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Biography
Just below, you can read Lars Lolk's excellent biography about the band.
it has now been updated!
Denmark's Artillery is easily appointed one of Europe's earliest exponents
of thrash metal and the band's contribution to the bourgeoning genre is difficult to ignore.
The band successfully managed to fuse abrasive brutality with technicality and strong melodies,
with the noteworthy guitar leads as well as the remarkable vocals from Flemming Rönsdorf serving as the highlights.
Due to their demos being well distributed the band gained world wide recognition before even the release of their first official album;
and Artillery's studio albums all assume a position as classics in the thrash genre.
However, lack of support from labels and internal band disputes, the band never really achieved their big breakthrough.
Artillery was formed in the Copenhagen suburb of Taastrup, Denmark in 1982 by lead-guitarist Jørgen Sandau (former roadie of Mercyful Fate)
and drummer Carsten Nielsen [ex The Mortuary] who joined forces with vocalist
Per Willem Onink, lead-guitarist Michael Stützer (ex Devil's Symphony) and bassist Morten Stützer (ex Devil's Symphony).
In December 1982, the band cut the 4-track demo We Are the Dead and subsequently performed a few local gigs.
However around June 1983, Onink was asked to leave because Artillery were searching for a vocalist with a different type of voice.
Onink later played with Rigor Mortis as well as Stonehenge - an early version of Narita.
Around September 1983, the band duly employed Carsten Lohmann (ex Bang Blues Band).
In July 1984, Artillery entered Ole Erlings Lydstudio to record the 4-track demo Shellshock - and the final product was released in August.
In October 1984, the band recorded four new tracks for the demo Deeds of Darkness in the same studio.
Things didn't work out with Lohmann, though, and Artillery began search for a new frontman.
The band in fact tried their luck with a female and two other guys; among them were
Mickey Finn who would later play with Maniacs, Warrior, Shotgun Wedding and Toxic Karizma.
Artillery eventually found the perfect member in Flemming R?nsdorf whose raunchy vocals provided the band with the right identity.
Around this time, Sandau decided to assume a position as rhythm-guitarist, leaving it up to Michael to handle all leads.
In January 1985, Artillery entered the El Sound Studio, Copenhagen,
Denmark and cut the demo Fear of Tomorrow with producer Freddie Wolf. The product was released in March.
The band was likewise featured on the Speed Metal Hell compilation album with the song "Hey Woman" from that demo.
In May-July 1985, Artillery returned to the El Sound Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark, and this time with producers Nis Bogvad and Lars O. Christiansen,
and the band subsequently recorded the Fear of Tomorrow. Out on Neat Records, the album was met with raw reviews.
That summer, Artillery headlined a successful tour in Belgium and Holland, and even played at the famed Dynamo Festival in Eindhoven,
before indulging themselves in support slots for Slayer and King Diamond in the end of the year.
Carsten Nielsen was, around that time, asked by Bathory-mastermind Quorthon to join his band
for a proposed tour but the former turned down the offer.
In September-October 1986, Artillery recorded Terror Squad (again in El Sound Studio) but the album was delayed beyond reason,
and frustration within the band grew when tour offers, among others with Exodus, were turned down since the album wasn't released.
Carsten Nielsen eventually lost faith in the band that played with drummer Henrik Quaade for three weeks.
The increasing frustration, unfortunately, led to the split-up up of Artillery; Morten St?tzer and Quaade subsequently formed Furious Trauma.
Quaade later appeared in Hellfield and Conspirazy.
In 1987, Terror Squad was finally released and the album yielded critical acclaim.
In 1988, Artillery was offered to play at the Next Stop Soviet programme,
being one of the first outside rock acts to perform in the Soviet Union, alongside fellow Danes Sort Sol.
Consequently, R?nsdorf, the Stützer-brothers, Sandau and Nielsen began rehearsing for this task but
Sandau decided to take his leave, for what reason Morten Stützer switched to the guitar while being assisted
by session-bassist Peter Thorslund (ex Apocalypse/Force Majeure).
Artillery performed a series of sold out Russian gigs, but over-enthusiastic fans incited
a vicious backlash from security forces and Artillery was properly banished as being a decadent influence.
Later that year, Artillery employed bassist Michael 'Romchael' Rasmussen
(ex Hatred) who was soon given the red card due to his inabilities on the four-string.
In 1989, the quartet entered Sweet Silence Studios,
Copenhagen with famed producer Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica) and recorded the 2-track demo
Khomaniac - and Morten Stützer handled bass as well as guitar duties.
Thorslund subsequently became the new member of Artillery while Rasmussen joined Furious Trauma.
In January/February 1990, Artillery recorded By Inheritance with Flemming Rasmmussen in Sweet Silence.
Morten, however, played much of the bass lines because Thorslund hadn't learned the lines yet.
Out on Roadracer Records, the album yielded much attention from the press as well as fans of the genre.
However, the released lacked substantial support from the label,
hence little touring and Michael St?tzer soon left Artillery, reactivating Missing Link with an almost new line-up.
Following a few gigs and a festival appearance, Rönsdorf likewise left Artillery, soon to be employed by German thrashers Destruction for a European tour.
Carsten Nielsen moreover bowed out of Artillery
who continued with vocalist John Mathiasen (ex Avalon), guitarist Samir Belmaati (ex Furious Trauma) and drummer Henrik Quaade.
In June 1991, the band played at the prestigious Roskilde Festival.
In the end of 1991, Artillery then cut the 4-track demo Mind Factory which was never released.
Quaade was then replaced by Benny Dallschmidt.
In 1992, Mathiasen was substituted with Mickey Finn, who was finally found suitable for Artillery, but the band eventually split up.
Rönsdorf later played with the Beatles cover-band RubberBand, portraying John Lennon. Mathiasen, on the other hand, joined Unleashed Power.
In 1998, the Danish label Mighty Music released the compilation Deadly Relics, which contained the band's demos, except We Are the Dead.
At the same time, the Stützer brothers and R?nsdorf reactivated Artillery as the musicians performed at a
local event in Copenhagen with help from Peter Thorslund and drummer Sven Olsen (from Missing Link). Support came courtesy of 4Q,
featuring Jørgen Sandau and Carsten Nielsen.
Artillery then chose to continue as a trio.
In July/August 1999, Artillery signed with Danish label Diehard Music; entering Starstruck Studio,
the band recorded the Bo Lund-produced B.A.C.K. with former Invocator drummer Per M. Jensen (ex Geronimo/Extreme Feedback) -
later associated with The Haunted, Konkhra and Nightrage. Morten Stützer also took care of the bass.
Backing vocals came courtesy of Anders Lundemark (Konkhra/Daemon), Lars Mayland (Furious Trauma/Konkhra)
and Klaus 'Hyr' Hansen (Furious Trauma). The album was mixed by Andy Sneap.
The picture disc, "Jester/Fly" (the bonus tracks from the Japanese edition of B.A.C.K.], likewise surfaced on Diehard Music.
In August 1999, Artillery played at Wacken Open Air, Germany with help from Peter Thorslund and Per M. Jensen.
In November 2004, Artillery performed another local show with assistance from HateSphere's rhythm section,
bass player Mikael Ehlert (ex Human Erupt) and drummer Anders Gylden?hr (ex Pixie Killers/Grope).
In 2007, Metal Mind Productions issued the box set Through the Years,
including all four studio albums as well as demo material and rare leftovers. Limited to 2000 hand numbered copies,
the albums were remastered on gold discs.
Later in 2007, the band confirmed via their website and newsletter, that they were active again - two gigs will be played and a DVD is under consideration.