Insidiöus Törment
Danish heavy metal band with Soviet roots and socialist lyrics.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Insidiöus Törment, often shortened to IT or misspelled as Insidious Torment, is a Danish heavy metal band with origins in the Soviet Union. Unlike most bands that use the heavy metal umlaut as decoration, the band actually pronounces theirs. While heavy metal is sometimes labeled a "proto-fascist" genre, this group is one of the few openly socialist acts, alongside bands like Accept. In the same vein as Accept's "Balls to the Wall," Insidiöus Törment urges the oppressed to revolt in tracks including "Metal Balls," "The Enticer," and "Call to Arms."
The band peaked in the late 1980s, ending with the 1989 Iron Curtain Tour, which featured large stadium shows in Moscow's Gorky Park, Berlin, Moldova, and Bratislava. Their biggest hit was "Great Cocks of Rock and Roll." After the Berlin Wall fell, they tried to break into the rest of Europe, but this failed following a rift with fans. Lead singer Jake "the Scream" became furious at being dismissed as kitsch or a comedy act, stating, "I'm very unhappy for not being taken seriously. Our music is great art, but people of the west think only western music is great. I'll not be clown of capitalism!" The band then withdrew from the public eye for several years.
They made a second attempt at success starting in the late 1990s, calling it "The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal" and using slogans like "Evil – Sexy" and "Heavy or Die." Ukraine's Orange Revolution sparked their comeback there; they played nightly in Kyiv for three straight weeks in support of the protesters. Today, they have a strong following in the former USSR but remain largely unrecognized elsewhere in Europe, where they have only a cult following among liberals, mainly university students.
Encyclopedia Metallum lists them as a Danish heavy metal band, but their Facebook fanclub says they are based in Schwartzdorf, Liechtenstein. More recent activity seems centered on Århus, Denmark, where they headlined a concert in April 2009. In a 2005 interview, they discussed difficulties touring in Denmark and their search for a manager.
Band members include Jake "the Scream" on lead vocals, Eik "Killer" and Rëd Rock on guitar, Sonny von Rostock on sword, Olaf Jan "OJ" Jantzen on bass, and Laszlo "Donkey" Wickitz on drums. Past members are Carlos "The Buff" Lorenzo (drums, guitar, keyboards), Mortor Pates (lead and bass guitar), Gölem (chains, lead guitar, v
- field
- Heavy metal band
- nationality
- Danish (with Soviet roots)
- known_for
- Overtly socialist lyrics; pronounced umlaut; cult status in former USSR
Lore & Background
The band had their biggest success in the late 1980s, culminating in The Iron Curtain Tour in 1989, when they played big stadium concerts in Moscow (Gorky Park), Berlin, Moldova, and Bratislava among other places. Their biggest hit was titled 'Great Cocks of Rock and Roll'. After the fall of the Berlin wall the band sought success in the rest of Europe. This ended in failure after a fallout with the fans, during which lead singer Jake 'the Scream' was infuriated for being taken as kitsch or a comedy band, and was quoted saying 'I'm very unhappy for not being taken seriously. Our music is great art, but people of the west think only western music is great. I'll not be clown of capitalism!' After the fallout, the band withdrew from public for a number of years before making a second bid for success beginning in the late 1990s. The band has called this 'The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal', with mottos such as 'Evil – Sexy' and 'Heavy or Die'.
Reader's Guide
The Orange Revolution of Ukraine sparked the band's come-back in Ukraine, as the band played in Kyiv every night three weeks straight supporting the protesters. Today the band has a strong fan base in the former USSR but are still struggling to achieve recognition in the rest of Europe, where the band have only attained a cult status among liberals – mainly university students. The Encyclopedia Metallum lists them as a Danish heavy metal band. However, in the description of the band's Facebook-based fanclub, they are listed as residing in Schwartzdorf, Liechtenstein. It appears that their more recent exploits have concentrated on the city of Århus, Denmark. In April 2009, they headlined a concert in Århus. In a 2005 interview, they talk about their problems touring in Denmark and their search for a manager. Their discography includes albums such as 'The Seidenburg Takes' (bootleg, published 2012, recorded 2005), 'Heavy Metal' (2009), 'The Rock, The Claw and the Steel' (2006), 'Live at Die Budi Kate' (2003), and 'The Moors of Harshness' (2001, reissued 2004).
Did You Know?
- The heavy metal umlaut in the band name is actually pronounced, not merely decorative.
- The band is one of the few overtly socialist heavy metal bands, alongside Accept.
- Their biggest hit was titled 'Great Cocks of Rock and Roll'.
- After the Orange Revolution of Ukraine, the band played in Kyiv every night for three weeks straight supporting the protesters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Insidiöus Törment?
Insidiöus Törment (commonly abbreviated as IT) is a Danish heavy metal outfit whose members trace their roots back to the Soviet Union. They are best known for pairing aggressive metal instrumentation with explicitly socialist lyrical content.
Why does the band actually pronounce the umlaut in their name?
Unlike most metal acts that treat the "ö" as a purely decorative flourish, Insidiöus Törment vocalizes the umlaut when saying their name. This makes their diacritic a genuine part of pronunciation rather than a stylistic gimmick.
What political stance does Insidiöus Törment take in their music?
The group is one of the very few metal bands to openly champion socialist ideology in their songwriting. Tracks such as "Call to Arms" and "The Enticer" directly urge working-class resistance, positioning them alongside Accept's "Balls to the Wall" as pro-revolt anthems.
What are some of Insidiöus Törment's most recognizable songs?
Fans frequently point to "Metal Balls," "The Enticer," and "Call to Arms" as the band's standout tracks. Each combines the group's signature aggressive sound with their characteristic pro-revolt lyrical themes.
What is Insidiöus Törment's legacy in the metal scene?
The band reached their commercial peak during the late 1980s and have since maintained a devoted cult following, especially within the former Soviet bloc. They remain a niche but respected name among listeners who value politically charged heavy metal.
More in Danish heavy metal musical groups 1-22
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