Punktuation-Begin by introducing yourself(s) and what band you play in....
Darkest Hour-My name is Mike Schleibaum and I play guitar in the band Darkest Hour from Washington DC and Richmond VA!
P-Who are the other members of the band?
DH-Ryan Parrish - Drums, and party dictator!
Fred Ziomek - Guitar, Cattitude, and big cups of ceugh!
John Henry - Vocals and proprietor of DH Home Brew and Steak House!
Paul Burnette - Bass, and chops!
P-What is your guy's history together from past all the way up until present?
DH-We started back in 1995. Originally a four piece we did many short tours and weekend shows on the first two records. Then in 1998 we added a new bassist, second guitarist, and new drummer. We recorded Judas in the winter of 1999. And toured nationally on it several times until our record label MIA Records folded leaving us dead in the water the day the record was officially released. Victory became interested and after a few months we decided to call err' home. We then finished writing and recording our new record and now we are gearing up for six months of solid touring and partying!
P-In that time, how have things changed, progressed, and become as they are now?
DH-I feel as a band that we have progressed in a lot of ways since the first EP. You could even say that the first two records were a different band. We went from playing chuggy mediocre metal core to a more progressive, rock/death metal mixture. The line up has changed and the song writing has changed making the band much better and much different. We are still searching for the exact sound that is Darkest Hour. The new record reaches out in several different tangents but it is definitely a step closer to what we are trying to find.
P-Do you have any regrets over your time together?
DH-No we have always been behind each other in every decision as a band that we have made. Although we have had several setbacks that may have broken up a lot of bands we have learned a lot from those experiences and that has made us a stronger band and better friends. Although the tour we did with Destruction was pretty brutal!
P-How would you describe Darkest Hour to somebody who may never have heard you guys?
DH-It's very European metal sounding ala' At the Gates, In Flames, Carcass, etc., with a distinctly American twist to it. We're metal without the guitar solos, long hair, or bullshit attitude. Like a kid with a mohawk playing along with a Slayer record in his parents basement!
P-What does one walk away with after coming to a show of yours?
DH-Hopefully they feel punished. That is what we're about-we don't play live to show that we can shred or to prove that we are great musicians, we play to punish!
P-What albums have you guys released?
DH-Misanthrope - CDEP - Death Truck Records
The Prophecy, Fulfilled - CDEP - Art Monk Construction Records
The Mark of the Judas - Full Length CD - MIA Records / Join The Team Player Records
So Sedated, So Secure - Full Length CD - Victory Records
P-What should we expect from 'So Sedated, So Secure'?
DH-Well, there is an mp3 for free on the Victory website now. I feel that the new songs are more refined and stripped down at the same time. We spent less time worrying about how the songs should go and more time just jamming. The song on the web site is free so dudes should download that shit and make their own opinions.
P-How did you end up being picked up by Victory? What was that like?
DH-We had a few options after MIA went under. We really wanted to be in position to reach both metal and hardcore kids. We wanted to have the ability to play with big metal tours, as long as still play shows with hardcore bands and kids that were coming out of the same scene that we are from. Victory was the best option for achieving that. It was very exciting of course. We went from being a band that just got screwed by a record label who folded the day our record came out, to being a band that a lot of people wanted to sign.
P-Have any of you been in other bands in the past or right now? How do they compare with DH?
DH-I was in a band called Battery from Washington DC (were on Revelation). We were old school sounding, real youth crew. Our drummer is in a band called City of Caterpillar - they are a bunch of punk mother fuckers - it's like Spazz core meets some dudes who can play their instruments in a 7-11 for coffee. They tour a lot too. He also rocks it in a band called Suppression - they're a bass and drum duo who play grind/piss in your pants party music.
P-Do you feel the hardcore scene has lost what it may have once had, or is it becoming more of a united scene?
DH-Well I don't think much has changed really. I definitely don't think it is united or anything. I think the real sad thing about the hardcore/punk scene is that it is plagued with all the same problems everything else is. Kids are still caught up in the fashion of things, the novelty of things, and it is definitely all about whom you know. While there are definitely exceptions to this, kids who are doing it just for the kids, it is a shame that it is the way it is. I think when people take things like the hardcore/punk scene too seriously, they are probably missing out on a lot of other cool things in life.
P-Where are you guys from and what is it like there?
DH-We're actually in a unique position. We started out in Virginia and over the course of time acquired members from both Washington DC and Richmond VA. We have two hometowns. DC is the capital of the US so it gets pretty crazy - imagine a right to life parade every day of your life! RVA just rules - imagine low rent, dirt bags, mesh hats, and loose women, where the beer flows like water!
P-If we were to come there, what is one thing we should check out?
DH-DC - Definitely Smash Records on M St in Georgetown, John Henrys roof top, Goodguys gentlemen's club, and the beltway! As for Richmond try the: low rent, dirt bags, mesh hats, and loose women, where the beer flows like water!
P-Has anything bizarre, interesting, or embarrassing happened over your time as a band?
DH-Man, too many to mention. For instance, I walked into a glass door of a Exxon after being asleep in the loft for hours and cracked the whole thing, Ryan has been naked in about every state, John Henry has been drunk in every state, and Fred, take a look at the Justin Timberlake hair cut!
P-What was the best show you guys ever played?
DH-I think our best show ever was in Florida at what is called the Gainesville fest with band bros Drowningman. The crowd was great and it was a really good feeling to be so far away from home and have kids so excited to rock.
P-What can we expect from you guys in the future?
DH-The DH just wants to tour and play some rock. We expect to be touring non-stop. That is what this band is about and that is what we do best, we love to play live. We are gonna do our best to make it out to your guys neck of the woods. We love Canada so expect us to be crashing on your floor soon.
P-Any final words of wisdom?
DH-Just that people should really check out Rodney Dangerfield's comedy - we predict he will be making a come back some time soon!
Late!