Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Maceration (Denmark)
Photo credits: Mark Ytze
Maceration (Death Metal // Denmark)
Maceration started as a project of two Invocator members (Jakob Schultz and Jacob Hansen), joined by Rune Hansen and Lars Bangsholt. They are regarded as the first band playing death metal in Denmark and their debut live gig, opening for Darkthrone (still playing death metal back then) in 1990 is a piece of the Scandinavian genre, that went straight to tape (»Official Live Tape«) and was heavily traded by avid death metal fans since then.
On their debut album »A Serenade Of Agony« Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity, Bloodbath) did the vocals using his famous pseudonym Day Disyraah. Dan Swanö and Jacob Hansen left the band after the CD was released. Lars Bangsholt and Jakob Schultz got a new line-up and played several shows in Denmark and Holland with acts such as Gorguts, Blasphemy, Dominus, Deadhead, Konkhra etc., until the band eventually split up in 1993.
In 2021, however, there were some signs of life for Maceration again. Their mythical 1990 live gig opening for Darkthrone was the subject of a book (»Incombustible Remains (Dengang Darkthrone Spillede Koncert I Esbjerg I 1990«, written by Danish author Benni Bødker), that was released together with a CD featuring the live recordings of that night, remastered by Marco Angioni at Angioni Studios. Shortly after, a limited vinyl reissue of the live recordings, titled »Live Disfigurements«, was also released. A new studio album is confirmed to be released in 2022 as well, with original members Jakob Schultz and Lars Bangsholt featured in the recording line-up.
Shortly, after a reissue of their only album so far, »A Serenade Of Agony«, was also announced. It was be released on CD, limited vinyl and digital formats, with the CD including some amazing 11 bonus tracks, from the band’s unofficial 1990 rehearsal tape tracks, the 1990 demo tracks and two unreleased live songs.
In September 2022 the news spread like a wildfire: Maceration has recorded a new studio album, featuring again the mighty Dan Swanö as a singer, and was fully back to action. »It Never Ends…« was released on November 2022 and was an effective return to the scene by the Danes.
The band’s third album »Serpent Devourment« was released on January 31, 2025. Again, Dan Swanö has played an important role in the creation as producer and the man behind the mix in his Unisound studio. But this time he has not recorded the vocals. Maceration’s regular lead singer Jan Bergmann Jepsen (ex-Cor Vacante) has done the recording duties and he leaves no doubt after he has taken over the vocals on the new recordings. Jan Bergmann has been with Maceration live since the resurrection in 2022 and on some tracks on »It Never Ends…« in a duet with Swanö, but now he is alone at the front. With a deep, growling and brutal vocal style, he is the perfect successor to Swanö and he carves this into stone on the album.
Now, Maceration announce the release of their fourth full-length album, »Mercy To The Miserable«, set for release on November 20th, 2026 via Emanzipation Productions. Featuring eight brand-new tracks, the album further develops the band’s old-school death metal sound, combining crushing brutality, speed and melody with the unmistakable Swedish HM-2 guitar tone.
For »Mercy To The Miserable«, Maceration have taken another step forward, joining forces with renowned producer Lawrence Mackrory of Rory Sound. Known for his work with Paradise Lost, Bloodbath, Meshuggah, Vomitory, Lik and many others, Mackrory has mixed and mastered the new album. “We have had a collaboration with Dan Swanö for a long time and he has delivered and shaped our sound since we came back. He has produced two records that sound amazing,” says guitarist Jakob Schultz. “With the new album we wanted to try something new and see what it could do for the sound and the music. We could have easily continued with Swanö, but we think it would be exciting to work with Mackrory. He has produced some fantastic records and can create a sound that we think really fits Maceration perfectly. And we have not regretted it. The new album sounds exactly as we had hoped.”
»Mercy To The Miserable« sees Maceration combining brutality and speed with melodic and catchy riffs. From the fast and direct attack of »The Fall Of Virtue« to the heavier »Mind In A Chokehold« and the melodic yet brutal title track, the album represents a natural evolution of the band’s established sound while retaining its old-school identity.
“It is without a doubt one of the best things we have ever done,” Schultz says when he talks about »Mercy To The Miserable«. “There has been a development, but also as we have been together again for several years now, new ideas arise and a security and calmness comes over the band as we become more and more integrated,” he adds.
»Mercy To The Miserable« will be released on LP, CD and digital formats on November 20th, 2026 via Emanzipation Productions. Pre-order your copy HERE.
Courtesy of Emanzipation Productions
Discography:
• »Official Livetape« Demo (1990)
• »A Serenade Of Agony« LP (Progress Red Labels, 1992)
• »Promo 95« Demo (1995)
• »Epiphany Of The Past« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2022)
• »Lost In Depravity« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2022)
• »Arcane Secrets« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2022)
• »It Never Ends…« LP (Emanzipation Productions, 2022)
• »Serpent Devourment« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2024)
• »The Den Of Misery« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2024)
• »Where Leeches Thrive« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2025)
• »Serpent Devourment« LP (Emanzipation Productions, 2025)
• »Mercy To The Miserable« Single (Emanzipation Productions, 2026)
• »Mercy To The Miserable« LP (Emanzipation Productions, 2026)
Maceration is:
Jan Bergmann Jepsen – Vocals
Jakob Schultz – Guitar
Robert Tengs – Guitar
Rune Koldby – Bass
Nicolai Kaltoft – Drums
FFO: Invocator, Bloodbath, Grave, Edge Of Sanity, Benediction, Massacre, Unleashed, Cancer, Konkhra, Carnal Tomb
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well