Darkseed

The German group Darkseed first declared itself in 1991. By that time, they tried themselves in the style of death metal , but gradually the sound changed to more melodic, electronic samples were added, as a result of which the group grew into electro-gothic metal and doom metal . It all started with the fact that two childhood friends, Stefan Hertrich and Harald Winkler, purchased their first musical instruments - a bass guitar and a drums. At first, they replayed Venom and Metallica , with neither the name of the group nor the group itself. Therefore, we can assume that DarkSeed appeared in the summer of 1992, when guitarist Jacek Dvork joined the group.

At that time, Dvork studied guitar playing by Christian Bystron (Christian Bystron, currently playing in Megaherz ), who had his own small studio where the band recorded their first demo. At the same time, the name was invented - borrowed from a computer game.

In 1993, another member was invited to the group - Tarkan Dural for the role of rhythm guitar, and Hertrich began to sing. In this line-up Darkseed gave their first concert in Munich. After recording another demo of Tarkan, who left to live in Turkey, was replaced by Andy Wecker (Andi Wecker), a school friend of Hertrich. In the winter of 1994, Darkseed played for Anathema , after which they received their first contract with Invasion Records .

Things did not go uphill after this: soon, after a series of concerts, contradictions within the group began, with the result that by the spring of 1995 Hertrich was left alone in Darkseed, who continued to compose songs. It all ended in the return of Harald Winkler to the group, and together with Hertrich they recorded the second mini-album “Romantic Tales Part II”, but neither this one nor the others saw the light. In November, Andy Wecker returned, and guitarist Thomas Herrmann (Thomas Herrmann) and bassist Rico Galvano (Rico Galvagno) appeared - Hertrich became a free vocalist.

In May 1996, DarkSeed signed a contract with Serenades Records and hang out in the studio, working on a new album, which will include five new and six old songs, called Midnight Solemnly Dance. This was followed by a proposal from the record company - Nuclear Blast , which opened up tremendous opportunities for the band - Darkseed played at large European concerts with such monsters as Samael , Moonspell , Crematory . But the first serious problems came to success - Harald and Andy left the group (in late August 1998, after a year of illness, Andy Wicker died of cancer). But by the middle of spring Darkseed had found a replacement - Hertrich, Hermann, Galvagno, guitarist Daniel Kirstein and drummer Willy Wurm started the recording of the new album “Spellcraft”.

A year later, after releasing the album, Darkseed embark on one of the most serious tours, with bands like Lacrimosa , Secret Discovery . Summer also passed with the participation in various festivals and concerts. But suddenly, under the new year, the guitarist Kirstein left the band. The group spent half a year searching for a replacement. And finally, Tom Gilcher was accepted into the group. Work began immediately on the new material. The album “Give Me Light” was released only in March of the 99th, but the complete absence of advertising did not let him breathe. This greatly influenced the concert activity. The guys gave only 4 concerts a year, which is why Rico and Willie left the band, for which the concerts were the main thing.

True, Willy Warm later helped to record drums on one of the albums, but Hertrich and Hermann did the main work together. However, they did an excellent job, since by this time the sound of Darkseed had changed a lot. This time the musicians connected the metal and electronics, which they completely succeeded. Due to the strong employment of Darkseed participants in other projects and the perpetual selection of musicians for the performance, it was decided to temporarily suspend activities.

On December 6, 2014, on their Facebook page ^{[1], they} officially announced the termination of the group:

Hi folks, after a long time of silence without any news / messages from us - sorry for that guys ...!

Darkseed songwriting, we started already 2 years ago (during the past few years). It seems that it’s not a problem. He felt like he was breaking his music ... , who knows ...). It’s a funk to play with it, it’s possible to play it. for the support and for everything else. YOU rock !!!! Stay Dark ...

PS: if there could not be any newsmead or bandmembers in the future, make sure to check this site ...

In addition to this group, Stefan Hertrich sings in groups of Betray My Secrets , Spi-ritual , combining metal with elements of ethnic music in his work, and using esoteric themes in his lyrical context. Shiva in Exile is a separate ethnic project of Stefan Hertrich (together with Russian singer Yana Veva, vocalist of Theodor Bastard ).

Initially Darkseed performed a melodic death metal, subsequently adding electronic samples to their music and going in the direction of gothic and doom metal, which is why many critics after the release of the album Spellcraft compared the music of the band with the work of Paradise Lost . ^[2]

Current members

• Michael Schmutzer - vocals
• Thomas Herrmann - guitar
• Thomas Gilcher - guitar
• Michael Behnke - bass
• Maurizio Guolo - drums
• Armin Dörfler - keyboards

Former members

• Harald Winkler (Harald Winkler)
• Stefan Hertrich
• Tarkan Dural (Tarkan Dural)
• Andy Wecker (Andi Wecker)
• Rico Galvano (Rico Galvagno)
• Daniel Kirstein
• Willy Wurm
• Martin Motnik (Martin Motnik)

Albums

• Romantic Tales - 1994

1. Dream Recalled On Waking

2. In Broken Images

3. Above The Edge Of Doom

4. A Charm For Sound Sleeping

• Midnight Solemnly Dance - 1996

1. Watchful Spirit's Care

2. Lysander

3. Love's Heavy Burden

4. The Sealing Day

5. Forgetfulness

6. Like a Silver Bow

7. Chariot Wheels

8. The Bolt of Cupid Fell

9. Night Mislead

10. My Worldly Task Is Done

11. Winter Noon

• Spellcraft - 1997

1. Craft Her Spell

2. Fall Whatever Falls

3. Self Pity Sick

4. You will come

5. That Kills My Heart

6. Be Ever Heard

7. Walk In Me

8. Spirits

9. Nevermight

10. Senca

• Give Me Light - 1999

1. Dancing with the Lion

2. Cold

3. Echoes of Tomorrow

4. Cosmic Shining

5. Journey to the Spirit World

6. Give Me Light

7. Fusion

8. Flying Together

9. Echoes of Tomorrow

10. Spiral of Mystery

11. Desire

12. Untitled

• Diving Into Darkness - 2000

1. Forever Darkness

2. I Deny You

3. Counting Moments

4. Can't Find You

5. Autumn

6. Rain

7. Hopelessness

8. Left Alone

9. Downwards

10. Cold Under Water

11. Many Wills

• Astral Adventures - 2003

1. Dying Land

2. Fly Into the Night

3. Where Will I Go

4. Can't Explain

5. Life

6. Hear Me

7. Souls Unite

8. Rain of Revival

9. Forever Stay

10. Waiting

11. Every Day

12. It Shall End

• Ultimate Darkness - 2005

1. Disbeliever

2. My Burden

3. Ultimate Darkness

4. Biting Cold

5. The Dark One

6. Save Me

7. Speak Silence

8. Next to Nothing

9. Follow Me

10. The Fall

11. Endless Night

12. Sleep Sleep Sweetheart

BONUS

1. Lifetime Alone

2. Walk In Me

3. Kingdom

4. I Turn To You

5. Watchful Spirit's Care

6. Like To A Silver Bow

7. The Bolt of Cupid Fell

8. Give Me Light

9. Spiral of Mystery

10. Hold Me

11. Not Alone

12. Wisdom and Magic

13. Paint It Black

• Poison Awaits - 2010

1. Roads

2. Incinerate

3. Poison Awaits

4. Seeds Of Sorrow

5. All Is Vanity

6. Black Throne

7. A Dual Pact

8. Torn To Shatters

9. No Promise In The Heavens

10. Striving For Fire

11. Timeless Skies

12. King In The Sun

13. The Demon Within (Digipak Bonus)

14. Comptine D Un Autre Ete (Digipak Bonus)

• The official Darkseed page on the Myspace site
• Darkseed (English) on Rate Your Music
• Darkseed (English) on Discogs
• Darkseed Biography on NooMus