"Everybody
was very impressed", Opeth's singer Mikael Åkerfeldt
describes the scenario in his band's tour bus. He just was
presented "Swanlike", the second output of DARK
SUNS from Leipzig, and played the record in the bus. He
continues, "I think this music is very professional,
tight, and dark ... and the sound is great. You are certainly
deserving a record contract".
And
indeed: When "Swanlike" was released back in 2002
- first as a self-production, then via Voice of Life - nobody
could quite believe that this band from Leipzig was founded
as recently as 1997. It is, however, not only the versatile
playing of their instruments that is so convincing, but
first and foremost the power with which they are able to
convey their feelings.
The
following concerts have given a deep insight into their
musical agenda. There is no room for gimmicks or antics
on stage; there is just this hugely expressive music that,
according to reviewers, is akin to My Dying Bride and especially
Opeth. The only thing that counts for the band is a beautiful
song. Alternating between raucous and clear vocals, harsh
Death Metal elements and dreamlike Progressive Rock moments,
"Swanlike" doesn't sit comfortably in any pigeonhole.
No genre tells DARK SUNS where their limits are.
Limits are not what their musical ability is about. Hence,
they turned to a very ambitious concept for their third
album, "Existence". The musical movements are
synchronised to the emotional vibrations of the human being
at the centre of "Existence". Starting off with
hopeful and almost optimistic childhood scenes, despair
increases with age, until - as DARK SUNS' singer and drummer
Niko Knappe said in a recent interview - the protagonist
"perishes from within at the end. We want to express
that on the album. The sound should include the broadest
possible range of emotions - from thoughts of self hurt
to spontaneous outbursts".
The
musical fix stars thus have changed: the fury of Death Metal
has become a thing of the past; the new DARK SUNS are more
akin to bands such as Anathema or Porcupine Tree. In their
own Space Sound Studio they have created a music that is
as diverse and passionate as it is progressive. With an
hypnotic and also carismatic rocking live-performance, DARK
SUNS know to overwhelm in their very special way. They could
convince the audiences over the last years. For example
as support-act for the german shows of KATATONIAS "Viva
Emptiness"-Tour 2003, several festival appearences
(with THE GATHERING, VINTERSORG, BLOODFLOWERZ, THE VISION
BLEAK,...) as well as being guest-musicians of DISILLUSION,
their neighbors and friends in Leipzig at the Summer-Breeze
OA 2004 or on their tour with AMON AMARTH.
As
an highlight of a grown live-continuety, the two parts of
the european tour with swedens progressive-heros (and by
now far away brothers in mind) PAIN OF SALVATION have to
be stated. On this tour, one part in april and the other
one in sptember 2005, the band could play itself right into
the hearts of uncountable new fans.
"Upleveled
from a newcomer of Leipzig to an european secret hint,...DARK
SUNS have to be seen!"
Check
out the band's homepage for more detailed information and
to listen to some samples.
Dark Suns homepage
