Login
Login

Darker Half

{{EngvarB|date=January 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Darker Half

| image =

| image_size =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption =

| alias =

| origin = Sydney

| genre = Power metal Thrash metal

| years_active = {{start date|2005}}–Present

| label = *Fastball Music, Soulfood Distribution

| associated_acts =

| website = {{URL|darkerhalf.com}}

| current_members = * Vo Simpson

  • Dom Simpson
  • Danny Ritz
  • Jimmy Wynen

| past_members = * Brad Dickson (D.2020)

  • Ben Martino
  • Nick Alderton
  • Jim Bridgeman
  • Max Griffiths
  • Jimmy Lardner-Brown
  • Simon Hamilton

}}

Darker Half is an Australian heavy metal band from Sydney, led by vocalist Vo Simpson[http://www.thebrag.com/2011/12/12/music-album-review-darker-half-desensitized/] {{dead link|date=September 2013}} and known for their energetic live performances,{{cite web |url=http://streetpress.com.au/online_mags/DM/DM_1027/ |title=Drum Media Sydney Magazine |publisher=Streetpress.com.au |accessdate=20 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324145712/http://www.streetpress.com.au/online_mags/DM/DM_1027/ |archive-date=24 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.mysticmetal.com.au/live-reviews/lewisham-hotel/14-08-2010/ |title=Lewisham Hotel on 14/08/2010 | Live Review |publisher=Mysticmetal.com.au |accessdate=20 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427014920/http://www.mysticmetal.com.au/live-reviews/lewisham-hotel/14-08-2010/ |archive-date=27 April 2013 |url-status=dead }} their style has been described as power/thrash.{{cite web|url=http://www.ausmetalguide.com/Darker_Half |title=Darker Half |publisher=AusMetal Guide |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=20 September 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metalobsession.net/2009/08/26/darker-half-vo-simpson-25082009/ |title=Darker Half (Vo Simpson) – 25/08/2009 |date=26 August 2009 |publisher=Metal Obsession |accessdate=20 September 2013}}

History

Singer/guitarist Vo Simpson started Darker Half in 2003 while in high school.[http://deadrhetoric.com/features/now-you-know-darker-half/ "Now You Know: Darker Half"]. Dead Rhetoric. 2 July 2014 By Matt Coe The band performed in halls and occasionally (illegally) in pubs. Darker Half's first foray into the wider Australian metal community was the band's performance at the first Metalstock festival in 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.ausmetalguide.com/Metalstock |title=Metalstock |publisher=AusMetal Guide |accessdate=20 September 2013}}

Drummer Jim Bridgeman and bass player Max Griffiths left the band when they graduated from high school and were replaced by Benito Martino (drums) and Simon Hamilton (bass). An EP "Enough is Enough" was released at the second Metalstock festival in 2006. A song from the EP was included in the soundtrack of the feature film DarkLoveStory.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Darker Half played in various venues on the east coast of Australia throughout 2006 and 2007 and took part in all three outdoor Metalstock festivals. In 2008 Nick Alderton was replaced by Dom Simpson (Vo's brother) on guitar. In 2009 they released their first album Duality, produced by former Dimmu Borgir guitarist Astennu. One song from the album, "Take the Plunge", was included in the soundtrack of the feature film Acolytes starring Joel Edgerton.{{Cite web |title=Acolytes (2008) Soundtrack |url=https://ringostrack.com/en/movie/acolytes/8555 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=RingosTrack |language=en}}

In 2009 they toured nationally as support act for original Iron Maiden lead singer Paul Di'Anno. A music video for "Take the Plunge" was released. Martino left and was replaced on drums by Dom Simpson, who in turn was replaced on guitar by Brad Dickson. A national tour with Queensryche followed, along with a spot on the inaugural Screamfest international metal festival in Sydney.[https://web.archive.org/web/20100116170438/http://www.voltagemedia.com.au/news/2010/01/11/screamfest-australia-day-1 "SCREAMFEST AUSTRALIA DAY 1"]. MetalSage.com<

In 2010 Darker Half again toured nationally with Paul Di'Anno, released a music video "Helpless" and performed at many shows throughout Australia.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Early in 2011, Darker Half recorded their second album Desensitized, which was released in Australia on Rockstar Records. Their "Desensitized tour" in August 2011 included all of the Australian state capitals and many major regional centres. They headlined the Whiplash Festival in Brisbane[http://www.voltagemedia.com.au/news/2011/07/28/darker-half-headline-brisbanes-whiplash-festival "Darker Half headlines Brisbane's Whiplash Festival"]. MetalSage.com {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130152519/http://www.voltagemedia.com.au/news/2011/07/28/darker-half-headline-brisbanes-whiplash-festival |date=30 January 2016 }} and opened for international acts Alestorm, Children of Bodom and Steve Grimmett.[http://www.theaureview.com/sydney/children-of-bodom-voyager-darker-half "Children Of Bodom + Voyager + Darker Half – Big Top Luna Park (12.11.11)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130195840/http://www.theaureview.com/sydney/children-of-bodom-voyager-darker-half |date=30 January 2016 }}. The AU Review, 18 November 2011 Pete Rivas

In 2012, The Darker Half members were involved in projects aside from the band: Vo Simpson joined with various international singers including Udo Dirkschneider, Rob Rock and Steve Grimmett as one of the featured lead vocalists on the third Empires of Eden album Channelling the Infinite.{{cite web|url=http://myglobalmind.com/2012/04/18/empires-of-eden-channeling-the-infinite-review/ |title=Empires of Eden – Channeling the Infinite Review |publisher=Myglobalmind.com |date=18 April 2012 |accessdate=20 September 2013}} He was also one of several guest lead vocalists on the Snake Sixx album It's all about the Riff. Through May and June 2012 Dom Simpson and Vo Simpson formed part of the backing band for former Judas Priest lead singer Tim 'Ripper' Owens for his Australian and New Zealand tour. Also in 2012, Darker Half released a music video of "End of the Line" from the Desensitized album.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

In 2013, the band took part in a concert with Melbourne band Eyefear and veteran metal band Stratovarius.[http://themusic.com.au/reviews/reviews-live/2013/10/31/stratovarius-the-hifi-mark-hebblewhite/ "Stratovarius, Eyefear, Darker Half"]. 26 October 2013 | Mark Hebblewhite Reviews at theMusic.com.au

In 2014, Darker Half release the band's third album, Never Surrender[http://www.metalobsession.net/2014/07/11/darker-half-never-surrender/ "Album Reviews : Darker Half – Never Surrender"]. Metal Obsession, By David Berry on 11 July 2014{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20140821051852/http://gunshyassassin.com/reviews/review-stratovarius-hits-australia/ "Review: Stratovarius Hits Australia"]}}. Gunshy Assassin and undertook their first tour of the US.{{Cite web |last=Coe |first=Matt |date=2020-05-26 |title=Darker Half – Out of the Shadows |url=https://deadrhetoric.com/features/darker-half-out-of-the-shadows/ |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=Dead Rhetoric}}

In 2015, it was announced that Brad Dickson was leaving Darker Half. He was replaced by Jimmy Lardner-Brown, who had played with the Simpson brothers in the backing band for Tim "Ripper" Owens.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

In February 2016 "Never Surrender" was released in Europe on the Fastball Music label and received much critical acclaim.{{Cite web |url=http://www.heavy-metal.de/?id=31847 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 June 2016 |archive-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624060844/http://www.heavy-metal.de/?id=31847 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.metal-nose.org/news.php?item.2373.49 | title=Metal-Nose: DARKER HALF: Never Surrender|website=Metal-nose.org}}{{cite web | url=http://www.badblack-unicorn.de/index.php/reviews/544-darker-half-never-surrender | title=NOCTURNAL RITES – "Phoenix"|website=Badblack-unicorn.de }}{{cite web |url=http://www.hooked-on-music.de/CD-Reviews3/Darker_Half/Never_Surrender.html?band_id=8739 |title=Hooked on Music - CD-Review - Darker Half ? Never Surrender |website=Hooked-on-music.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701021038/http://www.hooked-on-music.de/CD-Reviews3/Darker_Half/Never_Surrender.html?band_id=8739 |archive-date=2016-07-01}}{{Cite web|url=http://callesrockcorner.dk/?id=blog&news=33427#|title = Darker Half – Never Surrender|website=Callesrockcorner.dk}}{{cite web |url=http://www.metalglory.de/reviews.php?nr=26972 |title=METALGLORY Magazine - Reviews - Never Surrender CD Review Rezension |website=Metalglory.de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818071805/http://www.metalglory.de/reviews.php?nr=26972 |archive-date=2016-08-18}}

In June 2016, the EP "Classified" was released in Europe to coincide with Darker Half's first tour there.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Former guitarist, Brad Dickson, died on 15 April 2020.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Discography

  • "Rush" demo (2003)
  • Enough is Enough EP (2006)
  • Duality album (2009){{Cite web |url=http://www.mysticmetal.com.au/reviews/darker-half/duality/ |title=Duality by Darker Half {{!}} Metal Album Review |website= Mysticmetal.com.au |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327073107/http://www.mysticmetal.com.au/reviews/darker-half/duality/ |archive-date=27 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}
  • Desensitized album (2011)
  • Never Surrender. album (2014)
  • Classified EP (2016)
  • If You Only Knew album (2020)

References

{{reflist}}

Category:Australian heavy metal musical groups