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{{Short description|Swedish metal band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Darkane
| image           = Darkane-halos1.jpg
| landscape=yes
| caption         =
| years_active    = 1998–present
| origin          = [[Helsingborg]], Sweden
| genre           = [[Melodic death metal]], {{nowrap|[[thrash metal]]}}
| label           = [[Nuclear Blast]]
| current_members =
| past_members    =
| website         = {{URL|darkane.com}}
}}

'''Darkane''' is a Swedish [[thrash metal]]/[[melodic death metal]] band that originated in [[Helsingborg]] in 1998.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=9 |title=Encyclopaedia Metallium – Darkane |publisher=Metal-archives.com |access-date=31 October 2011}}</ref> Their music contains acoustic interludes and symphonic features, such as the in-studio use of synthesizers and occasionally full orchestras and choir singing. The name "Darkane" is a [[portmanteau]] of the words "dark" and "arcane".

== History ==

=== Formation and ''Rusted Angel'' (1998–2000) ===
Darkane was formed by former Agretator guitarist [[Christofer Malmström]] and drummer [[Peter Wildoer]], who recorded a 2-song demo in 1998. On the strength of these two songs, Darkane landed a record deal with War Music, and the band's lineup was completed by bassist Jörgen Löfberg, guitarist Klas Ideberg, and vocalist [[Björn Strid|Bjorn "Speed" Strid]]. However, as vocalist of the already-established [[Soilwork]], Speed was unable to continue dividing his time, and decided to leave Darkane. After a period of several months without a vocalist, he was replaced by vocalist Lawrence Mackrory, who was recommended by the band's producer, [[Daniel Bergstrand]].

Mackrory recorded all vocals on the debut album, ''[[Rusted Angel]]'', and performed several live dates with the band later that year. However, due to other commitments, Mackrory was unable to tour with the band in early 1999, and was replaced by Andreas Sydow, who had been a member of a cover band with Malmström years earlier.

=== ''Insanity'' and ''Expanding Senses'' (2001–2003) ===
After playing many festivals and shows for the next several months, the band signed a new record deal with [[Nuclear Blast]], and returned to the studio to record their second album. These recording sessions would prove challenging, as electrical storms, floods, and equipment malfunctions caused significant issues during the production of the album, which was named ''[[Insanity (album)|Insanity]]'' as a result.

After more European touring and their first North American show in 2001, the band began work on their third album, ''[[Expanding Senses]]'', which was released in 2002.

=== ''Layers of Lies'' (2004–2007) ===
Darkane toured extensively following the release of ''[[Expanding Senses]]'', and by early 2004 had almost an entire album's worth of songs written. However, at that time, drummer Peter Wildoer suffered a wrist injury, and began experiencing severe wrist pain. The band went on hiatus to allow Wildoer to recover. During this hiatus, guitarist Christofer Malmström released a solo album (Non Human Level) which was a compilation of unreleased songs he had written from 1998 to 2004. Guitarist Klas Ideberg spent time working with his side project [[Terror 2000]].

By late 2004, Wildoer's injury had healed, and the band reconvened to record their fourth album, ''[[Layers of Lies]]'', released in May 2005. After more extensive touring, the band started putting together the live compilation DVD ''[[Layers of Live]]'', however, this effort would take several years, not being released until 2010. On 13 August 2007, vocalist Andreas Sydow decided to end his tenure with Darkane. This led to the arrival of former Construcdead and The Defaced vocalist, Jens Broman on 25 October 2007.

=== ''Demonic Art'' and switching singers (2008–2011) ===
On 6 October 2007 it was announced that Darkane was writing new material for their fifth studio album ''[[Demonic Art]]'', which was later released on 24 October 2008. Peter Wildoer posted this message on his website: <blockquote>''"This coming winter we will start recording Darkane's fifth record. We have about nine songs ready. We were hoping to enter the studio earlier but in typical Darkane bad luck, our studio got flooded and badly damaged. So now we're looking for a new location for the studio and as soon as we find that we need to rebuild the studio which takes a lot of time. Hopefully we will start recording around Christmas (fingers crossed). In some weeks, we'll start working on the mix of the upcoming Darkane DVD. I just hope the DVD will be released early next year".''</blockquote>

Darkane's only full-length DVD was shot in May 2006 in the band's hometown of [[Helsingborg]], Sweden.

On 6 August 2011 it was announced that vocalist Jens Broman was leaving the band due to personal issues. He was replaced by former Darkane vocalist Lawrence Mackrory, who appeared on the debut album, ''[[Rusted Angel]]''.

=== ''The Sinister Supremacy'' (2012–present) ===
On 30 July 2012, it was announced that Darkane was back in the studio recording their sixth studio album, which they plan to release in early 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=177453 |title=DARKANE Recording New Album |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> Once released, this will be their first studio album since 2008's ''Demonic Art'' and with Lawrence Mackrory on vocals since 1999's ''Rusted Angel''.

The album's title ''[[The Sinister Supremacy]]'' and release date of 28 June 2013, was announced on 4 April 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=2 |title=Blabbermouth.Net |publisher=Blabbermouth.Net |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603063034/http://www.blabbermouth.net/index.aspx?PageNum=2 |archive-date=3 June 2013 }}</ref> Regarding the title, the band said: "''The Sinister Supremacy'' is a metaphor for the evil that controls us. It's the dark part of our minds and it's inside us all. It tells us it's OK to do bad things, to hurt other people, and hurt ourselves. It guides us into making choices based on pure selfishness, and it thrives on complete chaos."

The track listing and the [[album cover]], were revealed on 9 May 2013. The album cover was done by Carlos Holmberg (ex-[[Soilwork]]) and the cover is a [[Rorschach test]] as seen by an individual who has completely succumbed to the sinister supremacy, according to the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Search&searchtext=Darkane&x=90&y=7 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703045025/http://blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Search&searchtext=Darkane&x=90&y=7 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 July 2013 |title=Blabbermouth.net |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=20 June 2013 }}</ref>

On 24 June 2022, after 9 years the band released their long-awaited follow-up to 2013's [[The Sinister Supremacy]] titled Inhuman Spirits.

On 16 May 2024, the band announced that vocalist Lawrence Mackrory had departed the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2024/05/16/news/darkane-announce-the-departure-of-vocalist-lawrence-mackrory/|title=Darkane Announce The Departure Of Vocalist Lawrence Mackrory|website=ThePRP|access-date=17 May 2024|date=16 May 2024}}</ref> Less than a week later, the band announced Tobiasz Derengowski as their new vocalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2024/05/21/news/darkane-welcome-new-vocalist-tobiasz-bennedal/|title=Darkane Welcome New Vocalist Tobiasz Bennedal|website=ThePRP|access-date=22 May 2024|date=21 May 2024}}</ref>

== Members ==

=== Current members ===
* [[Peter Wildoer]] – drums (1998–present)
* [[Christofer Malmström]] – lead guitar (1998–present)
* Klas Ideberg – rhythm guitar (1998–present)
* Jörgen Löfberg – bass guitar (1998–present)
* Tobiasz Derengowski – vocals (2024–present)

=== Former members ===
* [[Björn Strid]] – vocals (1998)
* Lawrence Mackrory – vocals (1998–1999, 2011–2024)
* Andreas Sydow – vocals (1999–2007)
* Jens Broman – vocals (2007–2011)

=== Timeline ===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize  = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea   = left:110 bottom:80 top:0 right:15
Alignbars  = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1998 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1998
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1998
Legend     = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3

Colors =
 id:vocals  value:red         legend:Vocals
 id:lead    value:teal        legend:Lead_guitar
 id:rhythm  value:brightgreen       legend:Rhythm_guitar
 id:bass    value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:drums   value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:bars    value:gray(0.95)
 id:studio  value:black       legend:Studio_album

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =
 at:10/12/1999 color:black layer:back
 at:03/06/2001 color:black layer:back
 at:10/01/2002 color:black layer:back
 at:06/27/2005 color:black layer:back
 at:10/24/2008 color:black layer:back
 at:06/28/2013 color:black layer:back
 at:06/24/2022 color:black layer:back

BarData =
 bar:Bjorn     text:"Björn Strid"
 bar:Lawrence  text:"Lawrence Mackrory"
 bar:Andreas   text:"Andreas Sydow"
 bar:Jens      text:"Jens Broman"
 bar:Tobiasz   text:"Tobiasz Bennedal"
 bar:Chris     text:"Christofer Malmström"
 bar:Klas      text:"Klas Ideberg"
 bar:Jorgen    text:"Jörgen Löfberg"
 bar:Peter     text:"Peter Wildoer"

PlotData =
 width:11
 bar:Bjorn     from:01/01/1998 till:05/31/1998  color:vocals
 bar:Lawrence  from:06/01/1998 till:12/01/1999  color:vocals
 bar:Andreas   from:12/01/1999 till:08/13/2007  color:vocals
 bar:Jens      from:10/25/2007 till:08/06/2011  color:vocals
 bar:Lawrence  from:08/06/2011 till:05/16/2024  color:vocals
 bar:Tobiasz   from:05/21/2024 till:end         color:vocals
 bar:Chris     from:01/01/1998 till:end         color:lead
 bar:Klas      from:06/01/1998 till:end         color:rhythm
 bar:Jorgen    from:11/01/1998 till:end         color:bass
 bar:Peter     from:01/01/1998 till:end         color:drums
 }}

== Discography ==

=== Albums ===
* ''[[Rusted Angel]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Insanity (album)|Insanity]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Expanding Senses]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Layers of Lies]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Demonic Art]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Sinister Supremacy]]'' (2013)
* ''Inhuman Spirits'' (2022)

=== Other releases ===
* ''A Tribute to Accept'' (cover of "Restless & Wild" by [[Accept (band)|Accept]])
* ''A Tribute to the Beast'' (cover of "Powerslave" by [[Iron Maiden]])

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.darkane.com}}
*{{allmusic}}
* [http://www.christofermalmstrom.se/ Christofer Malmstrom's official website]
* [http://www.peterwildoer.com/ Peter Wildoer's official website]
{{Darkane}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1998]]
[[Category:Swedish melodic death metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Swedish thrash metal musical groups]]
[[Category:Nuclear Blast artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Helsingborg]]
[[Category:Swedish musical quintets]]