"DARK AGE reflect the signs of the time perfectly and play perhaps the most modern Metal that you can find here in Germany right now”.
Matthias Mineur – METAL HAMMER (March 2008)

Dark Age is a German melodic death metal band from Hamburg formed in 1994 by Eike Freese (guitar, vocals), and André Schumann (drums), originally entitled Dyer's Eve, but (in 1995) re-entitled Dark Age after a Vader song title of the same name. The band recorded its first demo ("Doubtful Existence") in the Autumn of that year, but it was not until the Summer of 1998 - several line up changes having finally resulted in the current core line up coming together - that the band had its first album "The Fall" on the shelf (through Remedy Records) and could work its way into the touring market both at home and throughout Europe.
In 2000, the album "Insurrection" followed and the band played at the Wacken Open Air. This was followed in 2002 by the album "The Silent Republic" recorded at Stage One Studios, but as the band has progressed, it's always been looking for more freedom, and it was in 2003 when Freese founded his own studio (Eikey Studios) that the band really came of age, again playing Wacken to some 5,000 fans.
2003 was a pivotal year in fact. The band released their original demo songs in a re-recorded form on the collection EP "Remonstrations" but most people see this as Freese merely testing the new studio because 2004's "Dark Age" release and a further change in the bass player dept. with the arrival of Alex Frank would see the band mature once again and open the doors to the album that until now at least, defines the band, 2008's "Minus Exitus" where the production of Freese became almost as important as the material itself.

Dark Age was at that point one of the most independent bands in the harder sector of metal. The band hadn't needed to "get noticed" with the help of any 'manufactured' image but had gained their reputation through having a closeness with their fans that was almost unique, but "Minus Exitus" was something special and with perfect balance of catchy melody, hard prowess and intriguingly devious modern, electronic elements, seized the limelight being awarded Soundcheck Winner Of The Month in the March edition of the German Metal Hammer which immediately pushed the band up the ratings and on to the radar of new worldwide partners AFM who signed the band immediately and began planning for the album “Acedia” which is now due for release on November 13th.

"Acedia" – which roughly translates as “lethargy of mind” is a title that fits today’s society like no other and could not sum up the lyrical threads of singer Eike better. The opener “Kingdom Nevercome” deals with hunting for your dreams but never reaching them and, in the end, breaking down, but mixed with the almost danceable, industrial fest of "Zeitgeist (Ghost In A Machine)", this album captures a band at its most complex and whether this is because all the members have contributed actively and all have worked on the material in the same environment, it's definitely testimony to the fact that this band, whilst keeping its traditional trademarks of unmistakable guitar melody and catchy refrains, is never afraid to complement that with new, fresh elements such as the collaboration with Gamma Ray's own Kai Hansen (who provides the extra vocal line for the bonus Digipak track "Vampyrez") or the same electronic and unusual ideas that accompanied their last album, facets that Eike had brought not only to Dark Age, but also as producer to bands such as Nuclear Blast recording artists Callejon, a factor that has greatly increased his standing on the world stage.

Production was once more carried out by Eike at Eikey Studios and the album’s artwork, that completes the harmonious picture of the album perfectly, is once again made by Niklas Sundin (Cabin Fever Media/Dark Tranquility).

Tracklist

01.     Kingdom Nevercome
02.     Devote Your Self To Nothing
03.     Neon Gardens
04.     Snake Of June
05.     Zeitgeist (Ghost In A Machine)
06.     10 Steps To Nausea
07.     Halo Meridian
08.     Underneath These Burdens
09.     All The Unfullfilled
10.     Babylon Riots
11.     Myself Heretic

Bonus Ltd. Ed. Digipak
12. Vampyrez (feat. Kai Hansen)

Line Up:
•    Eike Freese - vocals, guitars
•    Jörn Schubert - guitars
•    Alex Frank - bass
•    Martin Reichert - keys
•    André Schumann - drums




Edited by Nightrocker - 26 Octobre 2009 at 23:46