FORCE OF EVIL Splits With ESCAPI MUSIC

FORCE OF EVIL, the Danish band featuring guitarist Michael Denner (ex-MERCYFUL FATE),guitarist Hank Shermann (MERCYFUL FATE),bassist Hal Patino (KING DIAMOND),drummer Bjarne Holm (MERCYFUL FATE),and vocalist Martin Steene (ex-IRONFIRE),has issued the following update:

"It's been a very very long time since last update from the FORCE OF EVIL camp here. Basically we have been waiting for Escapi Music to make their decision for a possible third FORCE OF EVIL album. This has and will certainly not happen. Therefore we will begin scouting for a new record label to work with for the future. Further info to follow as it comes!!

"FORCE OF EVIL released two albums and a live DVD on Escapi Music between 2003 and 2005. A special digipack of 'Black Empire', with bonus tracks and video, was released in 2006.

"Last year everyone in the band worked on different projects: Martin Steene released the IRONFIRE album 'Revenge' + [formed] a new band called NIGHTLIGHT. Hank Shermann has been recording with the upcoming alternative rock-queen Rachelle Ramm as well as preparing for his first solo album, to surface in 2007. Michael, Hal and Bjarne all have done guest recordings on different releases."

A special limited-edition run of FORCE OF EVIL's "Black Empire" album, originally released in 2005, was made available in the U.S. by Escapi Music in July 2006. The special limited-edition package included the brilliant artwork of Linda Bergkvist, plus a 20-page, full-color booklet, two rare live unreleased recordings as well as the video for "Back To Hell".

The video for "Back To Hell", which was shot on an island just outside Copenhagen, was directed by Swedish director Magnus Gothlund, who also held the reigns during the shooting of the 2003 DVD "Force Of Evil: Evil Comes Alive" (Escapi Music).

According to a press release, "Black Empire" as a whole "presents a brutal and aggressive metal opus, which pays homage to classic horror movies such as 'Friday the 13th' and 'The Omen'. Heavy metal and Hollywood horror come together as one sinister beast that is sure to satisfy every true heavy metal believer."

Denner was featured in the Danish newspaper Nyhedsavisen this past week when the paper conducted a test on Tuesday (January 23) to see if the residents of Copenhagen, Denmark are generally helfpul and accomodating with one another. As part of the test, they had an old lady (Alice) drop a bag of groceries from the supermarket on the street to see if someone would take the time to assist her or everyone would just ignore her and go about his/her own business. The first person to help was none other than Michael Denner of MERCYFUL FATE/KING DIAMOND (see scan of article; Denner is in the photo on the upper right). Denner, who was getting off a bus, spotted Alice right away and immediately came to her aid.

MERCYFUL FATE was presented with the "honor award" at the Danish Metal Awards 2006, which was held on November 18, 2006 at Amager Bio in Copenhagen, Denmark. Original members Michael Denner (guitar),Hank Shermann (guitar),Timi "Grabber" Hansen (bass) and Kim Ruzz (drums) appeared in public together for the first time in 22 years to accept the award (vocalist King Diamond was unable to attend the event due to the fact that he was working on the new KING DIAMOND album in Dallas, Texas).

In 1998, METALLICA paid tribute to MERCYFUL FATE by recording a medley of classic MERCYFUL FATE songs on the album "Garage Inc." Entitled "Mercyful Fate", the medley included parts from "Satan's Fall", "Curse of the Pharaohs", "A Corpse Without Soul", "Into the Coven" and "Evil".

Lars Ulrich of METALLICA (a fellow Dane) played drums on a new version of "Return of the Vampire" on the "In the Shadows" album, which came out in 1993.