Artillery is a Danish thrash metal band from Taastrup. Formed in 1982, the group originally consisted of guitarists Jørgen Sandau and Benny Petersen, bassist Pete Hurricane and drummer Carsten Nielsen. By the time they recorded their first demo at the end of the year, the band featured brothers Michael and Morten Stützer in place of Petersen and Hurricane, respectively, as well as vocalist Per Onink. Michael Stützer is the only remaining original member of the band, which also includes bassist Peter Thorslund (who first joined in 1988), drummer Frederik Kjelstrup Hansen, vocalist Martin Steene and guitarist René Loua (all of whom joined in 2023).
History 1982–1992 Artillery was formed in June 1982 by guitarist Jørgen Sandau and drummer Carsten Nielsen. The initial lineup also included guitarist Benny Petersen and bassist Pete Hurricane, although Petersen was quickly replaced by Ken C. Jack, before both were replaced by brothers Michael and Morten Stützer, respectively, alongside the arrival of Per Onink as the band's first vocalist. After recording their first demo We Are the Dead at the end of 1982, the band parted ways with Onink (in June 1983) and replaced him with Carsten Lohmann (in September) for second demo Shellshock. After a third demo, Deeds of Darkness, Lohmann was replaced by Flemming Rönsdorf at the start of 1985, recording the band's full-length debut Fear of Tomorrow. Around this time, Sandau dropped lead guitar duties.
The band recorded its second album Terror Squad during 1986, but when it was delayed for almost a year and the band had to turn down several tours as a result, they decided to split up. For the last three weeks of the group's initial tenure, Nielsen was replaced on drums by Henrik Quaade. A year after disbanding, Artillery reformed in August 1988 after being offered a tour in the Soviet Union. After a short string of local shows with the existing lineup (including Nielsen on drums), Sandau left due to a "musical discrepancy", at which point Morten Stützer switched to rhythm guitar. Bass was performed on the Soviet tour in early 1989 by stand-in Peter Thorslund. Michael "Romchael" Rasmussen took over from May to August, before he was fired and Thorslund took over permanently.
At the beginning of 1990, Artillery recorded their third album By Inheritance. Shortly after its release, the band's lineup splintered — first, in August, Michael Stützer left to reform his old band Missing Link; the next month, Rönsdorf also departed, with John Mathiasen taking his place; and in December, Nielsen was replaced by returning drummer Henrik Quaade, while Samir Belmaati joined to replace Stützer. After recording The Mind Factory demo, Quaade was replaced by Benny Dallschmidt at the end of 1991 and Mickey Finn replaced Mathiasen in 1992, prior to Artillery disbanding.
1998–2023 Artillery returned in August 1998, playing a single show to promote the compilation Deadly Relics. The show featured Rönsdorf, the Stützer brothers and Thorslund, plus Missing Link drummer Sven Olsen. During the summer of 1999, the trio recorded a comeback album entitled B.A.C.K. with Per Möller Jensen on drums, which was followed the next year by the single "Jester" with the same lineup. After a four-year break, Artillery played a single show in December 2004 with Hatesphere members Mikael Ehlert on bass and Anders Gyldenøhr on drums. The next reformed in November 2007, after the release of the box set Through the Years, with Michael and Morsten Stützer joined by returning bassist Peter Thorslund, original drummer Carsten Nielsen, and new vocalist Søren Nico Adamsen. This lineup remained stable for several years, releasing the live album and video One Foot in the Grave, the Other One in the Trash in 2008, plus studio albums When Death Comes in 2009 and My Blood in 2011.
In April 2012, Nielsen announced that he was leaving Artillery due to "personal reasons" after two final shows, which took place at the end of May. He was replaced the next month by Josua Madsen. In September, Adamsen also left for the same reported reason, with Michael Bastholm Dahl taking his place. The new lineup released Legions (2013), Penalty by Perception (2016) and The Face of Fear (2018), before Morten Stützer died on 2 October 2019. The band continued with Kræn Meier, who had been filling in for Stützer during his illness since 2017, as an official band member. In 2020, the band recorded "The Last Journey" in tribute to Stützer, with the regular lineup joined by former vocalists Flemming Rönsdorf and Søren Nico Adamsen. In January 2023, Madsen was replaced by Frederik Kjelstrup Hansen. Just over a month later, after rehearsing with a new band, Madsen was hit by a bus and died on 8 March 2013. Starting in April, Søren Nico Adamsen temporarily filled in for Dahl.
Since 2023 Dahl officially stepped down from Artillery in September 2023. He was followed by Meier, who quit due to "personal differences" in November. Later in the month, the band unveiled Martin Steene as its new vocalist. The next month, René Loua was announced as the band's new rhythm guitarist.
Members Current Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsMichael Stützerall Artillery releases to date, except The Mind Factory (1991)Peter Thorslundall Artillery releases from By Inheritance (1990) to date, except B.A.C.K. (1999) and "Jester" (2000)Frederik Kjelstrup Hansen2023–presentdrumsnone to dateMartin Steenelead vocalsRené Loua
Former Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributionsJørgen Sandaurhythm and lead guitarsall Artillery releases from We Are the Dead (1982) to Terror Squad (1987)Carsten NielsendrumsPete Hurricane1982bassnoneBenny Petersenlead and rhythm guitarsKen C. JackMorten Stützer all Artillery releases from We Are the Dead (1982) to The Face of Fear (2018)Per Onink1982–1983lead vocalsWe Are the Dead (1982)Carsten Lohmann1983–1984Flemming RönsdorfHenrik QuaadedrumsThe Mind Factory (1991)Michael "Romchael" Rasmussen1989bassnoneJohn Mathiasen1990–1992lead vocalsThe Mind Factory (1991)Samir Belmaatilead guitarBenny Dallschmidt1991–1992drumsnoneMickey Finn1992lead vocalsSven Olsen1998 drumsPer Möller Jensen1999–2000 Mikael Ehlert2004 bassnoneAnders GyldenøhrdrumsSøren Nico Adamsenlead vocalsJosua Madsen2012–2023 all Artillery releases from Legions (2013) to Raw Live at Copenhell (2024)Michael Bastholm Dahl2012–2023 lead vocalsKræn Meier2017–2023
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesJune–July 1982Jørgen Sandau — lead/rhythm guitars Benny Petersen — lead/rhythm guitars Pete Hurricane — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsrowspan="2" July–August 1982Jørgen Sandau — lead/rhythm guitars Ken C. Jack — lead/rhythm guitars Pete Hurricane — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsAugust 1982–June 1983Per Onink — vocals Jørgen Sandau — lead/rhythm guitars Michael Stützer — lead/rhythm guitars Morten Stützer — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsWe Are the Dead demo (1982)September 1983–late 1984Carsten Lohmann — vocals Jørgen Sandau — lead/rhythm guitars Michael Stützer — lead/rhythm guitars Morten Stützer — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsShellshock demo (1984) Deeds of Darkness demo (1984)January 1985–1987Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Jørgen Sandau — rhythm guitar Morten Stützer — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsFear of Tomorrow demo (1985) Fear of Tomorrow (1985) Terror Squad (1987)1987Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Jørgen Sandau — rhythm guitar Morten Stützer — bass Henrik Quaade — drumsBand inactive 1987–1988August–October 1988Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Jørgen Sandau — rhythm guitar Morten Stützer — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsrowspan="2" Late 1988–early 1989Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, bass Peter Thorslund — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsEarly/spring 1989Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsKhomaniac demo (1989)May–August 1989Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar Michael Rasmussen — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsFall 1989–August 1990Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar Peter Thorslund — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsBy Inheritance (1990)August–September 1990Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Morten Stützer — guitar Peter Thorslund — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsrowspan="2" September–December 1990John Mathiasen — vocals Morten Stützer — guitar Peter Thorslund — bass Carsten Nielsen — drumsDecember 1990–late 1991John Mathiasen — vocals Samir Belmaati — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar Peter Thorslund — bass Henrik Quaade — drumsThe Mind Factory demo (1991)Late 1991–1992John Mathiasen — vocals Samir Belmaati — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar Peter Thorslund — bass Benny Dallschmidt — drumsrowspan="2" 1992Mickey Finn — vocals Samir Belmaati — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar Peter Thorslund — bass Benny Dallschmidt — drumsBand inactive 1992–1998August 1998Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, studio bass Peter Thorslund — bass Sven Olsen — drums 1999–2000Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, bass Peter Thorslund — bass Per M. Jensen — drums B.A.C.K. (1999) "Jester" (2000)Band inactive 2000–2004December 2004Flemming Rönsdorf — vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, studio bass Mikael Ehlert — bass Anders Gyldenøhr — drums Band inactive 2004–2007November 2007–May 2012Søren N. Adamsen — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Carsten Nielsen — drumsOne Foot in the Grave, the Other One in the Trash (2008) When Death Comes (2009) My Blood (2011)June–September 2012Søren N. Adamsen — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Josua Madsen — drums, backing vocalsSeptember 2012–October 2019Michael B. Dahl — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals Morten Stützer — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Josua Madsen — drums, backing vocalsLegions (2013) Penalty by Perception (2016) The Face of Fear (2018)October 2019–January 2023Michael B. Dahl — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals Kræn Meier — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Josua Madsen — drums, backing vocals"The Last Journey" (2020) X (2021) Raw Live at Copenhell (2024)January–April 2023Michael B. Dahl — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals Kræn Meier — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Frederik K. Hansen — drumsrowspan="2" May–September 2023Søren N. Adamsen — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals Kræn Meier — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Frederik K. Hansen — drumsDecember 2023–Martin Steene — lead vocals Michael Stützer — lead guitar, backing vocals René Loua — rhythm guitar, backing vocals Peter Thorslund — bass, backing vocals Frederik K. Hansen — drumsnone to date
References
External links Artillery official website