Dark Funeral

Biography

1993 was the year it all began, Lord Ahriman and Blackmoon [1993-1996] founded the infernal war machine we now know as Dark Funeral, one of the most intense Black Metal acts ever! In January 1994 the legendary, self-titled and self-financed debut mini album were recorded at Dan Swanös Uni-Sound Studio. It was released upon the un-expecting masses on May 4th the same year. The band quickly established themselves as a band to watch. Since then a lot of things has happened. The line-up has changed, several amazing albums has been released and Dark Funeral has toured no less than 45 different countries with acts as Dimmu Borgir, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Immortal and many more.

The album "Diabolis Interium" was nominated as best metal album at P3 Guld awards and in Oct 2002 the band played Singapore as the first foreign band in ten years (Metallica played there in the early 90s).

Their highly acclaimed live album "De Profundis Clamavi ad te Domine" was released in Europe by Regain Records and licensed to several other countries. On January 20th 2005, Dark Funeral signed a new record deal with Regain Records and in late May the band entered Dug Out Studios together with producer Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, In Flames, Strapping Young Lad, Behemoth a.s.o.) and c/o producer Örjan Örnkloo (Misery Loves CO) to begin the work and recording of their new, long awaited Satanic Symphony. Roughly delayed the band finally completed their recording session on July 15th, 2005. On Aug 8th, the band returned to Dug Out Studios to lay down the final vocal parts and do the final mixing of the album. Finally, on August the 18th, 2005 Dark Funerals new Masterpiece "Attera Totus Sanctus" was completed! It was released on October 24th, 2005. Upon the release the album climbed straight up on the Swedish Metal chart as NR #3.

And the success continues. After touring the world in support of their latest and highly acclaimed “Attera Totus Sanctus” album , they finally released their first ever DVD (2-disc´s)"Attera Orbis Terrarum-part 1 on October 15th". The DVD landed impressively as Nr 5 on the Swedish Music DVD chart. This is the first DVD in a series of two which the band has planned to release from their world touring for Attera Totus Sanctus.

Dark Funeral begin 2008 by announcing a release date for their second DVD set, "Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 2". The 2-disc DVD was released on October 20 through Regain Records. This is the second in a series of two DVDs featuring outstanding, killer material that was recorded during the band's worldwide touring for "Attera Totus Sanctus.". While Part 1 focuses on European shows, part two focuses on South American shows, where the band has a fanatical following.

Besides playing some festivals over Europe in 2009, the band decide to focus on writing material for a new full-length album. In July the band entered the Abyss Studio together with producer Peter Tägtgren to record their long awaited new full-length album, entitled "Angelus Exuro pro Eternus". After four years of silence, Dark Funeral returned big and with their most powerful, technical and varied album to date. And while still being true to their roots, they have taken a great step forward in the evolution of their brand of fine Swedish black metal. “Angelus Exuro pro Eternus” is, from the very beginning to the end, a hell ride you simply don’t want to miss! Once again the band prove that they still without doubt are Sweden’s biggest black metal export of all times. The amazing cover artwork was once again created by Morbid (Daniel Valeriani). While the band are gathered in the studio they decide to shoot a video for one of their new tracks "My Funeral", which was shot in and outside an old and abandoned Mental hospital. It was produced by Standard Film, Umeå, Sweden. After only three days MySpace decide to remove it, while the success on YouTube was a fact.

Lord Ahriman continues to wave the flag of Swedish Black Metal with the Dark Funeral crusade. Where many would have, and do fail, Ahriman and Dark Funeral continue to prevail.

In 2016, a new aeon has begun with the release of DARK FUNERAL's sixth studio album, “Where Shadows Forever Reign”, produced by Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth), which not only visually refers back to the aforementioned first offering due to its stunning artwork by Necrolord (Dissection, Emperor), but also marks a debut of sorts: The first DARK FUNERAL album with new vocalist Heljarmadr. His vitriolic snarl finds a perfect match in Lord Ahriman’s trademark riffing, and shines on the intense opening track, which would not have felt out of place on 1998's “Vobiscum Satanas”, as well as on the slower epic, “As I Ascend”, the diverse “To Carve Another Wound”, or the grim finale “Where Shadows Forever Reign”.

The album was awarded twice, by Swedish P3 Guld & German Metal Hammer Award and in October 2018, Lord Ahriman was awarded with SKAP's Metal Award as a songwriter.

Approaching nearly 30 years since the beginning of their journey now, DARK FUNERAL continue to reach for new heights to bring audiences into its otherworldly & unholy visions on the band’s seventh full-length LP, ‘We Are The Apocalypse’. The new record sees the Satanic vanguards deliver their most aggressive and expansive songs to date. Guided by the fortitude and musical ambition of lead guitarist, songwriter & founding member Lord Ahriman, the new album promises a satisfying number of ‘firsts’ for the band, while still pushing to improve upon the aural marriage of sinister atmosphere and technical ferocity that distinguishes Dark Funeral amongst their peers.