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Mercenary - Part Ways With Three Members


Official press release

Well, well, changes that have been underway for a long time can sometimes come about in the blink of an eye. Last week, Mike told us that he wanted to leave the band permanently. The rest of us did some serious thinking and soul-searching, sat down and had "the big talk" and came to the agreement that the only way to continue the band was to part ways with Mikkel and Morten as well. During the last year we have been working on a new album and it has become clear that we no longer share the same vision and enthusiasm about the direction and the future of the band. Martin, Rene, Mike and I wanted to play faster, heavier and more modern (yet old school) material, but for the band as a whole this evidently didn't work out.

We hope that our fans will understand and appreciate the fact that we actually tried for the better part of a year to make the situation work, despite our differences. In the past we managed to turn those very differences into our strength by complementing and inspiring each other. But during the last couple of years we all felt that we had to compromise ourselves in different ways, which of course frustrated us all - both when we played the old material and when we tried exploring a new and fresh sound. Martin and I actually came frighteningly close to disbanding the band less than a year ago, but luckily we came to the agreement that we owed ourselves and the fans to try a final time to make things work. We tried to overcome our frustrations by perfecting, evolving and invigorating our style together as a band. However, the natural joy and the ease with which we had cooperated in the past didn't return and for a long time we have felt further apart musically than ever before.

In many ways this is a painful choice. But it also allows us to close a chapter in the band's career and our shared lives, that we're all immensely proud off, in a dignified way that doesn't let ourselves or our fans down. Nobody would be better off if we released an album that we didn't all truly believe in and felt as fiercely passionate about as we have done about all of our past albums.

The sad but obvious truth is that the past will never return. Mercenary as you know it is now dead and buried. Rest assured, however, that René, Martin and I will continue Mercenary in the best way we possibly can and with a newfound sense of integrity and purpose. So far we have had an immensely fruitful songwriting process with lots of mutual inspiration, understanding, synergy - and most importantly - good, plain, old fashioned fun, which is what it all ought to be about. We feel that we're finally all in agreement about the future direction of the band and that this will be the strongest and most united incarnation of Mercenary ever. In terms of creativity, motivation and the everyday-practical-getting-shit-done-aspects, the band remains fully intact. The new Mercenary will be back to shatter everybody's balls in 2010.

On behalf of all of the guys, we'd like to give our most humble and sincere thanks to all the fans, bands, press, promoters and others who have supported us throughout the years and made this one hell of a damn fine ride. As a final nod from the old incarnation of Mercenary to the fans, we've included a video from our tour with Arch Enemy, where Mikkel joined them on stage Italy for the track "Burning Angel", as this tour and this experience was in many ways the highlight of what we managed to achieve together.

Jakob / Mercenary

For the complete statement, including those of Mikkel, Morten and Mike, go to this location.

Source: mercenary.dk
Band profile: Mercenary
Posted: 11.11.2009 by White Winter Sun


Comments

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Comments: 16   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 170 users
11.11.2009 - 21:25
Crazy Booduh

Man, this just ruined my day.
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11.11.2009 - 22:13
MetalSpider

Thats a shame...these guys were pretty good!
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Thanks to Corrupt for these banners!
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11.11.2009 - 23:20
Legendary

Written by Crazy Booduh on 11.11.2009 at 21:25

Man, this just ruined my day.

Yeah mine aswell, And I never got to see them live
I'm sure the new Mercenary and the projects of leaving members will be good, but it will never be the same...
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And I like the way your lips turned legendary.
And I like the way the sun will come to light.
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12.11.2009 - 01:43
RhaegarTargaryen
Telcontar
Oh great, what a great news to end a day ...
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... For years I have traveled in coldness,
But my heart is warm as the darkened sun above me...
Nothing can never take away
What I've seen with these tired eyes
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12.11.2009 - 03:39
Thanntos

Man this fucking sucks. I really liked these guys
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I will kill you so hard you will die to death.
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12.11.2009 - 04:45
VanHelsing

Terrible news indeed... and I agree, it just ruined my day.

It's just not going to be the same without Mikkel and Morten. Oh well, was fun while it lasted, let's hope they can keep making high-quality music despite this.
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-V
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12.11.2009 - 08:03
Locke
Account deleted
I'm looking forward to hearing Mikkel's new project but this is really a fucking disaster...
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12.11.2009 - 09:06
AiwiAstwihad
AiryanaKhvarenah
Shit!
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You who will come to the surface
From the flood that's overwhelmed us and drowned us all
Must think, when you speak of our weakness in times of darkness
That you've not had to face
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12.11.2009 - 09:16
GT
Coffee!!
Hmm that's bad news...or maybe it's actually a good thing. As the statement says they want to play faster, harder and heavier and that, to me, means returning to style from the older albums.
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Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
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12.11.2009 - 15:40
zourui24

I really like the singer
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12.11.2009 - 16:25
corrupt
With a lowercase c
FUCK ME!

And I've been hoping for a concert with Kral sometime to honor the old days. That thought is definitely over now...
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12.11.2009 - 16:59
MELANCOHOLIC

SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Very bad news!!! Mikkel did a FANTASTIC job all over these years and as for me it is a double shame as i did not have got the chance to see them live with the already old formation...
11 Dreams will reamin as one of my all-time best albums. One of the best pieces of art i've heard in my entire life.
Stay Metal, Stay Dark.
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12.11.2009 - 17:40
Kimiwind
Speed Metal God
Oh no no no no !! im so shocked !! half of band left !! and who left ? the Sandager brothers who both were doing an awesome job and the drummer as well he kick ass one of the best drummers around nowadays !! i feel so sorry about this harsh news !! i really hope they can continue now the great work !!
i really hope ill always miss mikkel's unique voice :/
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Wintermoon Calls you, Follow It And You Will Be Proud Forever.
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12.11.2009 - 19:55
Asmara

Ruined my day too :/ *sad*
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13.11.2009 - 00:11
Ag Fox
Angel No More
Yeah... I love them too. To me, the worst part is two vocalists left and it is the vocal interplay of the band that I admire most
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loves 小巫
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13.11.2009 - 00:33
DragonWisdom

This was one of the bands that really defined what Metal is to me and now what... i feel like a part of my soul just got ripped out... been a fan sense 11 Dreams... i have been waithng 5 years for them to hit the US... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Keep it Brutal!!!
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