Detonation (band)

History

Detonation started out in 1997 as Infernal Dream, with Koen Romeijn handling vocals and guitar, Mike Ferguson on guitar, and Thomas Kalksma on drums. Bassist Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije joined in August 1998. That same year, the group switched to the name Detonation and went into a studio for the first time to cut two tracks for the Crushed Skull Compilation Volume 1 CD. Their first live show happened a month later, and the compilation came out in January 1999 on Skull Crusher Records. In October 1999, they recorded a four-song MCD called Lost Euphoria, released in January 2000 on the same label. After that, Detonation supported the Dutch metal act Orphanage for ten shows. In March 2001, they recorded three new songs for a promo CD aimed at labels and venues. Following a string of gigs, including their first show outside the Netherlands at the Czech Republic's Open Hell Fest, they made their debut album An Epic Defiance. It was cut in two weeks at Studio Excess, featured twelve songs, and had artwork by Dark Tranquillity's Niklas Sundin. The band self-released the album on 19 October 2002 and sent it to labels. French label Osmose Productions picked it up, signing Detonation to a three-album deal and re-releasing An Epic Defiance worldwide on CD and limited LP on 19 June 2003. In July 2003, they completed their first foreign tour with three shows in England. After more Dutch promotion, they returned to the UK for a ten-day tour. In February 2004, they joined a thirteen-day European tour supporting Dimension Zero alongside Immemorial. When Thomas injured his arm in August 2004, Fedor Tieleman from M-90's stepped in as a session drummer.