:"For other uses of the words "darkest hour" see Darkest hour (disambiguation)"Infobox musical artist
Name = Darkest Hour
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Origin = Washington, D.C.
Genre =Metalcore [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/darkesthour-undoing.shtml]
Melodic death metal [ [http://www.metalreview.com/3795/Darkest-Hour-Deliver-Us.aspx Metal Reviews - Review of Darkest Hour - Deliver Us ] ] [ [http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/1143/0/ Metal-Rules.com ] ] ]
Years_active = 1995–present
Label = Victory
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.darkesthour.cc www.darkesthour.cc]
Current_members = John Henry
Mike Schleibaum
Paul Burnette
Ryan Parrish
Mike Carrigan
Past_members = Matt Maben
Raul Mayorga
Billups Allen
Fred Ziomek
Mike Garrity
Tommy Gun
Kris Norris
Darkest Hour is a metal band from Washington, D.C.. Their 2007 album, "Deliver Us" debuted at number 110 on the Billboard album charts, with sales of 6,600. [Blabbermouth.net, [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77025 "Smashing Pumpkins, Darkest Hour, Danzig, Beatallica First-Week Sales Revealed"] , Posted July 18, 2007.]
History
Formation (1995−1999)
Darkest Hour formed in 1995 [Kingtuts.co.uk [http://www.kingtuts.co.uk/events.html?cmd=find&artist_id=489 "Darkest Hour biography"] , Posted December 10, 2006.] and initially consisted of vocalist John Henry, guitarist Michael Schleibaum, bassist Raul Mayorga and drummer Matt Maben.
The band released its first EP titled "The Misanthrope" in 1996 on a local label called Death Truck Records. In 1999, Darkest Hour released another EP titled "The Prophecy Fulfilled" on another label called Art Monk Construction.
"The Mark of the Judas" and "So Sedated, So Secure" (2000−2002)
The addition of second guitarist Fred Ziomek, bassist Billups Allen and drummer Ryan Parrish saw the band release their first full-length LP "The Mark of the Judas" in 2000, on the now-defunct M.I.A. Records. "The Mark of the Judas" was not widely promoted or distributed due to M.I.A. Records going out of business not long after the album's release.
Despite the fact Darkest Hour were left without a label, the band garnered enough exposure to catch the attention of Victory Records. Their Victory debut "So Sedated, So Secure" was released on August 7, 2001. After the release of the album, Billups was replaced by Paul Burnette and Ziomek left the band. The album was re-issued by Victory on March 7, 2006, and featured new artwork, re-mixed audio, re-recorded vocals and additional tracks.
The band continued to tour with Schleibaum's longtime friend Mike Garrity, filling in on lead guitar duties. Eventually, they accepted Parrish's old friend, Kris Norris as the new lead guitarist, and then began to write their next record.
While Garrity was the guitarist, the band was arrested and jailed in Roland, Oklahoma for alleged marijuana charges, also for "illegally imported" beer and for an open beer can. They were fined for $6000; Schleibaum was able to pay for himself, Burnette, and Garrity. Ryan and John had to stay for a couple of hours while the rest of the band had to get money to bail them out. [Party Scars & Prison Bars: A Thrashography]
"Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation" and "Undoing Ruin" (2003−2006)
Their second release "Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation" was released on May 20, 2003. Produced by well-renowned Swedish record producer Fredrik Nordström, the album signaled a shift from the band's previous metalcore style to a more melodic death metal style. As a result, the album gained strong mainstream attention, to the point where they were asked to participate at Ozzfest 2004. Notably, the album contained political lyrics, with several songs criticizing American militarism post-September 11. The album was re-issued by Victory on July 13, 2004, with a bonus song and an additional DVD containing bonus material.
Darkest Hour released their fourth full-length LP "Undoing Ruin" on June 28, 2005. The album was produced by Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad) at Greenhouse Studios in Vancouver. The album was the band's first to enter the Billboard 200 charts, debuting at #138 with first week sales of 8,484. [Blabbermouth.net, [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=38915 "SOUNDSCAN REPORT: CKY, MEGADETH, DEVILDRIVER, DARKEST HOUR, THROWDOWN"] , Posted July 6, 2005.]
"Deliver Us" (2007−present)
In early 2007, the band was in Vancouver to work on their next record with Townsend. On March 7, 2007, Victory Records issued a press statement confirming the title of the album was "Deliver Us"; it was released on July 10. [Blabbermouth.net, [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=68376 "DARKEST HOUR: New Album Title, Release Date Announced"] , Posted March 7, 2007.]
In April 2008, Darkest Hour created a Washington Capitals fight song and a MySpace tribute page in support of the Capitals 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs run. The song "1,000 Words to Say but One" was re-recorded with new lyrics and new solos into "Let's Go Caps!" [expressnightout.com, [http://expressnightout.com/content/2008/04/playoff_anthem_darkest_hours_lets_go_cap.php "Playoff Anthem: Darkest Hour's 'Let's Go Caps!"] ] [Washington Capitals "Fight Song" Myspace, ["http://www.myspace.com/letsgocapsmusic"] ]
In the 2005 documentary , Darkest Hour and a number of other bands including Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, Chimaira, Killswitch Engage, Unearth, and God Forbid are all listed under the category "" in the "metal genealogy chart".
In September 2008, it was reported on Blabbermouth.net that Kris Norris had left the band and would be pursuing producing routes and possibly a new band. [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104602 Blabbermouth]
Not long after Kris Norris' departure, they found replacement Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan. With Lonestar officially on board the band is heading back into the studio to write & record with Producer Brian McTernan of Baltimore's Salad Days Studio.
Members
Current
* John Henry – Vocals (1995–present)
* Mike Schleibaum – Guitar (1995–present)
* Paul Burnette – Bass guitar (2001–present)
* Ryan Parrish – Drums (1999–present)
* Mike Carrigan - Guitar (2008-present)
Former
*Matt Maben - Drums (1995–1999, Featured on "The Misanthrope" and "The Prophecy Fulfilled")
*Raul Mayorga - Bass (1995–1999, Featured on "The Misanthrope" and "The Prophecy Fulfilled")
*Billups Allen - Bass (1999–2001, Featured on the untitled split 7", "The Mark of the Judas" and "So Sedated, So Secure")
*Fred Ziomek - Guitar (1999–2001, Featured on the untitled split 7", "The Mark of the Judas", "So Sedated, So Secure" and "Where Heroes Go to Die")
*Mike Garrity - Guitar (2002, Did not appear on any recordings, as he was a temporary replacement between Fred Ziomek and Kris Norris)
*Tommy Gun - Guitar (2001, Filled in for the band between Fred Ziomek and Mike Garrity. He later founded the band Immortal Avenger.)
*Kris Norris – Guitar (2002–2008)
Discography
Major releases
EPs
* "The Misanthrope" (1996), Death Truck Records
* "The Prophecy Fulfilled" (1999), Art Monk Construction
plits
* "A Split Seven Inch" (1999) Split with Groundzero, East Coast Empire
* "Where Heroes Go to Die" (2001) Split with Dawncore, Join the Team Player
* "Split Seven Inch" (2004) Split with Set My Path, April 78
Other
* "Party Scars and Prison Bars: A Thrashography" (DVD, 2005)
* "Untitled DVD sequel" (DVD, TBA)
References
External links
* [http://www.darkesthour.cc Darkest Hour official site]
*
*
* [http://www.myspace.com/krisdh Kris Norris' Official MySpace]
* [http://www.concertbuzz.net/genres/death-metal/darkest-hour.html Concert Review]