Takoma Park quintet Darkest Hour has released the music video for their latest track “Societal Bile.”
The band’s upcoming tenth album, ‘Perpetual | Terminal,’ is scheduled for release on Feb. 23 through MNRK Heavy. The video for “Societal Bile” was directed by the band and Chad Fjerstad (Ephemeral Night Terrors).
“This song is for survivors,” says guitarist Mike Schleibaum. “While we all have our own special survival story, this song touches on the bile that immerses us as we navigate this modern life. It’s also an acknowledgment of the personal responsibility we all share to ourselves to reject all that attempts to consume us and fight each day to find our own space to exist in peace with a world at war. It’s dedicated to everyone who’s got that survivor’s disease and won’t ever give up.”
Darkest Hour is set to go on tour in February with I Am, Filth Is Eternal, Mouth For War, and Somnuri (depending on the date of the show). Tickets are available for purchase here.
‘Perpetual | Terminal‘ was produced by Taylor Larson of Bethesda-based MixWave, who also led the sessions for the band’s 2014 self-titled album on Sumerian Records. The new album was funded independently with the help of fan support on Patreon.
“The record’s theme centers around the duality of survival while embracing rebirth,” says Schleibaum. “We keep killing parts of ourselves to make new parts and survive. The story of the record is the story of the band. We’re still here, and we’re giving the world a body of work that’s representative of our music today. We’ve realized relationships, tours, good times, everything that seems to give life meaning, is terminal — and will inevitably end. Nevertheless, we’re 46-year-old dudes who love this music enough to put up with the trials and tribulations of being artists in a touring band.”
Darkest Hour has been active for almost thirty years, fusing death metal, thrash, hardcore punk, and melody to create their distinctive sound. The band originated in 1995 and quickly built a devoted fan base, racking up tens of millions of streams over the years. They have performed at thousands of shows worldwide, except for Antarctica, and have achieved five Top 3 debuts on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart.
In 2017, the album ‘Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora‘ debuted at #1 on the Heatseekers Chart, reached #42 on the Billboard 200, and secured a spot in the Top 10 of the Top Vinyl Albums Chart. It garnered critical acclaim from music publications such as Revolver, EXCLAIM!, MetalSucks, New Noise, Metal Hammer, and PopMatters. Additionally, the album served as the inspiration for the Washington Capitals’ fight song during the 2017-18 hockey season and was reissued by MNRK Heavy last fall.
Tour Dates:
With I Am, Mouth For War, and Somnuri
- 2/29: Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club
- 3/1: Greensboro, NC @ Hanger 1819
- 3/2: Savannah, GA @ Southbound Brewing Co.
- 3/3: Nashville, TN @ Exit In
- 3/5: Miami, FL @ Gramps
- 3/6: Orlando, FL @ Conduit
- 3/8: Dallas, TX @ Trees
- 3/8: Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live
- 3/10: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
- 3/11: Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th St
- 3/13: Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
- 3/14: Los Angeles, CA @ 172
With I Am & Somnuri
- 3/15: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
- 3/16: Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
- 3/18: Portland, OR @ Dante’s Live
I Am, Filth Is Eternal & Somnuri
- 3/19 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
- 3/21 Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
- 3/22 Denver, CO @ The Marquis
- 3/23 Wichita, KS @ Lodge Room – Temple Live
- 3/25 Minneapolis, MN @ The Turf Club
- 3/26 Chicago, IL @ Reggies
- 3/27 Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary
- 3/28 Cleveland, OH @ Asylum Room – Temple Live
- 3/29 Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground
- 3/30 Toronto, ON @ Axis
- 4/1 Ottawa, ON @ The Brass Monkey
- 4/2 Montreal, QC @ Fairmount Theater
- 4/3 Quebec City, QC @ La Source De La Martiniere
- 4/4 Cambridge, MA @ Sonia
- 4/5 Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows
- 4/6 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Photo Courtesy of MNRK Heavy