Darkestrah

Epic black metal band formed in 1999 with folk influences from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. All the band members now reside in Leipzig, Germany. [u]Line-up:[/u] Merkith - vocals Resurgemus - synths, guitars Cerritus - bass Asbath - drums, percussion The band published their first demo entitled “Pagan Black Act” which was recorded in December 1999. In December 2000, the second demo “Through the Ashes of the Shamanic Flames” was recorded. It was released through German label Curse of KvN Sadistic in 2003. In February 2003, the debut album “Sary Oy” was recorded and released through NCR in 2004. The album gained worldwide response. It contained great melodic parts combined with traditional instruments such as kyl-kyjak, komuz or sygyt. Female Black Metal vocals and throat singing created the atmosphere of a shamanic ritual. The lyrics of three songs on “Sary Oy” are based on ancient Kyrgyz tales about three sisters, the personifications of natural forces. This record has marked DARKESTRAH as one of the most interesting bands within the “Shamanic Pagan Black Metal” genre. In September 2004, the limited MLP “The Way to Paganism” was recorded and released on NCR in 2005. In August 2005 “Embrace of Memory”, the second full-length album, was recorded in Blue House Studio. Its final version was released in October 2005. In January 2007, DARKESTRAH have released the third album, “Epos”. This time they’ve changed to “Kick the Flame Studio” (a studio that belongs to the DISILLUSION guitarist). The album consists of one long magical mid-temped Black Metal composition with some acoustic tunes and atmospheric feel. “Epos” is completely dedicated to the lake Issyk-Kul', which is located in Central Asia. There are dozens of legends, histories, myths and fairy tales about this lake. Every aspect of Epos signifies a spiritual, almost pre-historic journey. The album is rich with pagan themes, but they are not represented in a way that seems to be almost a cliché in Black Metal these days. DARKESTRAH’s approach to expression of pagan feeling is based on the use of subtle yet powerful musical accents. In March 2007, DARKESTRAH have discontinued their collaboration with NCR and one month later have signed a deal with US label Paragon Records. In March 2008, DARKESTRAH have finished the recording session for the new studio album “The Great Silk Road” and the work was released on August 31st 2008 through Paragon Records. In February 2011 the band was signed to the French label Osmose Productions. This is, without doubt, the beginning of a new era for the band. The first work in collaboration with Osmose Productions was an MCD/MLP “Khagan”. This three-track release, dedicated to the great Genghis Khan, saw the light of day on September 24th 2011. In Summer 2012, DARKESTRAH have finished their work on a new long-player entitled “Manas” that is to be released in the late 2012/ early 2013. This album is inspired by Kyrgyz national epic poem “Manas Destanı”. The band published an “Official Live Bootleg” in 2015 and a new studio album entitled “Turan” in 2016.