The Dark have dropped "Circles," a dynamic fusion of metal and disco that explores duality through tension, acceptance, and big questions. Packed with disco beats, heavy riffs, and acid bass, the track pushes boundaries both sonically and visually, featuring gritty, distorted aesthetics. "Circles" is a bold statement from a band redefining the limits of their sound.
"The whole song is about duality," says the band. "It's the heat of the moment, and it's the big picture. It's the sexual tension, and it's acceptance. It's asking the big questions and then ignoring them. It's metal and it's disco. Even when it came time to make the visuals, we said, 'Let's film it on the nicest camera I have and then run it through a cheap old TV and ruin it... that's perfect.
"'Circles' is probably my favorite track on the EP to produce. I got to check all my favorite boxes. The disco influence, the call and response verses, the riffs in the chorus, acid bass everywhere, the freaking innuendos... and then a massive inhale at the end... absolute blast."
Watch the video below.
Stream the song here.
The Dark -Share Video for New Single + More Info
Emerging from the shadows of Los Angeles, The Dark have dropped their powerful new single "Head Of The Snake," delivering another raw and visceral glimpse into their apocalyptic soundscape.
The band has also launched pre-orders for their self-titled debut EP, set to arrive on February 21 via Arising Empire.
Watch the video below.
Stream the song here.
Fronted by Craig Johns Jr. and featuring Alan Ashby (Of Mice & Men) on guitar, The Dark's lineup is rounded out by bassist Nick Goins and drummer Derek Vautrinot. The EP promises to be a harrowing exploration of the darker facets of human nature, drawing inspiration from industrial and ''90s rock icons like Nine Inch Nails and Deftones, blended with a modern edge.
The band has already made waves with their debut single, "Chemicals," which racked up over 200,000 streams on Spotify within a month and earned international radio play. Their subsequent single, "Slip Away," climbed active rock radio charts and further cemented their reputation as a rising force in the rock scene.
ARISING EMPIRE MEDIA ALERT: The Dark Share New Video
The Dark have released their sophomore single "Slip Away." Listen here.
Watch the video below.
"Our first song, 'Chemicals,' was about coping in an unhealthy way," the band says. "'Slip Away' is the natural progression of that. It's the next part of the story. It's losing yourself in your habits until you become unrecognizable. It's the pain when you come-to. It's self awareness and it's hurt.
'Slip Away' is struggle you face when you meet yourself where you're at. It's the pain when you look in the mirror honestly. It's a rude awakening."
The band continues, "When we wrote the video for 'Slip Away,' it was important to tell the story of the song, whereas 'Chemicals' was more a day-in-the-life sort of video. You have this person, bound to the injured version of themselves, connected as one and confined to a space they can't escape. They separate and see their hurt before them. The bandages come off and it's loud, it's vulnerable... it's unpredictable. Only through acceptance and embrace can they find peace, but even still, in a space they'll never leave."
ARTIFAS Release Official Music Video for Single "The Dark" ; The Summer Meltdown Tour with Silvertung Kicks off July 7th!!!
Hard rock band ARTIFAS released the official music video for single "The Dark." The single is from their full length record Reflections.
WATCH ARTIFAS - "The Dark" (Official Music Video): below
The band announced that they will be hitting the road with Silvertung this Summer on 'The Summer Meltdown Tour'! The tour kicks off on July 7th in Huntsville, AL at Shagnasty's.
An event page with all currently available information for each show can be found on the band's Facebook page. Find your city, RSVP to the appropriate event page(s), share the flyer with your friends, and let’s get ready to have your faces melted off!!!
Artifas on tour with Silvertung:
The Summer Meltdown Tour:
7/7 @ Shagnasty's, Huntsville, AL *Artifas ONLY
7/8 @The Gym, Sevierville, TN
7/9 @The Red Bird, Leitchfield, KY
7/11 @Vivo, Overland Park, KS
7/12 @Maloney's, Council Bluffs, IA
7/14 @Rockfest, Cadott, WI
7/16@Rockstar Saloon, West Allis, WI
7/17 @Crucible, Madison, WI
7/18 @Otis' Tailgators, Cedar Rapids, IA
7/20 @ Piere's (Stan's Room), Ft. Wayne, IN
7/21 @ The King of Clubs, Columbus, OH
American Hard Rock band Artifas was formed in 2011 in Jackson, TN by lead guitarist Cody Criswell and lead vocalist Scottie Somerville. In the months following, the two founders of the group would immediately recruit an assortment of hometown musicians and begin looking to record their debut EP. After having a long and ugly encounter that resulted in the theft of all the bands funds and receiving no album in return, the original incarnation of the group would spend 2012-2013 doing several independent tours and writing music. After debuting with their EP Enemy Inside in 2013 and doing numerous regional/national tours in support of it, the band replaced former members with guitarist Mikey Miller, bassist Anthony Mattox, and drummer Stephen Hatmaker.
With almost two years of touring with the new lineup under their belts, Artifas inked themselves a record deal and hit the studio to make their first full length album. The 2015 release of the title track, “Inhuman,” would bring the band some commercial success, reaching # 32 on Billboard’s Active Rock chart and sending the band on the road in support of their new album. The band landed tours with established artists like Theory of a Deadman, Shamans Harvest, Pop Evil, Saint Asonia, Aranda, and others. The follow up single from that record, “Blood 4 Blood”, would later get picked up by the World Series of Fighting and subsequently land a feature in the UFCmovie “Fight Valley”. The band parted ways with their record label in 2016, and remained on tour throughout the US for most of the following year, also traveling internationally for the first time with the likes of Papa Roach, Hoobastank, P.O.D., Trapt, and Sick Puppies to play for our American Troops.
Multiple tour cycles later, Artifas found themselves back in the studio making new music. The band worked with multiple writers and producers throughout the entirety of 2018, but would ultimately only find themselves frustrated with the recordings that resulted. After a soul search within the group, Artifas elected to embrace their own vision and write/produce their next album independently, free from the creative overreach of outside influence.
After two years of writing, recording, and mixing, Artifas completed the new album, and unleashed it upon the world. With catchy guitar riffs, dizzying drums, and soaring melodies, Reflections will send you on an emotional journey, exploring the band’s semi-prog, radio rock sound while diving deeper into the human complex with lyrics centered around self awareness and the bands own struggles with mental health. The goal for the creation of this album was to make a record that met the band’s expectations and you can rest assured they held nothing back. Mixed and Mastered by Forrester Savell (Twelve Foot Ninja, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus), Reflections promises to wow you with musical prowess, all the while delivering Artifas’ important message on unity, inspiration, and the sempiternal battle between dark and light.
More Music by Artifas:
ARTIFAS - Safe (Official Music Video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07MV366Lsvc
ARTIFAS - Cut Me Out (Official Music Video):
ARTIFAS - Leave Me For Dead (Official Music Video):
Artifas:
Artifas Music: