Raunchy (band)
Danish metal band formed in 1992.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Raunchy is a Danish metal band that started in 1992. The founding members were Jesper Tilsted, Jesper Kvist, and Morten Toft Hansen, and they began by playing covers of Metallica and Slayer. Lars Vognstrup and Lars Christensen joined in 1994, and the group recorded their first demo the following year at Borsing Recordings in Århus. One track from that demo, "Space Story," later appeared on the compilation *Extremity Rising vol. 1*. After two more demos and two more appearances on that compilation series, Raunchy secured a record deal in 2000 with Drug(s), a sub-label of Mighty Music. They then recorded their debut album, *Velvet Noise*, with producer Jacob Hansen at Aabenraa Studio. Released in Scandinavia in 2001, the album was well received by critics. Shortly after, keyboardist and backing vocalist Jeppe Christensen joined the band.
In 2002, Raunchy became the first Danish band to sign with the major metal label Nuclear Blast, which released *Velvet Noise* across Europe. That year, they played Germany's Summerbreeze festival and recorded a cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and an original song called "Decemberklar" for Danish National Radio, produced by Tue Madsen. Both tracks were very popular. *Velvet Noise* came out in North America in 2003, and the band recorded their second album, *Confusion Bay*, that summer with Jacob Hansen again. In early 2004, singer Lars Vognstrup left and was replaced by Kasper Thomsen. *Confusion Bay* was released in February, and an animated video for the song "Watch Out," directed by Anders Morgenthaler, aired on VIVA+ and MTV2. The band performed a full concert live on Danish National Radio and played at Wacken Open Air in August to 4,000 fans.
Raunchy signed to Lifeforce Records in 2005 and recorded *Death Pop Romance* that summer. They performed at the Danish Metal Awards, which was broadcast live on Danish radio—their third radio appearance. The album came out in early 2006 to good reviews. The band supported Soulfly on all their German tour dates and played the With Full Force festival in Leipzig to 10,000 people. They also toured with Ill Niño and Hatebreed, and joined Hatesphere and Volbeat for the Danish Dynamite Tour across Europe, including a set at the 2008 Roskilde Festival. Their fourth album, *Wasteland Discotheque*, was released in summer 2008 and generally well received. After a short German tour with Volb
- formed
- 1992
- origin
- Denmark
- genre
- Metal
- label
- Mighty Music
- notable_former_label
- Nuclear Blast
- studio_albums
- 7
Lore & Background
Raunchy was founded in 1992 by Jesper Tilsted, Jesper Kvist, and Morten Toft Hansen, initially playing covers of bands such as Metallica and Slayer. Lars Vognstrup and Lars Christensen joined in 1994, and the band recorded their first demo in 1995 at Borsing Recordings in Århus. After two demos, they secured a record deal with Mighty Music's sub label Drug(s) in 2000. Their debut album Velvet Noise was released in 2001 and well received by the press. Keyboardist and supporting vocalist Jeppe Christensen joined after the album's release.
In 2002, Raunchy became the first Danish band to sign with Nuclear Blast, releasing Velvet Noise in Europe. They recorded a cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and a new song "Decemberklar" for Denmark's National radio. After singer Lars Vognstrup left in 2004, Kasper Thomsen joined as lead singer. The band released Confusion Bay in 2004, and an animated video for "Watch Out" received airplay on VIVA+ and MTV2. They performed at Wacken Open Air in front of 4000 fans. In 2005, they signed to Lifeforce Records and released Death Pop Romance in 2006, supporting Soulfly on German tour dates and playing at With Full Force festival in front of 10,000 fans.
In 2013, Kasper Thomsen left the band and was replaced by Mike Semesky. The band released their sixth studio album Vices. Virtues. Visions. in November 2014. After a period of diminished activity, they announced their seventh album Prisoner in June 2026, which was released on 14 August 2026.
Reader's Guide
Raunchy's significance lies in their role as a pioneering Danish metal band that achieved international recognition, becoming the first Danish band to sign with Nuclear Blast. Their music, characterized by a blend of metal with electronic elements, garnered airplay on MTV2 and VIVA+, and they performed at major festivals including Wacken Open Air, With Full Force, Summer Breeze, and Roskilde Festival. The band's longevity, spanning over three decades, and their ability to adapt through lineup changes—including three different lead vocalists—demonstrate their resilience. Their side project Vega Nova, active from 2010, further showcases the members' versatility. Raunchy's legacy includes six studio albums and a seventh released in 2026, with their work continuing to be distributed through Mighty Music.
Did You Know?
- Raunchy was the first Danish band ever to sign with Nuclear Blast.
- Their cover of Wham!'s 'Last Christmas' was recorded for Denmark's National radio.
- The band performed at Wacken Open Air in front of 4000 fans in 2004.
- Their seventh album Prisoner was released on 14 August 2026.
More in Danish heavy metal musical groups 1-22
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