Darkseed

Avoiding the conventional paths of standard death metal that have proliferated since Napalm Death released "Scum," Germany's Darkseed instead pursue an atypical compositional style directed toward gothic experimentation. Their initial pair of demos, "Sharing The Grave" (1992) and "Darksome Thoughts" (1993), demonstrated this direction and led Serenades Records to sign the band for the debut full-length "Midnight Solemnly Dance" in 1996. Nuclear Blast quickly followed suit, issuing the second album "Spellcraft" the next year. Underground recognition nevertheless triggered multiple personnel shifts and a twelve-month hiatus. Once the lineup stabilized around Stefan Hertrich (vocals), Willy Wurm (drums), Rico Calvagno (bass), Thomas Herrmann (guitar) and Tom Gilcher (guitar), the third album "Give Me Light" appeared in 1999. "Diving Into Darkness" arrived a year later.