Four guys from Copenhagen with very diverse backgrounds – two guys come from the rockabilly scene, one guy from classic heavy metal, and one guy from hard rock. Imagine a mix of Social Distortion, Motörhead, and Stray Cats supercharged with adrenaline and testosterone, and then you get Grumpynators.

A hard-working Danish act, who already has played a lot of concerts everywhere in Europe from Northern Norway and Northern Finland to Germany, Holland, Austria, and Switzerland. They have supported Danish heroes Magtens Korridorer and have also been the only Danish act to support Volbeat, on a tour in the last ten years. In 2020 they release their 3rd album, “Still Alive”, in collaboration with Mighty Music, with the pure intention of taking over the rest of the world.

On the third album from Grumpynators, the playful mix of genres is even more evident than before. Although there is an unmistakable motorbilly sound throughout the ten tracks on the album, one can recognize everything from country inspiration over punk to tightly executed heavy-rock. A pervasive trend on this album is a constant high energy level. It’s rock, cut to the bone with an adrenaline-pumping party vibe. “Still Alive” aims to pay tribute to the good times, the party until sunrise and everything else about rock’n’roll, that make life worth living.

A longtime fan of the band, Michael Poulsen (Volbeat) comments: “I’ve heard the record a few times now and I think “Still Alive” is Grumpynator’s absolute strongest album so far. Very good production. My favourite song among the record’s 10 tracks is “Dream Girl”

The album was recorded in Medley Studio with Søren Andersen as producer and technician. Søren was a conscious choice as Grumpynators believed that the hardrock-sound Søren produced suited them well. In addition, it was important for the first time to make a record with the same technician and producer from recording all tracks to the master. “Søren has managed to capture our live sound and the essence of Grumpynators at a level that exceeded our own expectations”, says guitarist Christian Nørgaard. “The high-end production combined with us being far more selective this time as only 10 out of 20 potential songs passed the bar, makes me say that this album is our strongest release to date”, he continues.

2019 var et vildt år for Pectora. Det Roskilde-baserede heavy metal band udgav sidste år deres debut album “Untaken” (produceret af Orden Ogans Sebastian “Seeb Levermann”) til store roser i både den danske og udenlandske presse, hvor bl.a Metalized kvitterede med 9/10 og Devilution med 4/5.

Bandet udgav “Untaken” med et brag af et releaseparty på Gimle i foråret 19′ og strøg derefter på turné i Sverige, Tyskland, Holland og England som support for bl.a. Screamer (SE), Them (US) og Tygers Of Pan Tang (UK). Samme år spillede Pectora til den store Copenhell warm up I Pumpehuset, til Aalborg Rock- og Metalfestival inden den store finale blev spillet på et udsolgt Gimle i Roskilde med Electric Guitars i december.

Bandet fik i begyndelsen af 2020 en ny sanger (Philip Butler fra Encyrcle). I kan godt glæde jer til Pectora i en ny og stærk opstilling!

Although Michael Denner is not well-known in the mainstream music scene, the 60-year-old guitarist is a very well-known name in the international rock/metal scene, as a former guitarist in respectively Mercyful Fate and King Diamond – the two most influential Danish rock/metal bands internationally ever. Michael Denner contributed with his distinctive guitar style and songwriting on classic Mercyful Fate albums such as “Melissa” (1983), “Don’t Break The Oath” (1984) and also the King Diamond classics “Fatal Portrait” (1986) and “Abigail” (1987). Mercyful Fate was also awarded the “pioneer award” at the Danish critics award “Steppeulven” in 2017.

The first half-known band Denner joined was the Danish punk band Brats, which he joined in 1979. But both before Mercyful Fate returned in 1993, and Denner left the band again in 1996, he has also been very active with other musical projects, however. Force Of Evil, Zoser Mez, Denner/Shermann and Denner’s Trickba to name just a few.

And just the latter Denner’s Trickbag was the start of the brand new adventure with Denner’s new band – Denner’s Inferno. Denner’s Trickbag released a 2013 album with only cover numbers. But after a few replacements in the line-up, and with new American singer Chandler Mogel, the new band Denner’s Inferno was a reality. The love for ’70s hard rock, but with a more modern vibe and original songs should be the foundation.

Denner explains:

“The big difference from the previous band is that this time I got the American singer Chandler Mogel to join the band, which has been a huge benefit. The big advantage is that Chandler and I share same musical taste in many ways, so he has been quick to capture exactly what I meant when I had an idea. At the same time, I had the opportunity to make an album with a singer who is just right in my taste. And then almost all songs are original compositions this time. The few cover versions on the other hand, are rearranged to fit in with the style and sound I would like to bring forth in my sound”.

And the love for ’70s hard and heavy rock is intact on the new album “In Amber”. But the inspiration from the progressive rock, which Denner, drummer Bjarne T. Holm and bassist Flemming Muus also loves so much, cannot be denied. Neither can his past in Mercyful Fate.

“No, I can’t run away from that”, admits Denner, and continues: “That’s my story, after all! The fingerprints I put on albums like “Don’t Break The Oath” and “Abigail” and the other albums from that time are part of me, so there will always be something pointing in that direction, no matter what I do. But my love for old Deep Purple, UFO, Jimi Hendrix and my other old heroes probably shines through as well. And then the progressive rock that we all love in the band”.

As for the lyrics on the record, Denners collaborator Jesper Harris has been responsible for that part with Denner. The couple have been inspired by each other, and thus Harris has written lyrics based on the mood of a Denner song, while Denner has also been inspired by one of Harris’ lyrics and then written the music. Eventually, however, Denner added his own lyrics and rearranged so that it all fit together. And the lyrics? Yes, they deal with human considerations and inner feelings of both good and evil.

“In Amber” will be released on November 15 2019. And is in Denner’s own words an album he have been looking forward to do in several years. Michael Denner himself elaborates: “This album I am totally 100% behind. It is so much me and what I stand for. I am a heavy rock musician by heart and I think this album shows it clearly”.

Recently, it has been announced that Michael Denner’s old band Mercyful Fate, with King Diamond in front, will be reunited in 2020 for a number of festival shows. To many fans’ surprise, Denner is NOT part of this line-up, which has caused much wonder. Michael Denner himself is incomprehensible: “I was not asked and received the news just two days before it became public news. I think it’s a shame for fans of the original Mercyful Fate, not least since I’m in the shape of my life. But now it’s all about putting it behind me, looking ahead and looking forward to the release of the upcoming Denner’s Inferno album “In Amber””.

Words by Peter Mesnickow (Metalized Magazine)

The heavy touring new US sleaze rock sensation. For fans of Motley Crue, Ratt, Hardcore Superstar and Backyard Babies – and 80s sleaze rock.

Kickin Valentina (KV) returned to Copenhagen, Denmark in May 2019 to kick off their European tour, this time with new frontman D.K. Revelle. After what started out as a chaotic weekend with the first show being canceled at the very last minute, and then having to scramble to find another venue, the band was able to jump on another show with label mates The Grumpynators for a short set, and the night was salvaged, with their fans making it to the new gig just in time.

Before heading to Germany, KV had a couple days off, and met with Mighty Music owner Michael H. Andersen to renew their record deal and discuss the band’s future with the label.  During the meeting, Michael asked if they’d be interested in heading over to Medley Studios to record 3 new songs.  The band jumped at the chance, as they’d been writing non-stop in preparation for the new full-length album (and knew otherwise they’d have been sitting in the Zeppelin Bar drinking beer all day).  Initially they didn’t know what they’d do with the recordings, but they locked themselves in the studio for 14 hours, and the “Chaos in Copenhagen” EP is a result of that day.  Tracks include “Sweat”, “Easy Rider” and “Shakedown” plus the live track “Get Ready” (which was recorded at the “Bang Your Head Festival” a few weeks later).

“Chaos in Copenhagen” is scheduled to be released worldwide on December 6, 2019.  Kickin Valentina will then head back into the studio this winter to record their forthcoming full-length album (to be released in the spring/summer of 2020), and will tour the US and Europe in support of the new material.

It doubtlessly takes a lot of mental strength to stay on your chosen path, despite all the imponderables that the music industry entails. Transport League from Sweden are a prime example of determination and perseverance. As the critics’ faves, they have been praised to the skies, as a down-to-earth band they’ve always remained in tune with the times and close to their fans, while their rhythmic, powerful and stylistically diverse heavy metal has left an impressive mark on the international hard’n’heavy scene. Transport League are set to launch another artistic landmark on September 6^th 2019, when the band are scheduled to release their new album A MLIION VOLT SCREAM thru MIGHTY MUSIC before going on to present their latest material live on stage with their familiar merciless energy. That’s when everybody will understand why the media like to refer to the group’s style by the album title of its 2014 release: BOOGIE FROM HELL!

Said boogie is also present on A MILLION VOLT SCREAM, albeit not exclusively so. Transport League appear to have opened Pandora’s metal box with intent and are now busy blazing their trail through all those strong ideas that they have unleashed. “Of course there’s boogie again, but also doom and hardcore, fast songs and hard riffs,” vocalist/guitarist Tony Jelencovich describes the new album. “Our sound may have changed a few times, but not the band’s raw power and our penchant for strong grooves.” The three longstanding band members Tony Jelencovich, Peter Hunyadi (guitar) and Mattias Starander (drums) recorded the album together with Transport League’s new bassist Dennis Österdal who has joined the fold to replace Lars Häglund, the latter having had to leave the group due to health problems.

Jelencovich is referring to rigorous numbers such as ´Monster Human`, set to be supported by a video clip, which has him state: “Leben , Sterben”.´Dawn of Lucifer` is no less uncompromising, Transport League by all appearances having been inspired by acts such as Black Sabbath and certainly doing the term ‘doom metal’ credit.

Talking of inspiration: “A MILLION VOLT SCREAM is a return to our own roots and mixes them with influences that had already surfaced on our two previous releases BOOGIE FROM HELL and TWIST AND SHOUT AT THE DEVIL,” Jelencovich summarizes the basic direction of the new material.

A MILLION VOLT SCREAM was produced at Oral Majority Recordings and at the Top Floor studios under the direction of Roberto Laghi (In Flames, Entombed AD, Raised Fist, Sonic Syndicate, Mustasch, Hardcore Superstar etc), who also mixed the album.

About twenty years after the arrival of their debut STALLION SHOWCASE, Transport League are ready to present A MILLION VOLT SCREAM – not only their eight album to date but further evidence of their inexhaustible creative power. The scheduled tour in autumn 2019 is certain to reinforce this positive impression.

Hand-made, old-school, real, in-your-face metal that will for sure make your head bang until the neck snaps. That´s HATESPHERE!

Let´s face it. The technological progress most certainly didn´t stop in front of the modern days music market. Nowadays artists and bands literally can write, record and release their music out off their own bedrooms, which by consequence means more and more bands being out there and yes, competing with each other.
This being said, it´s without a doubt a great success for a band to have stayed on top of the game for almost two decades without having disowned its musical roots and values. And this is what HateSphere stand for – still being the tough to the bone Danish Dukes of Thrash- and Death Metal!

Formed in Aarhus, Denmark by guitarist Peter “Pepe” Hansen in 2000, HateSphere is one of a handful of bands reigniting the flame of ’80s speed metal by way of the so-called Scandinavian neo-thrash movement (spearheaded by the likes of Arch Enemy and The Haunted). The band quickly overpowered the Danish metal scene, while concurrently setting an immeasurable new standard for thrash metal domestically and abroad.
HateSphere’s first three albums, all of them under the leadership of the Italian metal label Scarlet Records upgraded the band’s status from local sensation to Europe’s hottest up and coming thrash quintet.
Having released six more highly praised sophomore albums via SPV Records, Napalm Records and Massacre Records in the following years and having been able to support those musical jewelries by numerous successful tours throughout Europe, Japan, China and the U.S., plus having gathered a number of musical nominations,
HateSphere undeniably did manage to make a stand for themselves within the international metal scene.
Even though the band has been undergoing several changes within their line-up over the years, it never stopped them – but quite the contrary motivated them even more to progress both musically and personally. Not surprisingly this constant and hard work is what encouraged pioneer bands like Hypocrisy, Crowbar, Soilwork,
Chimaira, The Black Dahlia Murder and Gojira to decide to hit the roads with HateSphere and bring their energetic live performances to those stage we all love together.

To honour the band´s sights on old-school values and the roots that got them started 18 years ago and by this to also close the circle of a successful and productive business relationship, HateSphere and Scarlet Records decided to join forces together again for the band´s 10th full-length studio album, which has been released Oct. 19th, 2018. Just like Tue Madsen being an inextricable part of the band´s team since 2005 this new ear catcher is being recorded at Antfarm Studios again.
Hell is here – HateSphere!