Mercenary

Biography

Mercenary is a Danish melodic death metal band formed in 1991. The band incorporates power and progressive elements in their songwriting.

Formation and first releases (1991–2003)

Henrik "Kral" Andersen formed Mercenary in Aalborg, Denmark, in 1991. The band name was taken from a lyric in the Slayer song, "Ghosts of War". After releasing two demos, Domicile (1993) and Gummizild (1994), they signed with Black Day Records, and released a four-song EP, Supremacy×SupremacyJune 1996 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Supremacy5:222Hour of Grief5:153One-Eyed Beast5:044Premature Burial5:09 (1996). In 1997, they signed to Danish label Serious Entertainment, and in 1998 they released their full-length debut, First Breath.
In 2002, the band expanded their sound with pianist Morten Sandager and his brother Mikkel, who contributed vocals. This new line-up added a new dimension to their sound, blending melody and aggression.
That year, Mercenary played at the ProgPower music festival in the United States and released their second album, Everblack×Everblack2002 · Studio album · DemoSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Deadline2Rescue Me3King of the Road4Cold5Bloodrush6Alliance7Bulletproof8Join Us. The band fired drummer Rasmus Jacobsen because he was not devoted to the group. Guitarist Signar Petersen left the band for personal reasons. Drummer Mike Park Nielson and guitarist Martin Buus Pedersen filled the vacant spots. This lineup signed to Century Media Records.

Continued success and the departure of Henrik Andersen (2004–2006)

In 2004, Mercenary released their third full-length album, 11 Dreams×11 Dreams23 August 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Into the Sea of Dark Desires1:062World Hate Center4:59311 Dreams6:534reDestructDead5:485Firesoul7:366Sharpen the Edges5:357Supremacy v2.08:128Music Non Stop4:119Falling6:5610Times Without Changes2:5811Loneliness7:381211 Dreams (3-D mix)6:491311 Dreams (radio edit)3:39. This was their most commercially successful album, gaining international attention from fans and critics. That year, Mercenary toured as a supporting act for Evergrey, and later with Brainstorm, who were on their first headlining European tour. They played on the 16th Wacken Open Air in 2005, and supported Nevermore on a European tour later that year.
At the end of March 2006, the band announced that Andersen left the band. Mikkel Sandager said in an interview that Andersen's departure was due to "being away from his family and...trying to make it with the band for 15 years. I think that he simply got tired of trying and trying."
The band wrote and recorded their fourth full-length as a five-piece, with Sandager on vocals and the album's producer, Jacob Hansen, on bass. On 7 April 2006, the band finished the recording at Jacob Hansens Studios. Shortly after this, the band hired bassist/vocalist René Pedersen to replace Andersen.
On 19 and 20 May 2006, at Saegfestival (held in Greding, Germany), Mercenary first performed live with Pedersen. They played "Soul Decision", a song from their upcoming fourth album. On 1 August 2006, Mercenary released a compilation of their early demos, Retrospective×Retrospective1 August 2006 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Ignorance (intro)1:042Premature Burial5:043Battle Thy Demons5:014Obscurity6:265Induration of Sorrow6:346The Gate Away4:227One Eyed Beast5:018Hour of Grief... Majestic Virtue of Silence5:169Supremacy5:21, and on 22 August, the album The Hours That Remain×The Hours That Remain18 August 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 28 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Redefine Me6:072Year of the Plague5:303My World Is Ending5:274This Eternal Instant6:115Lost Reality8:026Soul Decision5:037Simplicity Demand6:368Obscure Indiscretion4:469My Secret Window6:2910The Hours That Remain8:07Disc 21Intro2Pre-Production3Mikkel's Guided Tour4Entering The (studio)5Guest Vocals6Photo Shoot7Interview8Intro/Redestructdead9Firesoul10Intro/World Hate Center1111 Dreams12Official Firesoul Video (video edit version)13Intro14Redestructdead15Firesoul16Sharpen the Edges17Into the Sea/World Hate Center1811 Dreams, was released.
In September 2006, Mercenary joined numerous bands such as Evergrey, Epica, and Jørn Lande in the ProgPower USA festival. They covered Pantera's "Cowboys from Hell" at the request of the show's promoter.

The Hours That Remain and lineup changes (2007–2009)

On 21 October 2007, they announced they were recording a follow-up album to The Hours That Remain×The Hours That Remain18 August 2006 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 28 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Redefine Me6:072Year of the Plague5:303My World Is Ending5:274This Eternal Instant6:115Lost Reality8:026Soul Decision5:037Simplicity Demand6:368Obscure Indiscretion4:469My Secret Window6:2910The Hours That Remain8:07Disc 21Intro2Pre-Production3Mikkel's Guided Tour4Entering The (studio)5Guest Vocals6Photo Shoot7Interview8Intro/Redestructdead9Firesoul10Intro/World Hate Center1111 Dreams12Official Firesoul Video (video edit version)13Intro14Redestructdead15Firesoul16Sharpen the Edges17Into the Sea/World Hate Center1811 Dreams. On 12 December 2007, the band announced on their Myspace page that the new album was complete. Eight days later, the band announced the title of the album was Architect of Lies×Architect of Lies21 March 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1New Desire4:572Bloodsong4:473Embrace the Nothing4:504This Black and Endless Never5:405Isolation (The Loneliness in December)6:026The Endless Fall5:087Black and Hollow4:498Execution Style5:509I Am Lies5:4210Public Failure Number One4:59. It was released on 25 March 2008.

On 11 November 2009, it was announced that Mikkel, Morten, and Mike had left the band. According to Jakob in a press statement, "We no longer share the same vision and enthusiasm about the direction and the future of the band".

New lineup, Metamorphosis and Through Our Darkest Days (2009–2013)

On 23 November 2009, the band announced a new lineup via Facebook.
On 23 December 2010, the band released a song from their then-upcoming album, Metamorphosis×Metamorphosis21 February 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Through the Eyes of the Devil5:132The Follower4:393In a River of Madness6:014Memoria5:435Velvet Lies6:536In Bloodred Shades4:417Shades of Grey5:368On the Edge of Sanity4:249The Black Brigade5:44.
They released Metamorphosis in 2011.
On 26 July 2013, the band released Through Our Darkest Days.

Hiatus, new band member and Soundtrack for the End of Times (2013–present)

On 15 January 2020, Mercenary announced the addition of drummer Martin Nielsen, replacing Peter Mathiesen.
On 9 March 2020, the band teased a new release after almost seven years. The single "From the Ashes of the Fallen×From the Ashes of the Fallen6 March 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1From the Ashes of the Fallen (single version)6:07" was released on 10 April 2020, followed by "Where Darkened Souls Belong×Where Darkened Souls Belong25 February 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Where Darkened Souls Belong6:46" on 25 February 2022.
Following these releases, the band announced they were working on their eighth album, Soundtrack For The End Of Times, supported by a crowdfunding campaign. Jacob Hansen produced the album.
A new single from Soundtrack For The End Of Times, "Heart Of The Numb×Heart of the Numb14 July 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Heart of the Numb5:11", including vocals from Trivium singer Matt Heafy, was released on 14 July 2023, followed by the release of the full album on 22 September 2023.

Band members

Current

Jakob Mølbjerg – rhythm guitar (1994–present)
Martin Buus – lead guitar (2002–present), keyboards, backing vocals (2009–present)
René Pedersen – bass, unclean vocals (2006–present), clean vocals (2009–present)
Martin Nielsen – drums (2019–present)
Former

Henrik "Kral" Andersen – bass (1994–2006), unclean vocals (1991–2006), lead guitar (1991–1993)
Hans Jørgen Andersen – rhythm guitar (1991–1994; died 2012)
Andreas W. Hansen – bass (1991–1994)
Jakob Johnsen – drums (1991–1993)
Rasmus Jacobsen – drums (1993–2002)
Nikolaj Brinkman – lead guitar (1994–2000; died 2002)
Signar Petersen – lead guitar (2000–2002)
Mike Park Nielsen – drums (2002–2009)
Morten Sandager – keyboards (2002–2009)
Mikkel Sandager – clean vocals (2002–2009)
Morten Løwe – drums (2009–2011)
Peter Mathiesen – drums (2011–2020)
Timeline

Studio albums

First Breath (1998)
Everblack (2002)
11 Dreams (2004)
The Hours That Remain (2006)
Architect of Lies (2008)
Metamorphosis (2011)
Through Our Darkest Days (2013)
Soundtrack for the End Times (2023)