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DARKEND is the band fronted by Animae (previously guest vocalist for GAAHL’S WYRD on various European festivals & venues).
After a rather ordinary start based on the likes of orchestral extreme metal, DARKEND developed a quite peculiar artistic style blending black metal patterns, ritual ambience, dark classic metal riffs and solos in the vein of Mercyful Fate/Angel Witch and a ritualistic, hypnotic vibe explicitly created in order to generate a deep sonic & Spiritual transcendence.
Having toured Europe thrice alongside CRADLE OF FILTH, ROTTING CHRIST, SAMAEL, GOD SEED, MELECHESH & KEEP OF KALESSIN, the band had the privilege to collaborate with some of the most renowned artists of the scene: while Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Niklas Kvarforth (SHINING) & Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) offered their voices for “The Canticle Of Shadows” (2016, Non Serviam Records), the profound friendship between Gaahl & Animae bloomed a breathtaking collaboration with WARDRUNA’s Lindy-Fay Hella immortalized on the album “Spiritual Resonance” (2019, Dark Essence Records).
With some intense live rituals under their belt (culminated with an exhibition at the iconic Norwegian MIDGARDSBLOT FEST 2022 alongside WARDRUNA, HELIUNG & ROTTING CHRIST), DARKEND are now looking for a label willing to properly support the latest record “Viaticum”, a further evolutionary step in the band artistic journey featuring new influences spanning from DEAD CAN DANCE (“In Your Multitude”) to AARVO PART (“In My Multitude”).
PRESS FEEDBACK CONCERNING “SPIRITUAL RESONANCE” (2019)
“…has less to do with the symphonic elements of Spiritual Resonance and more to do with the tasteful lead work of guitarists Ashes and Nothingness. They provide the strongest melodies on standout tracks like ‘Scorpio Astraea High Coronation’ and ‘Hereafter, Somewhere’…”
7/10 – DECIBEL MAGAZINE
“Abysses emitting sulphurous exhalations deafened by occult sorceries evoking spirits hidden in the mists of night. Theatricality and ceremonial vibrations, with a magnified resonance from distant but fearfully close echoes, ethereal but thunderous, tenebrous and with a wave amplitude that escapes to any human, terrestrial or divine dimension”
9,5/10 – METALHEAD.IT
“Between melancholy and ferocity, between light and darkness”
90/100 – LOUD AND PROUD ITALY
“These skilled dudes certainly know how to implement and use chants, screams, and spoken words to great effect. The peaks of the album are quite powerful and the its epic proportions as well as its balance between emotion and craftsmanship is truly admirable.”
5/6 – ETERNAL TERROR LIVE
“Not only does the singer’s scary presence enthuse the listening experience but the rest of the sextet prove equally formidable musicians making this an overall frightening and dark listening experience akin to a very nasty Italian horror film.”
8,5/10 AVE NOCTUM
“And the great thing is DARKEND does indeed tell the stories, and not just with their lyrics, but with the music itself. Each song is carefully arranged to match the music with the mood, which in turn progresses the storyline.”
8/10 – METAL TEMPLE
PRESS FEEDBACK CONCERNING “THE CANTICLE OF SHADOWS” (2016)
“A fantastically written, masterfully performed and overall just an amazingly executed foray into musical grandeur” “An outstanding album, well written and crafted, easily comparable to the greatest milestones of Black Metal: a gem, an obscure work of art admirably chiseled”
9/10 – METALPIT
“Forget all the cliches of Black Metal, forget scandinavian bands, Darkend manage to combine intensity, darkness and extreme music with a very unique way”
90/100 – RECKONING HOUR
“The surprise of the year!”
8/10 – METAL NORGE
“You have to go back to 1994, when Emperor’s ‘In The Nightside Eclipse’ came out, to experience something so deep and emotional, concerning Black Metal”
9/10 – IYE ZINE
“This is the dawn of a new era, the beginning of a ritual poured into music. It’s an intense energy without boundaries, cruel and real. This is a shocking artistic evolution”
10/10 – METALHEAD.IT
“Each track has it’s own unique signatures, not easy in the Black Metal world, and the album thrives by allowing those varied influences, such as monastic chants, ethereal soundscapes and ritualistic passages, to shine when the occasion calls. ‘The Canticle of Shadows’ may well go down as one of the best Black Metal release of the year.”
9/10 – MAXIMUM VOLUME MUSIC
“Simply fantastic! The best Black Metal album of 2016 so far!”
10/10 – TOTENTANZ