Dark and atmospheric, slow and fearful, heavy and mysterious, Dirge comes on a long way of explorations and experiments, started from industrial roots they grow into the sludge/doom area of experimental/avant-garde metal, incorporate both classic rock instruments and samplers/machines into their own flavored dark metal fulfilled with progressive rock and cinematic elements.
If something actually is dark and heavy, definitively Dirge is. Merging classic approaches with modern structures, sounds and elements, they delivering their own epic, tortured and contorted metal, absolutely heavy and dark as a starless night. Still, their music contains melodies, quite musical themes which gave them a mysterious sparkling. Gave to the guys from Crowbar some old Pink Floyd themes to jam with and you’re almost there where Dirge starts their path of exploration and creation.
Since 1994, Parisian Dirge delivering heavy-weight experimental music. The original core formed by Marc T. and Laurent P. kicked out on the path trademarked by precursors such as Godflesh and Pitchshifter, their music was build upon mechanical rhythms, harsh riffing, aggressive samplers and raw, pitched vocals.
After three demos, Laurent P. left the band, new members were recruited: bass player David K. and guitarist Franck T. and their music get noisier and darker, but also less electronic. “Down Last Level”, their debut full-length album was released in 1998.
Drummer Alain B. and sampler wizard Christophe [zomb] D. joined the band in 1999 and their sound gets more “humanized” with real drums, guitar becomes the central instrument and their goes much heavier. This new formula delivered in 2000 the second album called “Blight and Vision Bellow a Faded Sun”.
Christian M. and Stephane L. replaced David K. and Franck T. in 2001 and the band remains still heavy, but get on a slower, darker path, while their songs becomes epic. “And Shall the Sky Descend” was released in 2004 introducing also female vocals, violins, creepy and minimal electronic parts merge with noisy, intense guitars.
Released in 2007, their fourth studio album “Wings of Lead Over Dormant Seas” shows a dark, but heavy, grinding, but breathing, mature band, not afraid of experimentation and exploration, but delivering quality, intense, heavy materials.
And “Elysian Magnetic Fields” is another epic construction filled with heavy riffs, dark harmonies and contorted explorations, breaking down the walls of silence and conformity, delivering gloomy and cutting music. This is “metal” just as it’s “contemporary music”, no label will quite stick to them, but no label actually needed. Just close your eyes and listen, don’t be afraid of the dark, far beyond the stars coming up.
Dirge – Official Site
Dirge @ last.fm
Dirge @ Facebook
Blight Records @ MySpace
