Denmark’s ESSENCE Sign To Spinefarm Records; New Album Coming In September

Spinefarm Records has announced the signing of Essence, a Danish metal band with roots in thrash metal, formed in 2005. Their debut album, Lost In Violence, produced by Søren Andersen, was released in 2011. Their second album, Last Night Of Solace, produced by Peter Tägtgren, was released in 2013. It was nominated for a Metal Hammer Award and won the Rock the Nation Award. The band was honoured with a Culture Award from the Danish government presented by the mayor of their home region.

Essence are regarded a highly energetic live band and they have toured Europe several times as support for artists like Hypocrisy and Vader. The band has also shared the stage with acts like Entombed, In Flames and Megadeth and they have also rocked the stages of Roskilde Festival, Copenhell and Metal Fest, and toured Denmark on several co-headline and headline runs. They have played more than 130 shows and they are working on their third album, which is their first for Spinefarm, and it signals the beginning of a new era: a new kind of expression that is all about keeping it simple, melodic, and catchy, all the while capturing the youthful energies of four friends living out their passion.

In short, the goal is to create good music. The as-yet-untitled new album has stirred a big buzz in Denmark because it has been produced and mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Rune Rask, part of Tabu Records and super popular group Suspekt. His previous work includes productions for rap superstars Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, but this is the first rock/metal album Rask has ever produced.

On forging alliance with Spinefarm/Universal, the band said, “We are extremely proud to be part of the Spinefarm family! We have seen Spinefarm as an inspiration ever since we started playing, dreaming of what it would be to work with them one day. It truly felt like that dream came true when we signed the deal! They are hard working music lovers who believe that quality beats quantity any day. We are honoured to share our songs and visions with the single most AWE-FUKN-SOME label ever!”

A&R of Spinefarm/Universal Euge Valovirta stated, “The album is done and it’s f**ing amazing. Really fresh sounding with great songs, great hooks and great playing. Really good ‘poppier’ songs for radio and also really good and catchy metal songs for headbangers. God damn, I’m excited!”

Essence are:

Lasse Skov – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mark Drastrup – lead guitar
Rasmus Kalke – bass
Nikolaj Kjaergaard – drums