Dew-Scented

History

Germany's Dew-Scented were originally founded in 1992, at a time when heavy music was about to fall out of favor with the public at large, the odds were stacked against the band from the beginning.

However, after the release of one demo tape, 'Symbolization' and self-organized live shows, Steamhammer/SPV released their debut album 'Immortelle' in 1996.

The band were still in a primitive form at this time, but quickly progressed and showed enough drive to earn the attention of Grind Syndicate Media/Nuclear Blast, who released the two follow-up albums 'Innoscent' (1998) and I'll-Natured' (1999). Although heavy music had a resurgence at the end of the '90s, it was generally other forms of music that quickly dominated, such as melodic death metal, black metal and power metal. Despite that, Dew-Scented never wavered in their unrelenting march forward, and never dabbled or experimented with different styles. The band kept a purity to their music that earned them enthusiastic fans around the world, allowing Dew-Scented to visit Japan for the first time, in addition to numerous live-shows and tours of Europe with the likes of Morbid Angel, Edge Of Sanity, Overkill, Six Feet Under, Deicide, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Immortal, Eucharist or also Death.

By this time, Nuclear Blast Records had noticed the band's upward momentum and brought the quintet to their mother label, releasing 'Inwards' in January 2002 to critical acclaim (earning Album Of The Month honors in German metal mags Rock Hard and Legacy). Seizing the chance, the band toured Europe several times with bands like Cannibal Corpse or No Return and won over fans at many of the large European summer festivals, also making it to North America for their first time. As a sign of ultimate respect, the band were invited to open a week's worth of shows for the year's top thrash metal package of Kreator, Destruction and Sodom.

Barely stopping to catch a breath, August 2003 saw the release of 'Impact' (Nuclear Blast Records), doing the rounds in Europe once more (this time with Nile and Misery Index, and then the X-Mass Festivals with Amon Amarth, Destruction and Deicide) before playing more major summer festivals and making a return trip to the USA.

In June 2005 saw the release of 'Issue VI' (Nuclear Blast Records), and armed with a well-honed line-up, the group hit the world anew, first touring Japan with High On Fire and Misery Signals, then Europe in support of Nevermore, and finally a 4-week tour across the States with Vader and Decapitated. Undaunted, the band kept on the road in early 2006, playing a tour of 31 shows (in 31 days!) throughout Europe alongside a package that also featured Cryptopsy, Grave and Aborted.

Summer 2006 saw the band spend time on songwriting for what would be the band's next record, 'Incinerate', released in March 2007, via Nuclear Blast Records. Three separate European tours (The No Mercy festivals with Moonspell, Napalm Death and Behemoth, a run with Misery Index and Coldworker and finally a headlining tour with Severe Torture and Destinity) followed in close succession, and after an exhaustive stretch and much consideration, the band decided to make some significant line-up changes to ensure the band's longevity. Vocalist Leif Jensen and bassist Alexander Pahl brought in new drummer Marc-Andree Dieken (formerly of Obscenity), and a new guitar team in Michael Borchers and Martin Walczak.

The new line-up kept in closed-door rehearsals for some time until they felt ready to tackle the stage anew. Shows throughout Europe followed, with a response that suggested that the band were in top shape. Once that was completed, the band took time to write songs for what would be their new album, knowing full well the attention they would be getting, to hear if the revamped Dew-Scented still had the fire and intensity burning within them.

The results are plain to hear: 'Invocation', the band's 8th album, is a blistering assault that will have thrash metal fans everywhere jubilant that one of Germany's longest-running extreme metal bands is back with newfound vigor. Produced once more by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge Studios (God Dethroned, Sinister, Despondency, etc.), Invocation is the band's first for Metal Blade Records (Europe) / Prosthetic Records (North America), and the studio debut of the new Dew-Scented line-up. Packaged with impressive, insightful artwork from Björn Goosses / Killustrations, 'Invocation' is the sound of a band who yielded to no one, who played purely for themselves, and who show no sign of relenting.

Next up was a split EP with Warbringer (USA), titled 'Imperial Anthems No. 2'. It features a Discharge cover and a pre-prduction demo track. It was released in June 2010 by Cyclone Empire, and was limited to 500 copies on 7" vinyl.

It took a couple of years for the band to come back, with a new line-up: Leif Jensen (vocals), Marvin Vriesde (guitar), Joost van der Graaf (bass) and Koen Herfst (drums). 'Icarus' album was the result, getting released by Metal Blade Records in July 2012. The band continued with Jörg Uken and Björn Goosses.

In May 2013 it was 20 years on Dew-Scented. Anniversary compilation 'Insurgent' was put out by Metal Blade Records. It features 3 new songs and rare material including covers and live tracks.

Guitarist Rory Hansen was added to the line-up, and in June 2015, the 10th album, 'Intermination' was unleashed by Metal Blade Records.

In the same year's October, another split EP came out: 'Immersed / Serpents on Parade' was a co-operation with Spanish thrashers Angelus Apatrida. It featured a Vio-lence cover and a re-recording. This was released by Metal Blade Records on 7" vinyl, and was strictly limited to 500 pieces.

The band announced their split up on January 1st, 2018. The band was operating for 26 years. The lack of total commitment was the reason. They played their final show on October 6th, 2018, and Dew-Scented were no more.

(source: Dew-Scented; final 6 chapters added by AM)
(discography incomplete)