Frozen Soul, Darkest Hour, and Denial Of Life

Originally comprised of vocalist John Henry, guitarist Mike Schleibaum, bassist Raul Mayorga, and drummer Matt Maben in 1995, the group's debut release was the 1996 EP “The Misanthrope”. Marked by its creeping tempo, Darkest Hour’s subsequent release, the single “Paths of Despair” found its way on to East Coast Empire Records’ “The Harder They Come” compilation. Following the release of the 1999 EP “The Prophecy Fulfilled” on Art Monk Construction, the band signed with M.I.A. Records, who issued their debut full-length “The Mark of the Judas”. Unfortunately the label went bust shortly after the release, which meant both promotion and distribution for “The Mark of the Judas” was limited.

Despite this, Darkest Hour managed to catch the attention of Victory Records, who issued the group’s sophomore full-length “So Sedated, So Secure” in August 2001. Led by the single “An Epitaph”, after the album’s release Paul Burnette arrived on bass and Scnhleibaum’s friend Mike Garrity assumed lead guitar responsibilities. Adopting a more melodic death metal style, Darkest Hour’s third and fourth LPs “Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation” and “Undoing Ruin”, represented a development in skill and confidence. The latter release was the band’s first to enter the Billboard 200, after which the group appeared on the 2005 metal documentary “Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey”.

The critically-acclaimed “Deliver Us” arrived on Victory in 2007, debuting at No. 110 on the Billboard 200. It was followed by “The Eternal Return” in 2009, which topped the U.S. Heatseekers Chart and was supported by dates on the 2009 Summer Slaughter Tour. Following ten years with Victory Records, the band announced they had signed with E1 who issued Darkest Hour’s seventh studio album “The Human Romance” in 2011. Earning rave reviews from the critical press, the record was followed by their eponymous and most successful to date, in 2014.