Swedish melodic death metal pioneers DARK CALM have released the official music video for “Apostate Eyes”the fourth single from their latest album “End-time signals”which is available today (Friday, August 16) via Century Media Records.
Above all, “End-time signals” marks not only the band’s thirteenth studio album, but also their tenth album collaboration with Century Media Records. Building on the success of previous releases such as “Atom” (2016), which reached number 2 on the Swedish album charts, and “Moment” (2020), which gave the band a Swedish Grammis Award, the band will continue to redefine and deliver a first-class musical experience with “End-time signals”.
In March DARK CALM released the visualizer for the first single from the LP, “The Last Imagination”.
“Welcome to the world of DARK CALM once again,” said the band. “It’s been a while since ‘Moment’ and we have been through quite a lot to get to where we are today. But as we can reveal, the first single from the upcoming “End-time signals”The feeling is pride, achievement and also a good dose of relief.”
The band continued: “Back to what we fundamentally consider to be the core of DARK CALMwith a partially new line-up, was a great experience. It gave us the opportunity to re-evaluate and look at what we had built from a new and exciting perspective. The result was a focused and intense writing phase in which we rediscovered aspects of our music and developed certain elements of it further than before. Joakim Strandberg-Nilson has done an excellent job in terms of drumming, with Christian Jansson in a passionate and precise manner. This made the writing and recording process feel challenging, different and inspiring in the best possible way.”
Of the album as a whole, the band said: “Thematically, the album is about where we are going, what has really and fundamentally changed within us, and how we find ways to deal with it. It’s been hard to find that spark of positivity lately, and the whole album is tinged with a sense of sadness. Not just in the sense of sadness for what we’ve lost on a personal level, but also for where our sacrifices have brought us. “The Last Imagination” in particular takes this to its logical conclusion and talks about what we leave behind and how difficult it is for us to realize that our significance may not be what we imagined.
“We’ve worked hard on the breadth of the album and believe this first song gives a hint, if not a complete picture, of what to expect. There’s blistering speed, grueling brutality, and haunting melodies of devastating loss yet to come. With it, we’re fulfilling our promise to ourselves and our ongoing mission.”
“The Last Imagination” stands as a beacon of DARK CALM‘s unparalleled artistry: the band delves into the depths of the human experience, reflecting on the transience of life with a profound lyrical narrative and captivating melodies. This single challenges listeners to confront the finality of their stories that remain unheard and untold.
Accompanying the publication Niklas Sundinformer guitarist and long-time collaborator of the band, has created fascinating visual elements, including the visualizer for “The Last Imagination”.
The video for the LP’s second single, released in May, “Unforgivable”was created while the band was on the road. Shot during the band’s tours in Turkey and Mexico, the clip is a manifesto of DARK CALMs live energy and presence as well as a dedication to their loyal fans around the world.
Stanne said: “Filmed during our recent tours through Turkey and Mexico, ‘Unforgivable’ Clip shows the band in their true element. From the intense drums of Joakim Strandberg-Nilsson to the thunderous bass of Christian Janssonthe song is driven along at a pace not heard from the band in many years. Groovy guitars hold the structure in place, while the electronic elements further emphasize the urgency and desperation of the piece. A fresh surge of creativity and renewed energy has ignited this song, which lyrically draws strength from frustration and helplessness in the face of oppression.”
The release date of the album, August 16, was chosen strategically: It is no coincidence that the release date of the album coincides with the infamous Summer breeze in Dinkelsbühl, Germany and DARK CALM‘s appearance at the festival. As a special celebration of the unveiling of their new album, the band will give a fiery live performance and will be playing until the release of “End-time signals” live on stage.
DARK CALM Is:
Michael Stanne – Singing
Johan Reinholdz – Guitar
Martin Brändström electronics
Christian Jansson – Bass
Joakim Strandberg-Nilsson – Drums
Photo credit: Alessandro di Martino
