DARKEND is the band fronted by Animae (also guest vocalist for GAAHL’S WYRD on various European festivals & venues).
After rather humble beginnings mostly inspired by orchestral extreme metal, DARKEND developed a quite peculiar artistic style blending black metal patterns, ritual ambience, dark classic metal riffs and solos in the vein of Mercyful Fate/Angel Witch and a ritualistic, hypnotic vibe explicitly created in order to generate a deep sonic & spiritual transcendence.

Having toured Europe thrice alongside CRADLE OF FILTH, ROTTING CHRIST, SAMAEL, MELECHESH & KEEP OF KALESSIN, the band had the privilege to collaborate with some of the most renowned artists of the scene: while Attila Csihar (MAYHEM), Niklas Kvarforth (SHINING) & Sakis Tolis (ROTTING CHRIST) offered their voices for “The Canticle Of Shadows” (2016, Non Serviam Records), the profound friendship between Gaahl & Animae bloomed a breathtaking collaboration with WARDRUNA’s Lindy-Fay Hella immortalized on the album “Spiritual Resonance” (2019, Dark Essence Records).

The band displays some intense live rituals under their belt (culminated with an exhibition at the iconic Norwegian MIDGARDSBLOT FEST 2022 alongside WARDRUNA, HELIUNG & ROTTING CHRIST), an experience not to be missed.