LINE UP : Vocals - Alexandra Pittracher Keyboards - Raphael Leposchitz Guitars - Mathias Nussbaum Bass - Roland Wurzer Drums - Moritz Neuner
Darkwell is a quite new band, formed in early 1999. In any case the past of the members of this uprising goth-metal group is a rich one. Roland Wurzer, who was formerly a member of the band Sarcasm Syndrome, already discovered in 1993 which richness of expression a female voice can develop. On the other hand there are two members who were part of the Evenfall live-line up (Moritz Neuner/Roland Wurzer) which did more than 50 concerts on the extensive Dimmu Borgir European tour March/April/May 1999.
In late 1999 Darkwell signed to the Austrian label Napalm Records and in March 2000 the band recorded in Munich/Germany (Lungfull Studios) their debut CD "Suspiria"! Soon after recording the debut CD but before release the band hit the road with labelmates Tristania and Sins of thy Beloved. The tour lasted for a week and ended with their first festival appearance at the Noise Art Festival in Austria. Even before release of the debut Darkwell was booked for the Wave Gothic Meeting in Germany.
Their first CD "Suspiria" was released in September 2000 on Napalm Records. In opposite to the classic Gothic-Metal stylistics, Darkwell didn't include male grunts, but supports during some passages Alexandra's voice with clear male Vocals.
On 14th of November "Suspiria" was released in the United States by the American divison of Napalm Records.
Further on the band placed a sample of a song on MP3.COM, the largest legal MP3 device on the internet, there Darkwell leaded the Gothic Metal charts for about half a year (before bands like Lacuna Coil or Moonspell) and the overall Metal charts for about 2 weeks (with competitors like Slipknot, ... (nearly all labels place tracks on MP3.com)).
In February 2001 the band hit the road again with Vintersorg and Graveworm. After this two week tour the band started to concentrate on songwriting again and just played a couple of single concerts.
At this point it is my duty to inform you about the recent Line-Up changes:
Let's first focus on the keyboard position: After the tour with Tristania and TSOTB Christian faced serious personal problems, specially financial ones, so his time was limited and there is no further chance for rehearsing and live activities in his time plan. Raphael replaces him permanently....
Secondly the guitar position: Unfortunately also Romans time plan is limited and due to some problems which are partly of personal character, partly connected with his professional education, Roman could no longer take part in Darkwell as he did before. Personally I'm sure that he still has his limitless devotion to his music. We are still very good friends with him and we are looking forward to a point of time, when our musical fates will cross again, until this point we wish him all the luck with his life, private stuff and professional career he deserves. He has been replaced by Mathias...
Source: http://www.darkwell.org/
