Dark Suns

Gatefold 2LP (180g vinyl, black) incl. bonus track (Tori Amos cover "Yes, Anastasia"), poster, printed inner sleeves and PVC protection sleeve (500 copies).


The ideal synthesis of melancholy and progressive energy

When Dark Suns approach an album, they never do things by halves, but to realise their fifth full-length, the band rose above themselves: The fact that they spent their entire label advance to record in renowned Funkhaus Studio in Berlin, Germany, with producer Yensin Jahn (Alice Cooper, Mando Diao) testifies the musicians' conviction of and belief in the quality of their work. Eventually, the prog/art rock institution financed a top-class mix with producer Peter Junge in London via crowdfunding in order to give their new material the final touch.

After embracing the world with arms wide open on their "everything goes"-record "Orange", the Leipzig-based group delves into the realm of sleep with "Everchild", searching for eternal childhood - escapism allegorised, one could say, a longing for the past as the allegedly best place to be … yet not merely in a nostalgic way: During their slightly wistful retrospective, which sees the group revisiting thoughts and stylistic elements from "Existence" (2006), they are rather exploring possibilities to satisfy their lasting hunger for innovation and pursue their ideal by synthesising melancholy with progressive energy.

An intense fusion, to be sure, thanks to abundant musicality: Evgeny Ring (saxophone) and Govinda Abbott (trumpet) have become full members besides former live-only drummer Dominique "Gaga" Ehlert, whereas original skinsman Niko Knappe focuses solely on singing - a brave step just like Dark Suns' reinterpretation of Tori Amos' "Yes, Anastasia", its message at once summarising the core of what "Everchild" is about: "If you're really looking for a challenge, put up with yourself."