Seance

Linköping’s Seance emerged in 1990 as a standard example of Swedish death metal, yet lacked the sharper edge that set apart comparable acts such as Entombed, At the Gates, and Edge of Sanity. Despite this shortfall, the group functioned as a training ground for several later heavy-metal outfits. Its original lineup featured vocalist Johan Ekström, guitarists Tony ‘Toxine’ Kampner and Patrik Jensen, bassist Bino Carlsson, and drummer Micke, also known as Mique. After committing the demo “Levitised Spirit” to tape, the band secured a deal with Sweden’s Black Mark Records and delivered two solid but unremarkable full-lengths: Fornever Laid to Rest in 1992 and Saltrubbed Eyes in 1994. Seeking wider personal success, the musicians parted ways. Jensen, Toxine, and Mique each spent time in the death-metal institution Satanic Slaughter and together launched the horror-minded band Witchery; Jensen additionally committed himself full-time to the neo-thrash group The Haunted.