Dark Fortress

Biography

Dark Fortress was a German melodic black metal band formed in 1994 in Landshut. They released seven studio albums, a split album and a demo album. The band broke up in 2023.

Early history

The band formed in 1994. In 1996, they released the demo Rebirth of the Dark Age. In 1997, the original line-up, consisting of founder Asvargr (guitar), vocalist Azathoth, Njord on bass, and drummer Charon, was completed with second guitarist Crom and keyboardist Thamuz. Debuting live in February 1997, the band played with Lunar Aurora, Disaster and Naglfar. Dark Fortress' first label release was the Towards Immortality split MCD with Barad Dür, which featured two new tracks by the band and was released on Fog of the Apocalypse Records. A third track was recorded during the same session and used for the compilation CD From The Mystic Forest – Part II. The band continued composing their first full-length album, but recording was postponed from 1998 until August 2000, when Dark Fortress entered Klangschmiede Studio E with Markus Stock (of Empyrium) and completed the album Tales From Eternal Dusk×Tales From Eternal Dusk1 October 2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Arcanum of the Cursed1:442Pilgrim of the Nightly Spheres4:153Twilight4:414Apocalypse3:405Immortality Profound, Chapter 1: Dreaming...4:176Immortality Profound, Chapter 2: Throne of Sombre Thoughts5:077Immortality Profound, Chapter 3: Captured in Eternity's Eyes4:188Misanthropic Invocation5:509Crimson Tears6:4410Tales From Eternal Dusk8:3511Moments of Mournful Splendour (At the Portal to Infinity)3:02.

Changes

Recorded at Grieghallen Studio in Norway (Mayhem, Emperor, Immortal), Profane Genocidal Creations was delayed due to problems with mixing/mastering. It was released in February 2003 and showcased Dark Fortress' traditional black metal and their progression as musicians. With a stable line-up consisting of Azathoth (vocals), Asvargr (guitar), Santura (guitar), Draug (bass), Paymon (keyboards) and Seraph (drums), more live shows and festival appearances followed. Dark Fortress shared stages with Behemoth, Impaled Nazarene, Pungent Stench, and God Dethroned, and many underground acts.

2000–present

The 2004 release of Stab Wounds (Black Attakk) was accompanied by artwork by Travis Smith (Opeth, Nevermore, Anathema, Death). Stab Wounds was well received by the band's following and the mainstream metal press. The album contained melancholy melodies and suicidal themes. A cover of Katatonia's "Endtime" was included on the limited CD Digipak, and a cover of Emperor's "I Am The Black Wizards" was featured on the double-LP version, released by Imperium Records in 2005.
On 13 May 2007, they fired vocalist Azathoth due to non-musical reasons. His replacement was Morean.
Their next album was Séance×Séance30 January 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Ghastly Indoctrination7:402Catawomb6:413Requiem Grotesque6:514While They Sleep7:095To Harvest the Artefacts of Mockery4:116Poltergeist5:577Revolution:Vanity5:148Incide5:219Shardfigures6:2410Insomnia6:33, accompanied by Smith's artwork. The album is a concept album about the contrast between the present and the future, the fragility of human existence, and the finality of death. Séance departs from typical black metal subjects and dealt with paranormal beings. The music supports this conceptual idea with gloomy guitars, twisted passages, and grim vocals.
On 29 January 2010, Dark Fortress released an official music video for the song "Hirudineans", from their 2010 album Ylem.
After two more albums, the band announced their disbandment on 15 May 2023.