Michael Poulsen, known for his role as the frontman of Danish rock band VOLBEAT, has launched a new venture with his death metal project, ASINHELL. After over two decades of success with VOLBEAT, including eight albums and millions of sales, Poulsen is revisiting his roots in death metal, a genre he explored with his earlier band DOMINUS in the mid-1990s.
ASINHELL’s debut album, “Impii Hora” (Latin for “Ungodly Hour”), was released on September 29, 2023, via Metal Blade Records. The album reflects Poulsen’s love for old-school death metal, featuring a collection of riffs he had previously written while working on VOLBEAT’s 2021 album, “Servant of the Mind.”
The title track’s music video was released recently, showcasing footage from the band’s European tour. Poulsen describes the song as an anti-religion piece that critiques the oppressive aspects of organized religion, emphasizing that while he respects individual belief, he opposes the manipulation that can come with institutionalized faith.
To bring ASINHELL to life, Poulsen teamed up with longtime friend and drummer Morten Toft Hansen, and together they crafted songs in a garage setting, harkening back to their teenage years. Vocal duties were taken on by Marc Grewe, a death metal legend known for his work with INSIDIOUS DISEASE and ex-MORGOTH.
With production handled by VOLBEAT’s Jacob Hansen, who also played bass on the album, ASINHELL’s lineup solidified with guitarist Flemming C. Lund joining for live performances. The band made their live debut on May 30 in Copenhagen, marking an exciting new chapter for Poulsen as he embraces his passion for death metal once again.
