they feel like it, as opposed to sticking to a schedule. Jacob Hansen, however, personally informed me that new Invocator songs have been written, so maybe we’ll see a new album soon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG5WXwdGMi8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jni7DR7E1Ag
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