Artillery
with
Vapor, Rivetskull, War Curse
Dante's
350 West Burnside Street, Portland, OR
Thu
June 20, 2024
Doors: 7:30 pm / SHOW: 8:00 pm PDT
Doors: 7:30 pm / SHOW: 8:00 pm PDT
Ages 21 and Up
$25.00
Michael Stützer: Guitars
Morten Stützer: Guitars
Peter Thorslund: Bass
Josua Madsen: Drums
Michael Bastholm Dahl: Vocals
When Artillery formed in the small Copenhagen suburb of Taastrup in 1982, little did they know they’d be here alive, vibrant, and ready to destroy in 2016. Sure, they’ve had their share of ups and downs-the group first folded in 1991, returned for a brief one-album stint with B.A.C.K. in 1999, and officially reformed in 2007 after a good multi-year hiatus-but any metal band worth their salt perseveres. And Artillery have survived. They were there when thrash metal took off. They were around to see the emergence of death metal. And they’re here today, to make their mark on a whole new generation of metalhead.
“We have some of the most dedicated and diehard fans from the early days of Artillery still supporting the band,” says guitarist and co-founding member Michael Stützer. “It’s awesome to meet them when we are on tour. The difference is that now they are coming with their sons and daughters and this is amazing. Half of our fans were not even born when we released our first album, Fear of Tomorrow, but our new fans know all the songs!“
As for the lyrical themes explored on Penalty by Perception, Stützer and company are commenting on current worldwide affairs, death, war, and, of course, religion. But the lyrics aren’t juvenile attempts to associate heavy music to heavy topics, though fan-driven ‘Die by the Scythe‘ might appear otherwise. ‘Deity Machine‘ questions the machinery of religion, ‘Rites of War‘ is about personal struggles, ‘Cosmic Brain‘ details Stützer’s fascination with Superstring theory, while the title track is informed by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
Most active metal bands from the early ’80s don’t have the same energy as Artillery. It’s as if the Danes are unstoppable. On Penalty by Perception it’s as if it’s 1985 again. Clearly, Artillery are excited to be making music and touring again. “The last years have been great for Artillery,” grins Stützer. “We have been doing around 100 gigs every year, including three tours of South America, two U.S./Canada tours, trips to Japan and China, a European tour, a UK Tour, a lot of festivals like MetalDays, Bang Your Head, Rock Hard and Maryland Deathfest. And we have been on two Metal Cruises like Barge To Hell and 70.000 Tons Of Metal. We also recorded four albums since 2009!“
Here’s to Artillery! And here’s to Penalty by Perception! Long live Danish thrash metal!
Morten Stützer: Guitars
Peter Thorslund: Bass
Josua Madsen: Drums
Michael Bastholm Dahl: Vocals
When Artillery formed in the small Copenhagen suburb of Taastrup in 1982, little did they know they’d be here alive, vibrant, and ready to destroy in 2016. Sure, they’ve had their share of ups and downs-the group first folded in 1991, returned for a brief one-album stint with B.A.C.K. in 1999, and officially reformed in 2007 after a good multi-year hiatus-but any metal band worth their salt perseveres. And Artillery have survived. They were there when thrash metal took off. They were around to see the emergence of death metal. And they’re here today, to make their mark on a whole new generation of metalhead.
“We have some of the most dedicated and diehard fans from the early days of Artillery still supporting the band,” says guitarist and co-founding member Michael Stützer. “It’s awesome to meet them when we are on tour. The difference is that now they are coming with their sons and daughters and this is amazing. Half of our fans were not even born when we released our first album, Fear of Tomorrow, but our new fans know all the songs!“
As for the lyrical themes explored on Penalty by Perception, Stützer and company are commenting on current worldwide affairs, death, war, and, of course, religion. But the lyrics aren’t juvenile attempts to associate heavy music to heavy topics, though fan-driven ‘Die by the Scythe‘ might appear otherwise. ‘Deity Machine‘ questions the machinery of religion, ‘Rites of War‘ is about personal struggles, ‘Cosmic Brain‘ details Stützer’s fascination with Superstring theory, while the title track is informed by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.
Most active metal bands from the early ’80s don’t have the same energy as Artillery. It’s as if the Danes are unstoppable. On Penalty by Perception it’s as if it’s 1985 again. Clearly, Artillery are excited to be making music and touring again. “The last years have been great for Artillery,” grins Stützer. “We have been doing around 100 gigs every year, including three tours of South America, two U.S./Canada tours, trips to Japan and China, a European tour, a UK Tour, a lot of festivals like MetalDays, Bang Your Head, Rock Hard and Maryland Deathfest. And we have been on two Metal Cruises like Barge To Hell and 70.000 Tons Of Metal. We also recorded four albums since 2009!“
Here’s to Artillery! And here’s to Penalty by Perception! Long live Danish thrash metal!
Artillery
Vapor
Rivetskull
War Curse
