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Darkness: A Thrash Metal Legacy Forged in Essen
Darkness - Wake Up In Rage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMNtY2gdFI
Bio:
The story of Darkness is a wild ride! Hailing from Essen-Altenessen, Germany – right up there with the Bay Area as a thrash metal breeding ground in the 80s – this band's history is a testament to perseverance and pure, unadulterated thrash.
Formed in 1984, Darkness quickly made a name for themselves with killer demos like "Evil Curse," "Titanic War," and "Spawn of the Dark One." These weren't just demos; they were statements. By 1987-1989, they'd unleashed three full-length albums onto the unsuspecting world.
Their debut, "Death Squad,"? A thrash classic. Seriously, a stone-cold classic. It cemented Darkness's cult status—a status they still hold today, influencing thrashers worldwide. It's legendary.
But, as the saying goes, “all good things must end.” The 90s saw things quiet down, tragically culminating in the death of vocalist Olli in 1998. Heartbreaking.
However, like a phoenix from the ashes, Darkness refused to be silenced. Founding members Lacky and Arnd resurrected the thrash beast in 2004, reissuing "Death Squad", "Defenders of Justice" and "Conclusion & Revival" in 2005. They even released a live recording, "Bocholt Live Squad", from a scorching 1987 gig—a testament to their early power. A triple vinyl box set, "The Demos", followed in 2008, packed with live tracks from Keep It True Festival 2006, all their demos, and bonus goodies.
After a brief hiatus under the name “Eure Erben,” Darkness roared back in 2010 with a new album. Demand for their early work continued, leading to 25th-anniversary vinyl reissues of "Death Squad" and "Defenders of Justice."
Now, let's talk about the revolving door of guitarists and bassists. It's been a bit of a merry-go-round, hasn't it? But Lacky and Arnd, the constants, have always kept the flame burning. They've been tirelessly searching for a stable lineup for a proper comeback—a quest worthy of a metal ballad in itself! Meik joined on guitar in 2013, Lee took over vocals in late 2014 (with Arnd switching to guitar and backing vocals), Dirk grabbed the bass in 2015 (taking over from Spessy, who was busy with Kreator – another legendary German metal band!), and Ben replaced Dirk on bass in early 2019. Whew!
Since their triumphant return at Keep It True, and especially since 2014, Darkness has smashed it at major festivals like Turock Open Air, Obscene Extreme, Headbangers Open Air, and Ruhrpott Metal Meeting. Their ferocious live shows are the stuff of legend. They deliver old-school thrash—brutal, fast, uncompromising, and utterly mean.
Then came "The Gasoline Solution" in October 2016—a critically acclaimed successor to their classic albums. Two years later, "First Class Violence" proved that even after 30+ years, Darkness still packs a punch. The EP "Over and Out" followed in 2020. And, finally, in 2024, Dominik took over guitar duties from Maik, and the incredibly well-received "Blood on Canvas" cemented Darkness's status as a German thrash institution.
It’s been an epic journey, full of highs and lows, deaths and resurrections, lineup changes and triumphant comebacks. Darkness is more than a band; they are a legend. And long may they reign.
#Darkness #ThrashMetal #GermanThrash #Essen #OldSchoolThrash #MetalLegends #BloodOnCanvas #Comeback #CultStatus #KeepItTrue #LiveShows #MetalHistory Papy Jeff Metal #PapyJeffMetal #MetalPapyJeff Vlaad Nowajczyk Vlad Nowajczyk
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