[ Logo by Dark Lightning ]
Light in the darkness
Base: Lower Saxony • Germany
Style: Symphonic Metal
Genre: Melodic Metal, Dark Metal, Symphonic Metal
FFO: Xandria, Lunatica, Edenbridge
Type: Full-length
Format: CD + Digital
Label: Independent
Release: Dec. 06, 2024
Bulletpoints:
🔘 The profound debut album of the German band
🔘 Authentic, sincere, individual songs
🔘 Powerful, intense, touching, sung in multiple ways
LINE-UP
Lea Diekmann • Vocals
Alexander Jung • Guitars
Mike Richter • Guitars
Frank Pirnay • Bass
Marvin • Keyboards
Nepo • Drums
DARK LIGHTNING • Online:
► Instagram: www.instagram.com/darklightningband/
► Facebook: www.facebook.com/darklightningband
► YouTube: www.youtube.com/@darklightningband
► Bandcamp: dark-lightning.bandcamp.com/
► Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1rE3C3hLUtkJSqZVAe8yN6
💿 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬:
2023 • Dark Lightning • EP
2023 • Lilith • Single
2024 • The Demons We Create • Full-length
📢
DARK LIGHTNING is available for interviews via phone, Skype, Zoom & email – feel free to get in touch!
📢
DISCOGRAPHY
2023 • Dark Lightning • EP
2023 • Lilith • Single
2024 • The Demons We Create • Full-length
https://youtu.be/Yo-3QWXRayQ
[ „Beautiful Beast“ • Official Lyric Video ]
Singer Lea takes a deeper look at the single „Beautiful Beast“:
„‚Beautiful Beast‘ deals with the attraction of a toxic person. It’s a warning about the person – the ‚beast‘. She is described as gentle and beautiful, with an outward appearance of ‚virgin-like purity‘, so to speak, and a silky voice. But appearances are deceptive, because once you have allowed yourself to be dazzled, there is no escape. The beast will use you ruthlessly and make your life hell. Musically, the song is based on a recurring guitar riff, which is introduced to the listener right at the beginning by a string intro. The track represents the wilder, rougher side of DARK LIGHTNING, but despite its straightforwardness, it is not too simple, especially thanks to the varied middle section.“
Founded in Braunschweig in 2018, DARK LIGHTNING have carved out their own place in the scene with their unique Metal combination of symphonic elements and profound, emotional themes.
The six-piece’s music, which comes straight from the heart, processes personal struggles and experiences and transforms them into atmospherically dense soundscapes that are both powerful and touching.
[ Artwork by Diogo Soares ]
TRACKS
01. Glimpse Of Freedom (01:09)
02. Trapped Forever (04:31)
03. The Unknown Mind (04:33)
04. Into The Night Sky (03:10)
05. Hall Of Tears (05:00)
06. Take Off (04:01)
07. The Lonely Ruler (05:38)
08. Solace In My Solitude (04:48)
09. Born Without A Heart (04:38)
10. Beautiful Beast (04:18)
11. Quest For Light (03:11)
12. The Demons We Create (09:13)
total: 54:10 min.
„The Demons We Create“ is the first major release from DARK LIGHTNING and represents a clear further development of the band’s individual SYMPHONIC METAL sound.
Thematically, the profound work is dedicated to the inner struggle with personal demons and the confrontation with past experiences. The dark and emphatically emotional atmosphere is emphasised by varied vocals, driving guitar riffs and orchestral elements that make this album worth listening to an intense musical journey.
Compared to previous releases, the sincerely self-aware formation has further developed and noticeably refined its specific sound.
While the symphonic influences remain, „The Demons We Create“ features more dark and melodic Metal elements.
The songs have become more aggressive and dynamic overall, with distinctive guitar work and a broad, richly utilised palette of vocal expressions, ranging from clear, emotional passages to powerful growls.
[ Pic by Dark Lightning ]
LINE-UP
Lea Diekmann • Vocals
Alexander Jung • Guitars
Mike Richter • Guitars
Frank Pirnay • Bass
Marvin • Keyboards
Nepo • Drums
Future plans
After the release of „The Demons We Create“, DARK LIGHTNING 2025 will focus on live performances and festivals to bring the new sound to the stage. New singles are also in the pipeline to further advance DARK LIGHTNING’s musical development and strengthen the band’s presence in the Metal scene.
⚡
MEDIA FEEDBACK:
10 / 10
➤ „‚The Demons We Create‘ attracting fans from a multitude of genres … sending a stone cold chill down the spine – the band stomping ahead with an almighty punchy crunch, the harsh vocals adding even more menace to an already menacing march! The intensity of the album since it began has been spot on, not too overpowering and definitely not timid …“
(Metal Gods TV)
77 / 100
➤ „Although Lea occasionally sings in a soprano-like voice, she sings in a relatively deep female voice, which gives the overall mood a gloomy note and creates a beguiling world view.“
(Burrn!)
76 / 100
➤ „… well-constructed compositions in which power, melody and symphony merge wonderfully into good songs … good guitar work and many symphonic sounds that complement or support each other perfectly …“
(Musica BE)
7,5 / 10
➤ „… dramatic poetry … the combination of elegantly structured arrangements and raw passages, paired with the masterful interpretation of singer Lea, is one of the greatest strengths of this fascinating debut work …“
(Rock Hard Italy)
7,3 / 10
➤ „A solid debut album that focuses more on the classic sound of Symphonic Metal and is definitely aimed at fans of the genre at the turn of the century.“
(Melodic Metal Sound)
11 / 15
➤ „… immediately evokes memories of the time when the genre was still original and unspent … back then Theatre Of Tragecy coined the term ‚beauty and the beast‘, to which DARK LIGHTNING also feel committed … always sounds approachable and authentic … the band is focused and increases from song to song …“
(Legacy)
7 / 10
➤ … they no longer focus solely on pure Symphonic Metal, but also increasingly allow dark and melodic Metal elements to shine through, which give the whole thing a push in the right direction …
(Bleeding4Metal)
7 / 10
➤ „… the songs are well played to the point … the final title track at the end of the disc pushes the boundaries and lasts nine minutes. This is where they really let off steam. There are even aggressive growls in between …“
(Crossfire)
➤ „… more than just a work – it is a journey through human emotions and abysses, impressively accompanied by music that moves and resonates in equal measure …“
(BlattTurbo)
➤ „… is sure to impress fans of Symphonic Metal … just grabs the listener and the rhythmic vocal style is sure to keep one intrigued. Fantastic melodies throughout and Lea throws down one hell of a vocal performance …“
(Wanna Hear a Great Song Today?)
➤ „… melodic and compelling, with a female vocalist able and willing to deliver crustal clear melodic singing as well as adding an operatic flair … a band that are well aware of how contrasting elements create tension and a dynamic flair …“
(The Viking In The Wilderness)
➤ „… Symphonic Metal on the heavier side, with clean female vocals and harsher Black/Death Metal vocals mixing with the symphonic strings and classic Metal riffing, making for a rather neat take on the genre.“
(Loud Enough? Magazine)
➤ „… singer Lea does with a prone to the operatic, but not forgetting Metal roughness … essentially they are utterly linked with Old School Heavy Metal the same way Nightwish were in their early days … interesting how Lea’s voice reminds Alanis Morissette’s … well, the combination is a killer. That what makes ‚The Demons We Create‘ so different.“
(Metal Addicts)
➤ „… very dynamic release, where the songs fit together well …“
(Rancor Metalzine)
➤ „… a wide array of Symphonic Metal with crushing riffs and a blend of soaring and harsh vocals across a surprise packed hour of intensity.“
(Frenzy Fire)
➤ „Powerful guitars and keyboards with perfect atmospheric beds set the tone and reveal Lea Diekmann’s masterful vocal artistry … an album that deserves to be heard in its entirety, especially because the work, while not exactly conceptual, tackles profound themes dedicated to the inner struggle with personal demons and confronting past experiences. A wonderful debut!“
(Roadie Metal)
➤ „… powerful Symphonic Metal masterpiece … delivers a fierce blend of dark melodies, crushing riffs, and Lea Diekmann’s breathtaking vocal versatility, transitioning smoothly between clean vocals and guttural growls … if you crave music that hits deep and leaves you wanting more, this one’s for you!“
(CeciOn de Metal)
➤ „Dark, epic, symphonic music with a beautiful, versatile voice … definitely a band to follow and support!“
(Femmes du Metal)
➤ „… exemplifies both mastery and dedication. I was particularly impressed by the carefully structured sequences I appreciated their focus on the symphonic aspects present in each track, which were supported by a robust and skillfully constructed framework … melodic riffs, expressive and strong vocals, along with tight rhythms, truly culminate in a remarkable Symphonic Metal experience …“
(Rock Era)
etc.
