Royal Hunt

Progressive Metal

1989

Studio Albums

Land of Broken Hearts *1992*

1. Running Wild

2. Easy Rider

3. Flight

4. Age Gone Wild

5. Martial Arts

6. One by One

7. Heart of the City

8. Land of Broken Hearts

9. Freeway Jam

10. Kingdom Dark

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Henrik Brockmann  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Henrik Lumholdt  #  Vocals (backing)

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Mac Gaunaa  #  Guitars

Henrik Johannessen  #  Guitars

Frank Stechmann  #  Guitars

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Maria Norfelt  #  Vocals (backing)

Carsten Olsen  #  Vocals (backing)

Clown in the Mirror *1994*

1. Intro / Wasted Time

2. Ten to Life

3. On the Run

4. Clown in the Mirror

5. Third Stage

6. Bodyguard

7. Legion of the Damned

8. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

9. Bad Blood

10. Epilogue

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Henrik Brockmann  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

Moving Target *1995*

1. Last Goodbye

2. 1348

3. Makin' a Mess

4. Far Away

5. Step by Step

6. Autograph

7. Stay Down

8. Give It Up

9. Time

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Guitars, Keyboards

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

Paradox *1997*

1. The Awakening

2. River of Pain

3. Tearing Down the World

4. Message to God

5. Long Way Home

6. Time Will Tell

7. Silent Scream

8. It's Over

Line-up

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

Guest Musicians

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

Fear *1999*

1. Fear

2. Faces of War

3. Cold City Lights

4. Lies

5. Follow Me

6. Voices

7. Sea of Time

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

John West  #  Vocals

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

The Mission *2001*

1. Take Off

2. The Mission

3. Exit Gravity

4. Surrender

5. Clean Sweep

6. Judgement Day

7. Metamorphosis

8. World Wide War

9. Dreamline

10. Out of Reach

11. Fourth Dimension

12. Days of No Trust

13. Total Recall

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

John West  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Kim Johanneson  #  Drums

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Eyewitness *2003*

1. Hunted

2. Can't Let Go

3. The Prayer

4. Edge of the World

5. Burning the Sun

6. Wicked Lounge

7. Fifth Element

8. Help Us God

9. Game of Fear

10. Eyewitness

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

John West  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Allan Tschicaja  #  Drums

Laura Faurschou  #  Vocals (backing)

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Soma Allpass  #  Cello

Steve Daniels  #  Saxophone

Paper Blood *2005*

1. Break Your Chains

2. Not My Kind

3. Memory Lane

4. Never Give Up

5. Seven Days

6. SK 983

7. Kiss of Faith

8. Paper Blood

9. Season's Change

10. Twice Around the World

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Bass

John West  #  Vocals

Marcus Jidell  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Soma Allpass  #  Cello

Peter Brander  #  Dobro

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Kenneth Olsen  #  Percussion

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Paradox II: Collision Course *2008*

1. Principles of Paradox

2. The First Rock

3. Exit Wound

4. Divide and Reign

5. High Noon at the Battlefield

6. The Clan

7. Blood In Blood Out

8. Tears of the Sun

9. Hostile Breed

10. Chaos A.C.

Line-up

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Marcus Jidell  #  Guitars, Cello

Mark Boals  #  Vocals

André Andersen  #  Guitars, Keyboards

Per Schelander  #  Bass

Guest Musicians

Ian Parry  #  Vocals (additional)

Doogie White  #  Vocals (additional)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (additional)

Henrik Brockmann  #  Vocals (additional)

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (additional)

Soma Allpass  #  Vocals (additional), Cello

Michelle Raitzin  #  Vocals (additional)

Patricia Skovgaard  #  Violin

Erik Rosenqvist  #  Wind Instruments, Accordion

X *2010*

1. Episode X (Arrival)

2. End of the Line

3. King for a Day

4. The Well

5. Army of Slaves

6. Shadowman

7. Back to Square One

8. Blood Red Stars

9. The Last Leaf

10. Falling Down

11. Episode X (Departure)

Line-up

Marcus Jidell  #  Guitars, Cello

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

André Andersen  #  Guitars, Keyboards

Mark Boals  #  Vocals

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (additional)

Henrik Brockmann  #  Vocals (additional)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (additional)

Gertrud Mogelgaard  #  Vocals (additional)

Michelle Raitzin  #  Vocals (additional)

Patricia Skovgaard  #  Violin

Erik Rosenqvist  #  Woodwinds

Show Me How to Live *2011*

1. One More Day

2. Another Man Down

3. An Empty Shell

4. Hard Rain's Coming

5. Half Past Loneliness

6. Show Me How to Live

7. Angel's Gone

Line-up

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Jonas Larsen  #  Guitars

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (additional)

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (additional)

Alexandra Popova  #  Vocals (additional)

Michelle Raitzin  #  Vocals (additional)

A Life to Die For *2013*

Disc 1 (CD)

1. Hell Comes Down from Heaven

2. A Bullet's Tale

3. Running Out of Tears

4. One Minute Left to Live

5. Sign of Yesterday

6. Won't Trust, Won't Fear, Won't Beg

7. A Life to Die For

Disc 2 (DVD)

1. Tour Kick-Off

2. Half Past Loneliness (Seoul, Korea)

3. Hard Rains Coming (Seoul, Korea)

4. Age Gone Wild (Moscow, Russia)

5. Far Away (Madrid, Spain)

6. Step by Step (Ekaterinburg, Russia)

7. Interview with André Andersen

Line-up

Allan Sorensen  #  Drums

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Jonas Larsen  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars (3)

Michelle Raitzin  #  Vocals (additional) (2)

Soma Allpass  #  Strings

Christina Lund  #  Strings

Patricia Skovgaard  #  Strings

Christina Larsen  #  Strings

Alexandra Popova  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Devil's Dozen *2015*

1. So Right So Wrong

2. May You Never (Walk Alone)

3. Heart on a Platter

4. A Tear in the Rain

5. Until the Day

6. Riches to Rags

7. Way Too Late

8. How Do You Know

Line-up

André Andersen   #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper   #  Vocals

Andreas Passmark   #  Bass

Jonas Larsen   #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Alexandra Popova  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Patricia Skovgaard  #  Strings

Christina Larsen  #  Strings

Christina Lund  #  Strings

Andreas "Habo" Johansson  #  Drums

Henrik Sorensen  #  Wind Instruments

Mads Kofoed  #  Wind Instruments

Cast in Stone *2018*

1. Fistful of Misery

2. The Last Soul Alive

3. Sacrifice

4. The Wishing Well

5. Cast in Stone

6. A Million Ways to Die

7. Rest in Peace

8. Save Me II

9. Wasted Time (Live)

Line-up

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Jonas Larsen  #  Guitars

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Andreas "Habo" Johansson  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Alexandra Andersen  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Dystopia *2020*

1. Inception F451

2. Burn

3. The Art of Dying

4. I Used to Walk Alone

5. The Eye of Oblivion

6. Hound of the Damned

7. The Missing Page (Intermission I)

8. Black Butterflies

9. Snake Eyes

10. Midway (Intermission II)

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Jonas Larsen  #  Guitars

Andreas "Habo" Johansson  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Alexandra Andersen  #  Vocals (4)

Henrik Brockmann  #  Vocals (6, 9)

Mark Boals  #  Vocals (4, 9)

Mats Levén  #  Vocals (3, 9)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (6, 9), Vocals (backing)

EP

The Maxi EP *1994*

1. Clown in the Mirror

2. Stranded (acoustic version)

3. Land of Broken Hearts (acoustic version)

4. Age Gone Wild (acoustic version)

5. Kingdom Dark (acoustic version)

6. Bad Luck

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Henrik Brockmann  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars, Keyboards (additional)

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Carsten Olsen  #  Vocals (backing)

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Maria Nørfelt  #  Vocals (backing)

Stefan Mortensen  #  Vocals (backing)

Frank Stechmann  #  Keyboards (additional)

Far Away *1995

1. Far Away

2. Double Conversion

3. Intro/Wasted Time (live)

4. Flight (live)

5. Stranded (live)

6. Epilogue (live)

Line-up

André Andersen   #  eyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing) (3-6)

Maria Nørfelt  #  Vocals (backing) (3-6)

Intervention *2000*

1. Intervention (Part 1)

2. Lies (live)

3. Flight (live)

4. Follow Me (acoustic version)

5. U-Turn

Line-up

Allan Sorensen  #  Drums

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

John West  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

The Watchers *2001*

1. Intervention

2. Lies (live)

3. Flight (live)

4. Message to God (live)

5. Epilogue (live)

6. One by One (rerecorded)

7. Clown in the Mirror (rerecorded)

8. Day In Day Out (rerecorded)

9. Legion of the Damned (rerecorded)

10. Intervention (radio edit)

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

John West  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Kenny Lübcke  #  Vocals (backing)

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Live Album

1996 *1996*

Disc 1

1. Flight

2. 1348

3. Wasted Time

4. Stay Down

5. On the Run

6. Stranded

7. Keyboard Solo

8. Martial Arts

9. Far Away

10. Last Goodbye

11. Land of Broken Hearts

12. Makin' a Mess

Disc 2

1. Clown in the Mirror

2. Guitar Solo

3. Step by Step

4. Drums & Bass Solo

5. Running Wild

6. Epilogue

7. Age Gone Wild

8. Ten to Life

9. Legion of the Damned

10. Kingdom Dark

11. Time

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass, Vocals (backing)

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

Paradox: Closing the Chapter *1998*

1. Ave Maria Guarani

2. The Awakening

3. River of Pain

4. Tearing Down the World

5. Message to God

6. Long Way Home

7. Time Will Tell

8. Silent Scream

9. It's Over

Line-up

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass, Keyboards, Vocals (backing)

Guest Musicians

Allan Sorensen  #  Drums

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

2006 Live *2006*

Disc 1

1. Paper Blood

2. Time

3. The Mission

4. Never Give Up

5. Can't Let Go

6. Last Goodbye

7. Follow Me

8. Cold City Lights

Disc 2

1. Martial Arts

2. Surrender

3. Running Wild

4. Far Away

5. Lies

6. Wasted Time

7. Message to God

8. Epilogue

9. Long Way Home (acoustic studio track)

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

John West  #  Vocals

Marcus Jidell  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Per Schelander  #  Bass, Vocals (backing)

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Cargo *2016*

Disc 1 (CD)

1. The Mission

2. Half Past Loneliness

3. The Awakening

4. River of Pain

5. Tearing Down the World

6. Message to God

7. Long Way Home

Disc 2 (CD)

1. Time Will Tell

2. Silent Scream

3. It's Over

4. May You Never (Walk Alone)

5. A Life to Die For

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Jonas Larsen  #  Guitars

Andreas Johansson  #  Drums

2016 *2017*

Disc 1 (CD)

1. Medley: So Righ So Wrong / Martial Arts; River of Pain

2. One Minute Left to Live

3. Army of Slaves

4. Lies

5. Wasted Time

6. Heart on a Platter

7. Flight

Disc 2 (CD)

1. May You Never (Walk Alone)

2. Until the Day

3. Half Past Loneliness

4. Message to God

5. Stranded

6. Medley: A Life to Die For / Epilogue

Disc 3 (DVD)

1. Medley: So Righ So Wrong / Martial Arts; River of Pain

2. One Minute Left to Live

3. Army of Slaves

4. Lies

5. Wasted Time

6. Heart on a Platter

7. Flight

8. May You Never (Walk Alone)

9. Until the Day

10. Half Past Loneliness

11. Message to God

12. Stranded

13. Medley: A Life to Die For / Epilogue

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Andreas Passmark  #  Bass

Jonas Larsen  #  Guitars

Andreas Johansson  #  Drums

Video

1996 *1996*

1. Flight

2. 1348

3. Wasted Time

4. Stay Down

5. On the Run

6. Stranded

7. Keyboards solo

8. Martial Arts

9. Far Away

10. Last Goodbye

11. Land of the Broken Hearts

12. Makin' a Mess

13. Clown in the Mirror

14. Guitar solo

15. Step by Step

16. Drums and bass solo

17. Running Wild

18. Epilogue

19. Age Gone Wild

20. Ten to Life

21. Legion of the Damned

22. Kingdom Dark

23. Time

24. Triumph

25. Stay Down

26. Last Goodbye

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass, Vocals (backing)

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

1993-1997 *1997*

1. Land of Broken Hearts

2. Day In Day Out

3. Clown in the Mirror

4. Far Away

5. Last Goodbye

6. Stay Down

7. River of Pain

8. Tearing Down the World

9. Martial Arts

10. Third Stage

11. Wasted Time

12. Interview

13. Message to God

Closing the Chapter *1997*

1. Ava Maria Guarani

2. The Awakening

3. River of Pain

4. Tearing Down the World

5. Message to God

6. Long Way Home

7. Time Will Tell

8. Silent Scream

9. It's Over

10. Message to God (video clip tour off shots)

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards, Guitars

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass, Keyboards, Vocals (backing)

Guest Musicians

Allan Sorensen  #  Drums

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

2006 Live *2006*

1. Paper Blood

2. Time

3. The Mission

4. Never Give Up

5. Can't Let Go

6. Last Goodbye

7. Follow Me

8. Cold City Lights

9. Martial Arts

10. Surrender

11. Running Wild

12. Far Away

13. Lies

14. Wasted Time

15. Message to God

16. SK983

17. Epilogue

Line-up

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

Marcus Jidell  #  Guitars, Vocals (backing)

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

John West  #  Vocals

Per Schelander  #  Bass, Vocals (backing)

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Future's Coming from the Past *2011*

Disc 1 - 1996

1. Flight

2. 1348

3. Wasted Time

4. Stay Down

5. On the Run

6. Stranded

7. Keyboard Solo

8. Martial Arts

9. Far Away

10. Last Goodbye

11. Land of Broken Hearts

12. Makin' a Mess

13. Clown In the Mirror

14. Guitar Solo

15. Step by Step

16. Drums and Bass Solo

17. Running Wild

18. Epilogue

19. Age Gone Wild

20. Ten To Life

21. Legion of the Damned

22. Kingdom Dark

23. Time

24. 1996 Bonus Material

Disc 2 - Paradox - Closing the Chapter

1. Ave Maria Guarani

2. The Awakening

3. River of Pain

4. Tearing Down the World

5. Message to God

6. Long Way Home

7. Time Will Tell

8. Silent Scream

9. It's Over

10. Paradox Bonus Material

Line-up

Kenneth Olsen  #  Drums

Allan Sørensen  #  Drums

Steen Mogensen  #  Bass

André Andersen  #  Keyboards

D.C. Cooper  #  Vocals

Jacob Kjaer  #  Guitars

Guest Musicians

Maria McTurk  #  Vocals (backing)

Lise Hansen  #  Vocals (backing)

Compilation

The First 4 Chapters... and More *1998*

1. Tearing Down the World

2. Last Goodbye

3. 1348

4. On the Run

5. Easy Rider

6. Burning Bridges - Andre Andersen

7. Whisper - D.C Cooper

The Best *1998*

1. Land of Broken Hearts

2. Kingdom Dark

3. Martial Arts

4. Age Gone Wild (acoustic version)

5. Intro/Wasted Time

6. Clown in the Mirror

7. Epilogue

8. Last Goodbye

9. Far Away

10. Stay Down

11. Time

12. River of Pain

13. Message to God

14. It's Over

The Best Live *1998*

1. Intro/Wasted Time

2. Flight

3. Stranded

4. On the Run

5. Far Away

6. Last Goodbye

7. Land of Broken Hearts

8. Step by Step

9. Running Wild

10. River of Pain

11. Tearing Down the World

12. Kingdom Dark

13. Epilogue

Double Live in Japan *1999*

Disc 1

1. Flight

2. 1348

3. Wasted Time

4. Stay Down

5. On the Run

6. Running Wild

7. Epilogue

8. Age Gone Wild

9. Kingdom Dark

Disc 2

1. Ava Maria Guarani

2. Awakening

3. River of Pain

4. Tearing Down the World

5. Message to God

6. Long Way Home

7. Time Will Tell

8. Silent Scream

9. It's Over

On the Mission 2002 *2002*

1. Flight

2. Land of Broken Hearts

3. Martial Arts

4. Clown in the Mirror

5. Epilogue

6. Time

7. Far Away

8. Message to God

9. Cold City Lights

10. Lies

11. World Wide War

12. Surrender

13. Clean Sweep

14. U-turn

Heart of the City (Best of 1992-1999) *2012*

1. Running Wild

2. Kingdom Dark

3. On the Run

4. Clown in the Mirror

5. Making a Mess

6. Time

7. Tearing Down the World

8. Silent Scream

9. Fear

10. Sea of Time

Boxed Set

20th Anniversary: Special Edition *2012*

1. 1992 - 1997 Era

2. 1999 - 2011 Era

3. New Song / Re-recorded / Bonus Tracks

4. DVD

Single

Message to God *1997*

Hard Rain's Coming *2011*

One Minute Left to Live *2013*

The Art of Dying *2020*

The music of Royal Hunt has been described as powerful, majestic, melodic, progressive, impressive and elegant. All of these elements have earned them a strong following around the world with over one million units sold of their previously released studio albums. Their talent to combine just the right amounts of rock music with classical overtones, and strong songs with great showmanship, has merited the respect of fellow musicians and fans alike.

Multi-instrumentalist Andre Andersen and bassist Steen Mogensen formed Royal Hunt in the '90s. Band mastermind Andersen, a classically trained pianist since the age of five, wanted to mesh his two main influences for the new band. Says Andersen, "I was tired of playing with standard rock bands and wanted to expand a merge between classical and rock. I knew I wanted good, dedicated players who I could be friends with, as well as creating a real band, not a project." In the beginning, like most bands, Royal Hunt paid their dues on the club scene as well as a few support gigs for major acts Saga and Talisman. With drummer Kenneth Olsen and vocalist Henrick Brockmann on board, the band started working on their debut album Land of Broken Hearts in '93 independently. At the time, the band didn't have a guitarist in the band, yet one of the players on the album, Jacob Kjaer, fit in very well and joined permanently a year later.

The following album, Clown in The Mirror, was released in '94. After the promotional tour, Brockmann found he disliked traveling and left the band. Several auditions later, Pittsburgh native D.C. Cooper joined the band and they immediately went on their first concert tour in Japan. Soon after, they started working on their third album, releasing Moving Target in '95. The single "Far Away", which was dedicated to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Kobe, hit number one on the Japanese charts and stayed there for four months. During the band's European tour supporting Gotthard, Olsen was hit by a serious bout of pneumonia. Shortly afterwards he was diagnosed with tinnitus (ringing in the ears caused by nerve damage) and could no longer play with the band. They needed a replacement and fast, so Andersen called in drummer Allen Sorensen, a friend from the Danish band Narita. Within 36 hours, the drummer flew to Switzerland, rehearsed and was on stage with the band for their set.

When it came to writing the fourth album, Andersen went in with a concept in mind. Says the keyboardist "I somehow liked the idea of bringing Christ back almost 2000 years later just to conclude that unfortunately nothing has changed, and that his sacrifice was to no avail. People always do what they want and try to convince themselves that it's something God wants." Paradox did exceptionally well worldwide, propelling the band into new levels of success especially in Japan. It was there that they were named Best Performing Band in BURRN! Magazine by the readers' poll, the same magazine where Andersen was named Best Keyboardist for three years in a row. This album was ranked in Europe among the best 100 albums of all time.

In 1998, after over a year on the road, the band decided it was time to take a break. That was except for Andersen who recorded his solo album Changing Skin. But it was that time away from each other that confirmed that it was in their best interest as a band to part with Cooper. Many vocalists began to swap tapes with the band, including John West, who was singing with the band Artension. He recorded his vocals to a demo of "Far Away" and then flew over to Denmark to spend some time with the band, to see if their personalities matched, and tried some other tracks together. In a few weeks time, John West became the band's new frontman and recorded his vocals to the backing tracks that were almost completed by the band during the audition process. West, who had already established himself as a solo artist as well as his work with drummer Cozy Powell, was eager to work with the band. "I knew Royal Hunt was a real band," says the vocalist. "Doing solo stuff is fine, but the relationships with the players are usually distant and brief. Everybody lives in different states or countries and you only see each other for pictures or in the studio. I am looking forward to being out live with the Hunters!" FEAR was the first album for West with Royal Hunt. It was also the first album recorded, mixed and produced in Andersen's new studio, North Point, in Copenhagen. From the progressive grandiose title track to the beautiful power ballad "Follow Me", the album explores many rock styles, yet still retains the Royal Hunt sound that has become so familiar to fans and critics alike. The pounding "Lies" exposes their heavier side and seems the perfect first single to set the tone for the band's current state. The band had finished the 20th century promoting Fear with tour dates into the new millennium.

At the present time, Royal Hunt has finished their new studio masterpiece, THE MISSION. The album is based on a Sci-Fi novel by Ray Bradbury "Martian Chronicles" and takes you beyond your day-to-day earthling little chores.