View source for Darkest Hour (band)

{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{short description|American metal band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Darkest Hour
| image           = Darkest Hour - Hafen Rock 2017 02.jpg
| caption         = Darkest Hour performing in 2017
| landscape       = yes
| alias           =
| origin          = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Melodic death metal]]|[[metalcore]]}}
| years_active    = 1995–present
| label           = {{hlist|[[Southern Lord Records|Southern Lord]]|[[Sumerian Records|Sumerian]]|[[Entertainment One Music|eOne]]|[[Victory Records|Victory]]}}
| website         = {{url|officialdarkesthour.com}}
| current_members = 
* John Henry
* Mike Schleibaum
* Aaron Deal
* Travis Orbin
* Nico Santora
| past_members    = * Raul Mayorga
* Matt Maben
* Ryan Parrish
* Fred Ziomek
* Billups Allen
* Paul Burnette
* Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan
* [[Kris Norris]]
* Timothy Java
| module            = {{Infobox
| child           = yes
| header1         =
| headerstyle     = background:#b0c4de
| data2           = [[File:Darkest Hour - Logo (2014).svg|250px]]
}}
}}

'''Darkest Hour''' is an American [[melodic death metal]]/[[metalcore]] band from [[Washington, D.C.]], formed in 1995. Though failing to break through early in their tenure, the band has received acclaim for their albums ''[[Undoing Ruin]]'', ''[[Deliver Us (Darkest Hour album)|Deliver Us]]'', and ''[[The Eternal Return (Darkest Hour album)|The Eternal Return]]''. ''Deliver Us'' debuted at number 110 on the ''[[Billboard 200|Billboard]]'' album charts, with sales of 6,600,<ref>Blabbermouth.net, [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77025 "Smashing Pumpkins, Darkest Hour, Danzig, Beatallica First-Week Sales Revealed"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070828051456/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77025 |date=August 28, 2007 }}, Posted July 18, 2007.</ref> and their more recent effort ''The Eternal Return'' garnered them an even higher position in the ''Billboard'' album charts at number 104.<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p366069/charts-awards|pure_url=yes}} "Darkest Hour - Charts & Awards - Billboard Albums"] ''[[AllMusic]]''. Retrieved on December 12, 2008.</ref> Their album ''[[Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora]]'' charted at 42 on the ''Billboard'' 200, a peak for the band, and it marked a stylistic shift in the band's discography.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/300303/darkest-hour/chart|title=Darkest Hour|website=Billboard.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>

==History==
===Formation (1995–1999)===
Darkest Hour played their first show on September 23, 1995,<ref>Kingtuts.co.uk [http://www.kingtuts.co.uk/events.html?cmd=find&artist_id=489 "Darkest Hour biography"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204644/http://www.kingtuts.co.uk/events.html?cmd=find&artist_id=489 |date=March 3, 2016 }}, Posted December 10, 2006.</ref> and initially consisted of vocalist John Henry, guitarist [[Mike Schleibaum]], drummer Matt Maben, and bassist Raul Mayorga.

The band released its first [[Extended play|EP]] titled ''[[The Misanthrope (album)|The Misanthrope]]'' in 1996 on a local label called Death Truck Records. In 1996, Darkest Hour cut a single titled "Paths of Despair" for East Coast Empire Records' ''The Harder They Come'' compilation. The song proceeds at a slower, grueling tempo in comparison to the up-beat tempo the band would come to be known for. In 1999, Darkest Hour released another EP titled ''[[The Prophecy Fulfilled]]'' on another label called Art Monk Construction.

===''The Mark of the Judas'' and ''So Sedated, So Secure'' (2000–2002)===
The addition of lead guitarist Fred Ziomek, bassist Billups Allen and drummer Ryan Parrish saw the band release their first full-length [[LP album|LP]] ''[[The Mark of the Judas]]'' in 2000, on the now-defunct M.I.A. Records.

''The Mark of the Judas'' was not widely promoted or distributed due to M.I.A. Records going out of business not long after the album's release.

Darkest Hour were soon picked up by [[Victory Records]]. Their label debut, ''[[So Sedated, So Secure]]'', was released on August 7, 2001. Billups was then replaced by Paul Burnette and Ziomek left the band. The album was reissued by Victory on March 7, 2006, with new artwork, remixed audio, rerecorded vocals and bonus tracks.

The band continued to tour, with Schleibaum's longtime friend Mike Garrity filling in on lead guitar duties. Eventually, they accepted Parrish's old friend Kris Norris as the new lead guitarist, and then began to write their next record.

While Garrity was the guitarist, the band was arrested and jailed in [[Roland, Oklahoma]] for alleged marijuana charges, also for "illegally imported" beer and for an open beer can. They were fined $6000; Schleibaum was able to pay for himself, Burnette, and Garrity. Parrish and Henry had to stay for a couple of hours while the rest of the band had to get money to bail them out.<ref>Party Scars & Prison Bars: A Thrashography</ref>

===''Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation'' and ''Undoing Ruin'' (2003–2006)===
Their third release ''[[Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation]]'' was released on May 20, 2003. Produced by well-renowned Swedish record producer [[Fredrik Nordström]], the album signaled a shift from the band's previous [[metalcore]] style to a more [[melodic death metal]] style. As a result, the album gained strong mainstream attention, allowing the band to perform at [[Ozzfest]] 2004. Notably, the album contained political lyrics, with several songs criticizing American militarism [[Aftermath of the September 11 attacks|post-September 11]]. The album was re-issued by Victory on July 13, 2004, with a bonus song and an additional DVD containing bonus material.

Darkest Hour released their fourth full-length LP ''[[Undoing Ruin]]'' on June 28, 2005. The album was produced by [[Devin Townsend]] ([[Strapping Young Lad]]) at Greenhouse Studios in [[Vancouver]]. The album was the band's first to enter the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] charts, debuting at No.&nbsp;138 with first week sales of 8,484.<ref>Blabbermouth.net, [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=38915 "SOUNDSCAN REPORT: CKY, MEGADETH, DEVILDRIVER, DARKEST HOUR, THROWDOWN"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606223528/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=38915 |date=June 6, 2011 }}, Posted July 6, 2005.</ref>

In the 2005 documentary ''[[Metal: A Headbanger's Journey]]'', Darkest Hour and a number of other bands including [[Shadows Fall]], [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]], [[Chimaira]], [[Killswitch Engage]], [[Unearth]], and [[God Forbid]] are all listed under the category "[[Metal: A Headbanger's Journey#"Definitive Metal Family Tree"|New Wave of American Metal]]" in the "[[Heavy metal music|metal]] genealogy chart".

===''Deliver Us'' (2007–2008)===
In early 2007, the band was in Vancouver to work on their next record with Townsend. On March 7, 2007, Victory Records issued a [[press statement]] confirming the title of the album was ''[[Deliver Us (Darkest Hour album)|Deliver Us]]''; it was released on July 10.<ref>Blabbermouth.net, [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=68376 "DARKEST HOUR: New Album Title, Release Date Announced"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223513/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=68376 |date=September 27, 2007 }}, Posted March 7, 2007.</ref>

In April 2008, Darkest Hour created a [[Washington Capitals]] fight song and a MySpace tribute page in support of the Capitals 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs run. The song "A Thousand Words to Say but One" was re-recorded with new lyrics and new solos into "Let's Go Caps!"<ref>expressnightout.com,[https://archive.today/20110710212424/http://expressnightout.com/content/2008/04/playoff_anthem_darkest_hours_lets_go_cap.php "Playoff Anthem: Darkest Hour's 'Let's Go Caps!"]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/letsgocapsmusic|title=LETS GO CAPS - Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos|website=Myspace.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2008, it was reported on [[Blabbermouth.net]] that Kris Norris had left the band and would be pursuing producing routes and possibly a new band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104602 |title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - Guitarist KRIS NORRIS Confirms He Has Left DARKEST HOUR |access-date=2008-09-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915190529/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=104602 |archive-date=September 15, 2008 |df=mdy-all }} Blabbermouth</ref> Not long after Norris' departure, they found replacement Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan. With Carrigan officially on board, the band headed back into the studio to write & record with producer [[Brian McTernan]] of Baltimore's Salad Days Studio.

The band's song "Demon(s)" is featured on the music game ''[[Guitar Hero 5]]''.

===''The Eternal Return'' (2009−2010)===
[[File:Darkest Hour Barcelona 2009.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|Darkest Hour live in [[Barcelona]] in 2009. From left to right: Mike Schleibaum, Mike Carrigan and Paul Burnette.]]
In March 2009, Darkest Hour began to record the new album, ''[[The Eternal Return (album)|The Eternal Return]]'', just before co-headlining (along with [[Bleeding Through]]) the ''Thrash and Burn European Tour 2009'' in April and May. ''[[The Eternal Return (album)|The Eternal Return]]'' was released on June 23, 2009, two weeks later than originally announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antimusic.com/news/09/april/15Darkest_Hour_Set_The_Eternal_Return_in_June.shtml|title=Darkest Hour Set The Eternal Return in June - Darkest Hour News|website=Antimusic.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>  Darkest Hour then went on to play the 2009 Summer Slaughter Tour. They supported [[Trivium (band)|Trivium]] for the first leg of the North American into the Mouth of Hell We March Tour.

In February 2010, Darkest Hour announced a new tour with [[Dillinger Escape Plan]], [[Iwrestledabearonce]], and [[Animals as Leaders]].

===Signing to eOne and ''The Human Romance'' (2010–2012)===
In April 2010, Darkest Hour announced their signing to [[Entertainment One Music|eOne Music]] after having been with Victory Records for a decade.<ref>{{cite web| last = Sciarretto| first = Amy| title = Exclusive: Darkest Hour Sign With E1| work=[[Noisecreep]]| publisher=AOL Music| date = April 12, 2010| url = http://www.noisecreep.com/2010/04/12/exclusive-darkest-hour-sign-with-e1/| access-date = April 12, 2010}}</ref> The new album will be produced by [[Soilwork]] guitarist [[Peter Wichers]], who helped pioneer Swedish [[melodic death metal]] and was a major influence on Darkest Hour.<ref name="blab-aug22010">{{cite web |title=Darkest Hour's New Album To Be Produced by Soilwork Guitarist |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |publisher=[[Roadrunner Records]] |date=August 2, 2010 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=143892 |access-date=August 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805061623/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=143892 |archive-date=August 5, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref> In an August press release, the band described the new material as "the most emotional and melodic Darkest Hour album to date" and also said it "shares in that aggression with ''[[The Eternal Return (album)|The Eternal Return]]'' and pushes Darkest Hour beyond the unknown."<ref name="blab-aug22010"/>

In a new Metal Injection interview, Darkest Hour members Mike Schleibaum and Ryan Parrish revealed that the new record would be titled ''[[The Human Romance]]'', and it was officially released on February 22, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/6027/darkest-hour-discuss-their-next-release |title=DARKEST HOUR Discuss Their Next Release |date=November 18, 2010 |access-date=November 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121182139/http://www.metalinjection.net/tv/view/6027/darkest-hour-discuss-their-next-release |archive-date=November 21, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref>

On January 13, 2011, A new song entitled "Savor the Kill" was released onto [[Noisecreep]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/01/13/darkest-hour-savor-the-kill-song-premiere/ |title=Darkest Hour Move Forward on 'Savor the Kill' — Song Premiere |website=Noisecreep.com |access-date=2020-03-18}}</ref>

On December 22, 2011, Darkest Hour announced that they have parted ways with longtime drummer Ryan Parrish. He was replaced by Timothy Java from Dead To Fall.

On June 6, 2012, Darkest Hour announced that bassist Paul Burnette would be amicably leaving the band to join Iron Reagan. Aaron Deal, who had toured with Darkest Hour in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America was also announced as the new bassist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://officialdarkesthour.com/darkest-hour-announces-bassist-paul-burnettes-official-departure-welcomes-new-addition-aaron-deal/ |title=Darkest Hour announces bassist Paul Burnette's official departure. Welcomes new addition, Aaron Deal. » |access-date=2012-06-06 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131083020/http://officialdarkesthour.com/darkest-hour-announces-bassist-paul-burnettes-official-departure-welcomes-new-addition-aaron-deal/ |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Signing to Sumerian Records and self-titled album (2013–2015)===
On February 5, 2013 the band posted on Facebook that they are currently in the pre-production phase for the new record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151458845689415&set=a.75618484414.73803.6831139414&type=1|title=Official Darkest Hour|website=Facebook.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>

On April 16, 2013 the band announced that Travis Orbin, a seasoned touring musician and session drummer, would be joining the band and has been a part of the writing process of the untitled 8th studio album. On June 14, the band announced they had signed with Sumerian Records and implicated that they will be re-releasing ''The Mark of the Judas'' in late 2013, as well as working on a new record.

Darkest Hour released their self-titled eighth studio album on August 5, 2014.

They played numerous special shows in various parts of the world in 2015 where they played Undoing Ruin in its entirety along with other fan favorite tracks, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its release in 2005.

===''Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora'' and ''Perpetual | Terminal'' (2016–present)===
No longer contractually obligated with any record label, in early 2016 Darkest Hour launched an [[IndieGoGo]] [[crowdfunding]] campaign to help pay for their upcoming ninth studio album as well as their first ever full-length live DVD, ''Live at the Black Cat 2015'', which was a special show where they celebrated the tenth anniversary of ''Undoing Ruin''. By March 14, 2016, the band had surpassed their [[United States dollar|US$]]50,000 goal by raising $67,707 from more than 1,200 fans. In their announcement of exceeding their goal, Darkest Hour said they could use the extra money earned to "enhance the artwork, produce a music video (or two), enlist a possible guest musician (or two), hire a world class producer, and lastly help fund enhanced coverage of the making of / behind the scenes action."<ref>{{cite web| last = Neilstein| first = Vince| title = Darkest Hour Successfully Crowdfund Over $67k for Ninth Album| work = [[MetalSucks]]| date = March 14, 2016| url = http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/03/14/darkest-hour-successfully-crowdfund-over-67k-for-ninth-album/| access-date = March 14, 2016}}</ref>

The band recorded their ninth album at GodCity Studio with [[Kurt Ballou]] of [[Converge (band)|Converge]] fame from September–October 2016. Commenting on the choice of producer, Schleibaum said, "We want bring the energetic, raw, emotion we exude live to tape this time. We love to jam and riff all day and we feel Kurt [Ballou]'s unique style of producing will complement this perfectly. Also, it doesn't hurt that we completely respect and trust him as both a friend and musician, meaning we feel this monumental task of bringing another Darkest Hour album to life will rest well in his hands."<ref>{{cite web| title = Darkest Hour to record new album with Kurt Ballou| work = LambGoat| date = May 10, 2016| url = http://lambgoat.com/news/26618/Darkest-Hour-to-record-new-album-with-Kurt-Ballou| access-date = May 10, 2016}}</ref> While in the studio, the band announced they were aiming for a February 2017 release date and would be collaborating with former member Kris Norris on a few tracks. On working with his former band members, Norris commented: "When the guys contacted me about the idea of a collaboration, I was excited because it has been a really long time since I've worked with them all. I've stayed in touch with them over the past years and it's really awesome to see that they keep trying new things on every album and growing musically."<ref>{{cite web| last = Neilstein| first = Vince| title = Darkest Hour Collaborating with Ex-Guitarist Kris Norris on New Album| work = [[MetalSucks]]| date = September 14, 2016| url = http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/09/14/darkest-hour-collaborating-ex-guitarist-kris-norris-new-album/| access-date = September 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Darkest Hour Begins Recording Crowdfunded New Album| work = [[Blabbermouth.net]]| date = September 14, 2016| url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/darkest-hour-begins-recording-crowdfunded-new-album/| access-date = September 15, 2016}}</ref>

Darkest Hour released their ninth studio album titled ''[[Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora]]'' on March 10, 2017. Originally wanting to entirely self-fund and self-release the album, the band partnered with [[Southern Lord Records]]—who released the vinyl edition of their debut ''The Mark of the Judas'' in 2000—to complete the album's production and assist with distribution and marketing. Supporting tours began with a February–March 2017 US Tour with crossover thrash band [[Ringworm (band)|Ringworm]], Finnish grindcore band [[Rotten Sound]], sludge metal band [[Tombs (band)|Tombs]] and Rivers of Nihil.<ref>{{cite web| last = Kennelty| first = Greg| title = Darkest Hour To Release Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora In March, Announce Spring 2017 Dates| work = Metal Injection| date = December 13, 2016| url = http://www.metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/darkest-hour-sign-to-release-godless-prophets-the-migrant-flora-in-march-announce-spring-2017-dates| access-date = December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| author = MS Staff| title = MetalSucks Presents: Darkest Hour, Ringworm, Tombs, Rotten Sound and Rivers of Nihil North American Tour 2017| work = [[MetalSucks]]| date = December 13, 2016| url = http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/12/13/metalsucks-presents-darkest-hour-ringworm-tombs-rotten-sound-and-rivers-of-nihil-north-american-tour-2017/| access-date = December 15, 2016}}</ref>

On July 28, 2020, Darkest Hour announced that Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan had departed from the band and that "the next chapter starts now".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/darkest-hour-parts-ways-with-longtime-guitarist-michael-lonestar-carrigan/|title=DARKEST HOUR Parts Ways With Longtime Guitarist MICHAEL 'LONESTAR' CARRIGAN|date=July 28, 2020|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=October 8, 2020}}</ref>

On September 21, 2021, Darkest Hour announced that Nico Santora (formerly of [[Fallujah (band)|Fallujah]], [[Suicidal Tendencies]], [[The Faceless]] and Lillake) would be touring with them on lead guitar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Guitarist Nico Santora (Fallujah, ex-The Faceless) Joins Darkest Hour |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2021/09/22/guitarist-nico-santora-fallujah-ex-the-faceless-joins-darkest-hour/ |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=MetalSucks |language=en}}</ref>

On November 14, 2023, the band released the title track of their upcoming tenth studio album, ''Perpetual | Terminal'', which was released on February 23, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|author=Greg Kennelty|url=https://metalinjection.net/video/darkest-hour-streams-first-new-single-since-2017-announces-new-album|title=DARKEST HOUR Streams First New Single Since 2017, Announces New Album|publisher=Metal Injection|access-date=November 14, 2023|date=November 14, 2023}}</ref>

==Musical style and influences==
[[File:Darkest Hour (2).jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Darkest Hour in 2012]]
The band's sound has been described as a blend of [[melodic death metal]] and [[metalcore]].<ref name="Noisey 2017">{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/darkest-hour-stick-to-their-guns-on-their-ferocious-new-album/|title=Nosiey 2017|website=Noisey.vice.com|date=March 6, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2020}}</ref>

They have stated that they are heavily influenced by [[Swedish death metal]].<ref name="caughtinthecrossfire.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/music/interviews-2/darkest-hour-interview/|title=Darkest Hour Interview - Interviews - Caught in the Crossfire|website=Caughtinthecrossfire.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref> Guitarist Kris Norris said in an interview, "Well, put it this way – if you took an encyclopedia of metal, you could list just about every Scandinavian band as our influences! It's not really any one particular band; we wouldn't say that we're influenced by, say, [[In Flames]] or [[At The Gates]], it's every band from there."

Other influences include: [[Dark Tranquillity]],<ref name="caughtinthecrossfire.com"/> [[Minor Threat]], [[Earth Crisis]], [[Bad Brains]], [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], [[Van Halen]], [[Government Issue]], [[Scream (band)|Scream]], [[Shadows Fall]], [[Entombed (band)|Entombed]], [[Dismember (band)|Dismember]], [[Sacrilege (band)|Sacrilege]], [[The Crown (band)|The Crown]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[Metallica]], [[Megadeth]], [[Slayer]], [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Dream Theater]], [[Carcass (band)|Carcass]], [[Arch Enemy]],<ref name="metal-rules.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-rules.com/metalnews/2005/08/07/darkest-hour-the-lost-interview/|title=DARKEST HOUR: The Lost Interview|date=August 7, 2005|website=Metal-rules.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref> [[Sick of it All]], [[Dead Kennedys]], [[Soilwork]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apeshit.org/reviews/darkest-hour-hidden-hands-of-a-sadist-nation/|title=DARKEST HOUR – Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation|date=June 16, 2003|website=Apeshit.org|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref> [[Danzig (band)|Danzig]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/darkest-hour/related-artists/?filter=influencedBy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406081622/http://www.mtv.com/artists/darkest-hour/related-artists/?filter=influencedBy|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2015|title=Darkest Hour - News, Music Performances and Show Video Clips - MTV|website=Mtv.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref> [[Venom (band)|Venom]], [[Exodus (American band)|Exodus]], [[Discharge (band)|Discharge]], [[Cro-Mags]], [[Integrity (band)|Integrity]],<ref name="victoryrecords.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.victoryrecords.com/darkesthour|title=Darkest Hour|website=Victory Records|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=September 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906044034/http://www.victoryrecords.com/darkesthour|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Edge of Sanity]], [[Mayhem (band)|Mayhem]], [[Emperor (Norwegian band)|Emperor]], [[Ulver]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamplay.com/teachers/28-kris-norris|title=Kris Norris Guitar Lessons - Darkest Hour, Straight Line Stitch|website=JamPlay.com|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref> [[Testament (band)|Testament]], [[Death Angel]], [[Pantera]], and [[Cannibal Corpse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/darkest-hour-john-henry-mike-schleibaum-discuss-new-album-mayhem-festival/|title=Darkest Hour Members Discuss New Album, Mayhem Fest + More|website=Loudwire.com|date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>

Darkest Hour's main guitar influences are: [[Zakk Wylde]], [[Dimebag Darrell]], [[James Hetfield]], [[Dave Mustaine]], and [[Scott Ian]].<ref name="metal-rules.com"/>

==Band members==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Current
* John Henry – vocals <small>(1995–present)</small>
* Mike Schleibaum – guitar <small>(1995–present)</small>
* Aaron Deal – bass <small>(2011–present)</small>
* Travis Orbin – drums <small>(2012–present)</small>
* Nico Santora – guitar <small>(2021–present)</small>

{{col-2}}
;Former
* Raul Mayorga – bass <small>(1995–1998)</small>
* Matt Maben – drums <small>(1995–1999)</small>
* Billups Allen – bass <small>(1999–2001)</small>
* Fred Ziomek – guitar <small>(1999–2002)</small>
* [[Kris Norris]] – guitar <small>(2002–2008)</small>
* Ryan Parrish – drums <small>(1999–2011)</small>
* Paul Burnette – bass <small>(2001–2011)</small>
* Mike "Lonestar" Carrigan – guitar <small>(2008–2020)</small>
* Timothy Java – drums <small>(2011–2012)</small>
{{col-end}}

===Timeline===
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  id:Guitar   value:green       legend:Guitar
  id:Bass    value:blue        legend:Bass
  id:Drums   value:orange      legend:Drums
  id:Album   value:black       legend:Studio_album
  id:Other   value:gray(0.6)   legend:Other_release

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  at:01/01/1996 color:other layer:back
  at:01/07/1996 color:other layer:back
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  at:20/05/1999 color:other layer:back
  at:01/01/2002 color:other layer:back
  at:01/01/2004 color:other layer:back
  at:22/02/2005 color:other layer:back
  at:03/10/2006 color:other layer:back
  at:18/07/2000 color:black layer:back
  at:01/04/2001 color:black layer:back
  at:20/05/2003 color:black layer:back
  at:28/06/2005 color:black layer:back
  at:10/07/2007 color:black layer:back
  at:23/06/2009 color:black layer:back
  at:22/02/2011 color:black layer:back
  at:05/08/2014 color:black layer:back
  at:17/02/2017 color:black layer:back
  at:23/02/2024 color:black layer:back

BarData =
 bar:Henry text:"John Henry"
 bar:Schleibaum text:"Mike Schleibaum"
 bar:Ziomek text:"Fred Ziomek"
 bar:Norris text:"Kris Norris"
 bar:Lonestar text:"Mike Carrigan"
 bar:Santora text:"Nico Santora"
 bar:Mayorga text:"Raul Mayorga"
 bar:Allens text:"Billups Allen"
 bar:Burnette text:"Paul Burnette"
 bar:Deal text:"Aaron Deal"
 bar:Maben text:"Matt Maben"
 bar:Parrish text:"Ryan Parrish"
 bar:Java text:"Timothy Java"
 bar:Orbin text:"Travis Orbin"

PlotData=
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
  bar:Henry      from: 01/01/1995 till: end        color:Vocals
  bar:Ziomek     from: 01/07/1999 till: 30/06/2002 color:Guitar
  bar:Norris     from: 01/07/2002 till: 15/09/2008 color:Guitar
  bar:Lonestar   from: 15/09/2008 till: 28/07/2020 color:Guitar
  bar:Santora    from: 21/09/2021 till: end        color:Guitar 
  bar:Schleibaum from: 01/01/1995 till:end        color:Guitar
  bar:Mayorga    from: 01/01/1995 till: 31/12/1998 color:Bass
  bar:Allens     from: 01/01/1999 till: 30/11/2001 color:Bass
  bar:Burnette   from: 01/12/2001 till: 30/11/2011 color:Bass
  bar:Deal       from: 01/12/2011 till: end        color:Bass
  bar:Maben      from: 01/01/1995 till: 30/06/1999 color:Drums
  bar:Parrish    from: 01/07/1999 till: 30/09/2011 color:Drums
  bar:Java       from: 01/10/2011 till: 16/04/2013 color:Drums
  bar:Orbin      from: 16/04/2013 till: end        color:Drums
}}

==Discography==
;Studio albums
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
|-
! style="width:3em;font-size:75%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref name="US">Peak chart positions for Darkest Hour in the United States:
* {{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=darkest hour|chart=Billboard 200}}|title=Darkest Hour Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=March 2, 2011}}
* {{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=darkest hour|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}|title=Darkest Hour Album & Song Chart History: Heatseekers Albums|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=March 2, 2011}}
* {{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=darkest hour|chart=Independent Albums}}|title=Darkest Hour Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|access-date=March 2, 2011}}</ref>
! style="width:3em;font-size:75%;"| [[Top Heatseekers|US<br />Heat.]]<br /><ref name="US" />
! style="width:3em;font-size:75%;"| [[Independent Albums|US<br />Ind.]]<br /><ref name="US" />
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2000
| ''[[The Mark of the Judas]]''
* Released: July 18, 2000
* Label: MIA
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2001
| ''[[So Sedated, So Secure]]''
* Released: April, 2001
* Label: [[Victory Records|Victory]]
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2003
| ''[[Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation]]''
* Released: May 20, 2003
* Label: Victory
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2005
| ''[[Undoing Ruin]]''
* Released: June 28, 2005
* Label: Victory
| style="text-align:center;"| 138
| style="text-align:center;"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2007
| ''[[Deliver Us (Darkest Hour album)|Deliver Us]]''
* Released: July 10, 2007
* Label: Victory
| style="text-align:center;"| 110
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 14
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2009
| ''[[The Eternal Return (album)|The Eternal Return]]''
* Released: June 23, 2009
* Label: Victory
| style="text-align:center;"| 104
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2011
| ''[[The Human Romance]]''
* Released: February 22, 2011
* Label: [[Entertainment One Music|eOne]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 185
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 23
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| ''[[Darkest Hour (album)|Darkest Hour]]''
* Released: August 5, 2014
* Label: [[Sumerian Records|Sumerian]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 102
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 11<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/search/albums/darkest+hour|title=Album Search for "darkest hour"|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 24, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2017
| ''[[Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora]]''
* Released: March 10, 2017
* Label: [[Southern Lord Records|Southern Lord]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 42
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 2024
| ''Perpetual Terminal''
* Released: February 23, 2024
* Label: MNRK Heavy
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|}

;Compilations
* ''[[Archives (Darkest Hour album)|Archives]]'' (2006), [[A-F Records]]

;EPs
* ''[[The Misanthrope (album)|The Misanthrope]]'' (1996), Death Truck Records
* ''[[The Prophecy Fulfilled]]'' (1999), Art Monk Construction

;Splits
* w/ Groundzero (1999), East Coast Empire
* ''Where Heroes Go to Die'' w/ Dawncore (2001), Join the Team Player
* w/ Set My Path (2004), April 78

;DVDs
* ''Party Scars and Prison Bars: A Thrashography'' (DVD, 2005)
* ''Party Scars and Prison Bars Two and a Half: Live - Undoing Ruin'' (DVD, 2017)

===Non-album tracks===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Song
! Appears on
|-
| 2007
| "[[Nazi Punks Fuck Off]]" <small>([[Dead Kennedys]] cover)</small>
| ''Higher Voltage!: Another Brief History of Rock''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=8251|title=melodic.net: New Cool Kerrang! Compilation|date=November 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119053930/http://melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=8251|access-date=October 8, 2020|archive-date=November 19, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| "[[Spectrum]]" <small>([[Florence + The Machine]] cover)</small>
| ''Sumerian Ceremonials (Florence + The Sphinx)''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sumerianrecords.com/news/detail/id:4772|title=SUMERIAN CEREMONIALS (Florence + The Sphinx) - Sumerian Records|website=Sumerianrecords.com|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124135809/http://sumerianrecords.com/news/detail/id:4772|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

==Music videos==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Song
! Director
|-
||2003
| "The Sadist Nation"
| 
|-
||2004
| "Oklahoma"
| 
|-
| rowspan="2"|2005
| "Convalescence"
| Dale Resteghini
|-
| "Sound The Surrender"
|rowspan="2"| Joseph Pattisall
|-
| rowspan="2"|2007
| "Demon(s)"
|-
| "The Sadist Nation (Hidden Hands DVD Alternate Version)"
| 
|-
||2009
| "The Tides" (unreleased)
| 
|-
| rowspan="3"|2011
| "Love As A Weapon"
| Scott Hansen
|-
| "Your Everyday Disaster"
| John Ryan Flaherty
|-
| "Savor The Kill"
| Ramon Boutviseth
|-
||2012
| "Severed Into Separates"
| Mihaszna Film
|-
| rowspan="4"|2014
| "Rapture In Exile"
| Taylor Larson
|-
| "Rapture In Exile (Rehearsal Video)"
| 
|-
| "The Misery We Make"
| Taylor Larson
|-
| "By The Starlight"
| Mareesa Stertz
|-
| 2018
| "Enter Oblivion"
| John Henry<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdqOoHwht_E  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/IdqOoHwht_E |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Darkest Hour - Enter Oblivion (Official Music Video) |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=2018-02-01 |access-date=2020-03-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{allmusic}}
*{{discogs artist}}

{{Darkest Hour}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darkest Hour}}
[[Category:1995 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:A-F Records artists]]
[[Category:American melodic death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:American musical quintets]]
[[Category:Metalcore musical groups from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Metalcore musical groups from Virginia]]
[[Category:MNRK Music Group artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1995]]
[[Category:Victory Records artists]]