Compos Mentis (band)
Encyclopedia
Compos Mentis is a Danish
metal
band. The band was formed in Vojens
, Denmark
.
jam band. In 2000, they released the demo Quadrology of Sorrow and in 2001 they signed a record deal with Lost Disciple Records. In 2003, they released their debut studio album
, Fragments of a Withered Dream
.
In September 2006, the group's keyboardist decided to quit the band after seven years as a member. That same year, Ken Holst (Bloodsoil, ex-Adversary) joined the band as the new guitarist, allowing Jesper, the lead singer and former guitarist, to focus solely on vocal duties. Keyboard player Rune Klausen later joined, making it a brand new six-piece band.
In October 2006, the band began a collaboration with the Danish booking agency, Strange Ears Booking, and a month later Compos Mentis signed a contract with the record label Mighty Music, whereupon the band released their second album Gehennesis
in March 2007, though only in Denmark. On June 18, 2007, the album was released in the rest of the world.
After releasing new material in March, the band found themselves doing a small tour in their home country Denmark in September, while looking for "the right" chance to play across Europe, or outside Denmark. The band played in Danish towns and cities such as Copenhagen
, Elsinore
, Struer
and Ribe
.
In the summer of 2008, the band recorded their third album, Our Kingdom of Decay, in the CB-Studios. According to the band, the lyrics on Our Kingdom of Decay focus on Denmark from various perspectives and the album will show "a more rock-oriented approach to melodic death metal than previous efforts".
The album was released on CD on June 22, 2009, and as a download August 4, 2009. The album received 6 out of 6 on MetalZone.dk.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band. The band was formed in Vojens
Vojens
Vojens Municipality , was a municipality in the former South Jutland County on the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. The municipality, which existed from 1970 to 2006, covered an area of 298 km², and had a total population of 16,792...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Background
Compos Mentis was formed in 1996, originally as a MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
jam band. In 2000, they released the demo Quadrology of Sorrow and in 2001 they signed a record deal with Lost Disciple Records. In 2003, they released their debut studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
, Fragments of a Withered Dream
Fragments of a Withered Dream
Fragments of a Withered Dream is the second studio album released by the Danish melodic death metal band Compos Mentis.-Track listing:#"Drained" – 05:19 #"Temptation" – 04:05#"My Inner Beast" – 05:18 #"Within Me" – 03:53...
.
In September 2006, the group's keyboardist decided to quit the band after seven years as a member. That same year, Ken Holst (Bloodsoil, ex-Adversary) joined the band as the new guitarist, allowing Jesper, the lead singer and former guitarist, to focus solely on vocal duties. Keyboard player Rune Klausen later joined, making it a brand new six-piece band.
In October 2006, the band began a collaboration with the Danish booking agency, Strange Ears Booking, and a month later Compos Mentis signed a contract with the record label Mighty Music, whereupon the band released their second album Gehennesis
Gehennesis
Gehennesis is the third released album by the Danish Melodic/Death Metal band Compos Mentis. It was released in Denmark on March 26, 2007 and released in the rest of the world on June 18, 2007. It was recorded at Zigzound, Viby, Aarhus, Denmark during 2006...
in March 2007, though only in Denmark. On June 18, 2007, the album was released in the rest of the world.
After releasing new material in March, the band found themselves doing a small tour in their home country Denmark in September, while looking for "the right" chance to play across Europe, or outside Denmark. The band played in Danish towns and cities such as Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Elsinore
Elsinore
Helsingør is a city and the municipal seat of Helsingør municipality on the northeast coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. Helsingør has a population of 46,279 including the southern suburbs of Snekkersten and Espergærde...
, Struer
Struer, Denmark
Struer is the main town of the kommune of Struer, Region Midtjylland, Denmark with a population of 10,572 .The town of Struer owes its growth to the railroad, which arrived in 1865 with Jutland's first railroad line from Århus/Randers over Viborg to Skive and Struer...
and Ribe
Ribe
Ribe , the oldest extant Danish town, is in southwest Jutland and has a population of 8,192 . Until 1 January 2007, it was the seat of both the surrounding municipality, and county...
.
In the summer of 2008, the band recorded their third album, Our Kingdom of Decay, in the CB-Studios. According to the band, the lyrics on Our Kingdom of Decay focus on Denmark from various perspectives and the album will show "a more rock-oriented approach to melodic death metal than previous efforts".
The album was released on CD on June 22, 2009, and as a download August 4, 2009. The album received 6 out of 6 on MetalZone.dk.
Current members
- Jesper Heinsvig – vocals
- Ken Holst – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Ryan Kristensen – guitar
- Rune Klausen – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Claus Tørnes – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Andreas Posselt – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Former members
- Bo Damgaard – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1999–2006) - Dan Damgaard – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1996–2007)
Discography
- Quadrology of Sorrow (2001, demo)
- Fragments of a Withered DreamFragments of a Withered DreamFragments of a Withered Dream is the second studio album released by the Danish melodic death metal band Compos Mentis.-Track listing:#"Drained" – 05:19 #"Temptation" – 04:05#"My Inner Beast" – 05:18 #"Within Me" – 03:53...
(2003) - GehennesisGehennesisGehennesis is the third released album by the Danish Melodic/Death Metal band Compos Mentis. It was released in Denmark on March 26, 2007 and released in the rest of the world on June 18, 2007. It was recorded at Zigzound, Viby, Aarhus, Denmark during 2006...
(2007) - Our Kingdom of Decay (2009)