Dark Empire was a

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in contra ...

progressive death metal Technical death metal (also referred to as tech-death) is a musical subgenre of death metal that began and developed in the early- to mid-1990s, with particular focus on challenging, demanding instrumental skill and complex songwriting. Techni ...

and

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band.

History

Dark Empire was created in the winter of early 2004 by

Verona, New Jersey Verona is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 14,572, an increase of 1,240 (+9.3%) from the 2010 census count of 13,332, which in turn reflected a decl ...

–based guitarist Matt Moliti. In early 2005, the recording of their debut album, ''Distant Tides'', commenced. ''Distant Tides'' was released on April 25, 2006, and received rave reviews from specialized publications."Dark Empire - Distant Tides review"

Metal Storm Metal Storm Limited was a research and development company based in Brisbane, Australia, that specialized in electronically initiated superposed load weapons technology and owned the proprietary rights to the electronic ballistics technolog ...

. 4-4-2006."Dark Empire: Distant Tides"
Sea of Tranquility. 1-21-2007 The album was picked up for its first official label release by Rock Machine Records in Brazil, and was remastered by renowned Finnish engineer Mikka Jussila (

Children of Bodom Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of Alexi Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Sep ...

Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1985. Since their formation, they have released sixteen studio albums, five DVDs and six live albums. In its history, the band has gone through many chaotic lineup changes, and after fo ...

Nightwish Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Neva ...

, etc.). Their second album, ''Humanity Dethroned'', commenced recording in early 2008 and was released on May 5 of that year. Dark Empire disbanded in July 2013.

Music

Dark Empire plays a mix of

progressive metal Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad :Fusion music genres, fusion music genre melding heavy metal music, heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified electric guitar, guitar-driven s ...

and

Band members

Final members * Derrick Schneider – lead vocals (2013) * Matt Moliti – guitars, growls (2004–2013) * Randy Knecht – bass guitar (2008–2013) * Matt Graff – drums (2010–2013) * Christian Colabelli – guitar (2012–2013) * Harris Bergsohn – keyboards, acoustic guitar (2012–2013) Session musicians * Marc Ferreira – bass guitar, backing vocals (live) (2007) * Omar Davila – drums (live) (2008) * Brian Larkin – vocals (live) (2008) Former members * Brian Larkin – lead vocals (2011–2013) * Urban Breed – vocals (a few months in 2010) * Andrew Atwood – guitar (2007–2010) * Jens Carlsson – vocals (2004–2009) * Samus – drums (2006–2008) * Teemu Tahkanen – drums (2004–2006) * Noah Martin – bass guitar (2004–2006)

Discography

Studio albums * ''Distant Tides'' (2006) * ''Humanity Dethroned'' (2008) * ''From Refuge to Ruin'' (2012) Singles * "Northern Sky" (2006)

References

External links

Official Facebook

Official Myspace Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Empire Heavy metal musical groups from New Jersey Musical groups established in 2004 American power metal musical groups American progressive metal musical groups American thrash metal musical groups