-1993-
Is when it all began when the mighty Lord Ahriman and Blackmoon (David
Parland) founded the war machine we now know as DARK FUNERAL. They are
later joined by Draugen and Themgoroth.
-1994-
The legendary, self-titled and self-financed mini-cd is recorded at
Dan Swanö's Uni-Sound studio in January and is released on May
4th to an unsuspecting world and on that very same day, the band would
have performed their very first gig at Luse Lottes Pub in Oslo NORWAY.
After the recording sessions, Draugen (drums) leaves the band and is
replaced by Equimanthorn. The band signs to No Fashion Records and start
preparing songs for a
full-length album.
-1995-
After a miserable attempt to record The Secrets Of The Black Arts at
Uni-Sound studios (again with Dan Swanö) the band decides to relocate
to Abyss Studio and re-record the entire album. In between the studio
sessions a new song was written and added to the tracklist "When
Angels Forever Die". With engineer Peter Tagtgren (Hypocripsy)
on board, the band finally gets the production they were looking for.
Shortly after, DARK FUNERAL plays their first festival gig, Under The
Black Sun I in Berlin. A few weeks prior to this gig Emperor Magus Caligula
joins the band as vocalist and eventually becomes a permanent member.
The band also shoots their very first video for the track "The
Secrets Of The Black Arts" which is well received and played on
music channels all over the world.
-1996-
January 28th the bands first full-length-album "The Secrets Of
The Black Arts" is released upon the masses and the album is soon
licensed to Metal Blade (North America) and Mystic Production (Poland).
The line-up troubles which first saw vocalist Themgoroth and drummer
Equimanthorn leaving is soon elevated when co-founding member Blackmoon
also leaves. Fortunatly they are more than compensated with the addition
of Alzazmon (drums), Typhos (guitars) and Emperor Magus Caligula (vocals/bass).
With the addition of Caligula (who most of you already knew as Masse
Broberg, the original vocalist of Hypocrisy) DARK FUNERAL is brought
to a new level of aggressivity and intensivity. Together with Necromass
the band does the Satanic War Tour I throughout Europe. Also during
1996, the line-up of Emperor Magus Caligula, Lord Ahriman, Alzazmon
and Blackmoon recorded their unholy version of Bathory's "Call
From The Grave" and "Equimanthorn" for the Bathory tribute,
In Conspiracy With Satan. (These stunning cover tracks also appears
later re-mastered for the re-titled re-release of the bands legendary
debut "In The Sign…".).
-1997-
The second leg of Satanic War Tour follows with Ancient and Bal Sagoth
as support. Also, Dark Funeral plays their very first show in America
at the Expo Of The Extreme festival in Chicago. After totally desecrating
the unsuspecting American audience with their blasphemous stage show
complete with impaled pigs heads on upside down crosses matched with
the unholy members drenched in pigs blood and finishing the set off
with Emperor Magus Caligula's firebreathing. From there the band embarks
on the "The American Satanic Crusade Tour" with Usurper in
support. Originally the tour was supposed to also feature Acheron and
Destroyer 666, but after too many hassles, both bands had to cancel.
In September, the road dogs return to the Abyss studio to record "Vobiscum
Satanas". Ultra-raw and hyper-fast the unholy duo Ahriman/Caligula
have delivered a record that even the last sceptics have to admit that
DARK FUNERAL are spearheading Swedish black metal together with Marduk.
-1998-
The Ineffable Kings Of Darkness Tour with Enthroned and Liar Of Golgotha
takes place with Dominion coming into the band as a session bass player.
The band also does their second major festival appearance at the Swedish
Hultsfreds festival. After the festival, Thyphos is kicked out and Dominion,
(who originally was a guitarist), is taken on as the bands second guitarist
and Caligula reverts back to doing both vocals and bass. Before the
band heads out on the "Bleed For Satan" tour, with Cannibal
Corpse and Infernal Majesty, Alzazmon (drums) leaves and the bands long
time friend Gaahnfaust is being added to the line-up. (He was also in
DARK FUNERAL back in 1996 for a short time.)
-1999-
DARK FUNERAL return overseas for another mini-tour "Black Plague
Across The West" which finds the band invading, then destroying
Mexico for the first time before they head north and lay to waste the
state of California. Afterwards they also embark on their longest and
most successful European tour "The Satanic Inquisition" together
with Dimmu Borgir.
-2000-
With engineer Tommy Tägtgren Dark Funeral record the EP "Teach
The Children To Worship Satan" at the Abyss studio B (featuring
the new song "An Apprentice Of Satan" and cover-versions from
Slayer, Mayhem, Sodom and King Diamond). For the EP, the band also shoots
a live video for "An Apprentice Of Satan". DARK FUNERAL join
Deicide, Immortal and Cannibal Corpse for the No Mercy festivals. After
the departure of Gaahnfaust, Matte Modin (Defleshed) joins the band
as a permanent member and makes his debut at the With Full Force festival.
With him, DARK FUNERAL becomes even faster and tighter. Also the Wacken
Open Air is added to the enormous gig-list. Even a chaotic Canadian/American
tour is coming to a good end. Dominion and Caligula are working on their
logically titled side-project Dominon Caligula, while Lord Ahriman is
getting in touch with members of Acheron, Incantation and The Electric
Hellfire Club to form Wolfen Society. Due to popular demand for the
first EP, Dark Funeral re-releases this landmark release complete with
new artwork, and never before published photos giving the fans a true
taste of the history of the band.
-2001-
In January/February the band once again enter the Abyss Studio to record
their third, long awaited full-length album. The new album "Diabolis
Interium" is the landmark release in the band's history. With the
help of producer Peter Tägtgren and studio technician Lars Szöke,
Dark Funeral have created the MASTERPIECE of their recording careers
thus far, a record which will surely be considered a mile-stone in the
evolution of black metal in the future. Beside the usual highspeed-songs
DARK FUNERAL are also slowing down for "Goddess Of Sodomy",
which resulted in a mighty hymn of darkness. "An Apprentice Of
Satan", already known from the last EP, was reworked for "Diabolis
Interium". Other highlights of the CD are "Armageddon Finally
Comes" and the brutal opener "The Arrival Of Satan's Empire"
(which most would agree that this track is THE crown jewel of the Dark
Funeral catalog). "Diabolis Interium" is an absolute MUST
for every serious metal-collection, not only black metal fanatics!
Armageddon has arrived!!!
Robert Pöpperl/Rock Hard - Germany
LINE-UP:
Lord Ahriman - Guitars
Emperor Magus Caligula - Bass & Vocals
Dominion - Guitars
Matte Modin - Drums
|
Diabolis
Interium (No Fashion)