Artist: ROYAL HUNT
Album: "EYE WITNESS (DIGI)"

Year: 2003
Media type: CD

Heavily keyboard orientated, Danish Rockers ROYAL HUNT, have made quite an impact on the mainland European Rock scene. The idea for the band was forged in 1992 by keyboard player Andre Anderson. Anderson, actually a native of Moscow, emigrated to Denmark to find further suitable musicians where he located bassist Steen Morgensen. Vocalist Henrik Brockman brought guitarist Jacob Kjaer with him and with this line-up ROYAL HUNT laid down their initial demos. The band's first tapes comprised of the cuts 'Age Gone Wild', 'Give It Up', 'One By One' and 'Heart Of The City'.

ROYAL HUNT's debut album 'Land Of Broken Hearts' was initially only to see a Scandinavian release. The album found its way into the hands of the respected Japanese "Rock guru" Captain Wada. His reaction instigated two Japanese tours and huge album sales.

However, Brockman quit the band in December of 1994, ROYAL HUNT filling the gap with American D.C. COOPER. The new vocalist just had two weeks to learn ROYAL HUNT's set before the band set out on a world tour. In this formation, ROYAL HUNT ventured to America for the first time where they supported WARRANT prior to recording the 1996 'Moving Target' record. Once more the resulting product received glowing reviews in Europe and Japan, even being nominated for a Grammy award in Denmark for best Rock album. European touring throughout March and April witnessed a strong alliance with Swiss outfit GOTTHARD.

ROYAL HUNT's popularity in Japan has now reached the level whereby the Japanese national wrestling federation put in a request to the band to record some music especially for their sporting events. ROYAL HUNT obliged with the tracks 'Champions Of Wrestling', Wake Up' and 'Chono Masahiro'.

The last leg of the 'Moving Target' tour had ROYAL HUNT sharing a bill in Europe with GOTTHARD. Keeping up the momentum between studio releases a live album and video was issued, both recorded at the Gotada U-Port Theatre in Tokyo.

With Kenneth Olsen's departure, bowing out with an appearance on the 1996 live album, Allan Sшrenson contributed drums for the 1997 'Paradox' album. ROYAL HUNT supported SAXON throughout their German tour of the same year prior to headline shows with guests HOUSE OF SHAKIRA. In 1998 Sшrensen, together with ex-NARITA guitarist Henrik Poulsen and former ELEGY singer Eduard Hovinga created PRIME TIME. Andersen guested on keyboards for their debut 'The Unknown' album. By the time of PRIME TIME's sophomore effort, 'The Miracle', Olsen had joined the band on drums.

ROYAL HUNT switched labels to SPV who promptly re-issued 'Paradox' with a bonus live CD recorded on the band's 1997 Japanese tour. The 1999 ROYAL HUNT album 'Fear' saw the departure of D.C. Cooper and beckoned in new vocalist JOHN WEST, previously with ARTENSION and BADLANDS.

In 2000 Morgensen formed an alliance with erstwhile MIDNIGHT BLUE and RAINBOW singer Dougie White to create the band CORNERSTONE debuting with the 'Arrival' album.

ROYAL HUNT's August 2001 album 'The Mission', released by Now And Then / Frontiers in Europe and Century Media in the USA, would transpire to be an ambitious concept affair based on the famous Sci-Fi novel 'The Martian Chronicles' by Ray Bradbury. ROYAL HUNT's quartet at this juncture comprised of Andre Andersen, Steen Morgensen, John West, and Jacob Kjaer.

During early 2002 ANDRE ANDERSON would weigh in with his second solo album 'Black On Black'. JOHN WEST would also pursue a high profile endeavour outside of the ROYAL HUNT by forging EARTHMAKER, a liaison with the SAVATAGE duo of guitarist CHRIS CAFFERY and Jeff Plate, HALFORD personnel MIKE CHLASIAK on guitar, Ray Riendau on bass and Bobby Jarzombek on drums and on keyboards Lonnie Park. ANDRE ANDERSON and VITALIJ KUPRIJ also donated their efforts. Meantime ROYAL HUNT would be announced as special guests to Denmark's PRETTY MAIDS for European touring in April.

ROYAL HUNT, citing a line up comprising vocalist John West, guitarist Jakob Kjaer, bassist Steen Morgensen, keyboard player Andre Andersen and the KINGDOM COME credited drummer Allan Tschicaja, set to work on a new studio album in early 2003. The resulting 'Eye Witness' record, emerging in June, saw a limited run digi-pack version boasting two exclusice cuts 'Martial Arts' (special version) and a live acoustic recording of 'Follow Me' from the band's 2002 Japanese dates.

ROYAL HUNT underwent a major transition in December when guitarist Jacob Kjaer and bass player Steen Mogensen both terminated their ten year tenure with the band. Newly installed would be guitarist Marcus Jidell, a scene veteran of JEKYLL & HYDE and THE RING, and former drummer Kenneth Olsen. The bass position was filled in July by HOUSE OF SHAKIRA and SPIKE man Per Schelander.

Supporting the June 2005 album 'Paper Blood' ROYAL HUNT embarked upon an extensive round of European touring. Gigs announced for October were to see SECRET SPHERE and RAINTIME as openers. However, these shows were cancelled in acrimonious circumstances just hours before the first date in Munich.

Also unveiled during 2005 would be the ANDERSEN / LAINE / READMAN project, mentored by ANDRE ANDERSEN. The album 'III', issued through the Italian Frontiers label in March 2006, saw vocal duties shared between Paul Laine of DANGER DANGER and David Readman of PINK CREAM 69.

TRACKLIST:

1. Hunted
2. Can’t Let Go
3. The Prayer
4. The Edge Of The World
5. Burning The Sun
6. Wicked Lounge
7. Fifth Element
8. Help Us G-D
9. Game Of Fear
10. Eye Witness

LINE-UP:

D.C. Cooper (vocals)
Jakob Kjaer (guitar)
Andre Anderson (keyboards)
Steen Morgensen (bass)
Kenneth Olsen (drums)