Carnal Forge

Despite its connections to Sweden's thriving death metal community, Carnal Forge draws primary influence from classic thrash and speed metal, channeling the approach of Slayer as well as the melodic tendencies long associated with At the Gates. The band assembled in September 1997 around vocalist Jonas Kjellgren, formerly of Dellamorte and Centinex, guitarists Jari Kuusisto and Johan Magnusson, bassist Dennis Vestman, and drummer Stefan Westerberg, the latter pair having already worked together in In Thy Dreams. Their debut full-length, Who's Gonna Burn, surfaced in 1998 via Relapse in America and War in Europe, prompting a worldwide agreement with Century Media soon afterward. Firedemon followed in 2000, by which point Petri Kuusisto, Jari's brother, had assumed bass responsibilities in place of Vestman. Jens C. Mortensen came aboard as the new frontman in late 2004 and first appeared on a Carnal Forge recording with the 2007 release Testify for My Victims.