INVOCATOR

JACOB HANSEN

The Danish thrashers have been disbanded for many years now. Their last studio album came out back in 1995 (Dying to live). But they are now back on track again even though drummer Per Möller Jensen left to join Swedish thrashers The Haunted and guitarist Perle Hansen was replaced by Flemming Lund.

Invocator has been around since the mid eighties but it wasn't until 1991 when their debut album Excursion Demise finally came out. The followup Weave of the Apocalypse was released in 1993 during a time when the popularity of thrash metal was waning away. In todayw interview I have talked to Invocator's frontman Jacob Hansen.

What's Invocator's future plans?, I've heard rumours of a new album.

- We've been putting the basic tracks down for the new album during the late summer, and I am right now putting the last part of the vocals on the album. Then we need to mix it and get everything ready for the release of our new album. So yes, we have a new album coming out.

Excursion Demise (1990)

What's your Influences?

- For this album, I'd say we've been influenced by a great deal of bands and genres, which gives the band a slight new feel to it. It's very much Invocator - people will notice that - but still, I think we have incorporated some exciting new elements that I'm very fond of.

What do you think of the thrash metal scene today?

- Is there a thrash metal scene? I think it's more or less some of the "old" death metal bands that have turned more thrashy through the years. Mostly inspired by the Swedish bands. I am still very fond of the old bands like Dark Angel, Forbidden, Evil Dead etc., but I can't say I go around listening to them very much. I like to put on some newer stuff that has a new sound and a 2000-touch.

Weave The Apocalypse (1993)

What's your favourite Invocator-album?

- I think "Weave The Apocalypse" is my favorite album. It has the energy that "Dying To Live" lacked very much. Per was still very much into metal - we all were - which we obviously not really were on "Dying To Live". That album showed a band that really didn't know which genre to pursue. We were a little bit hardcore, a little bit of grunge and a little bit of thrash. Didn't make any sense, if you ask me. I feel much better with the stuff we've done now. I'm very pleased with my own efforts as well - vocal wise - which I can't say that I was previously.

The highlight of your career?

- Maybe touring with Paradise Lost, or the gig with Sepultura in Saga, Copenhagen on their "Arise" tour. That was neat.

Any good advice for youngsters that wants to start a band?

- Be 100% sure you can play what you wanna play. There's nothing more silly than trying to be something you're not. Believe in your band and put energy into it!

Got any funny metal-story to tell?

- Metal stories are generally funny. The scene is stuffed with weirdoes, haha!

How was it to open for bands like Dark Angel & Sepultura?

- Like I said with Sepultura, it was really great. They were very nice guys and wanted to swap shirts after the show. Really down to earth, and I think they liked Invocator as well. Dark Angel - well, they were my gods since I was 17 years old. I still love it to death! Meeting the guys was fantastic. A moment never to forget was when Gene Hoglan grabbed my guitar and started to play one of our demosongs; "Alterations". Unforgettable.

By/Ruthless

(08-01-2003)