Dark Moor
Encyclopedia
Dark Moor is a Spanish power metal
band from Madrid
. Formed in 1993, they produced three full-length albums before undergoing a line-up change in which three members left the band to form their own project, Dreamaker
. The remaining two members carried on under the same name, recruiting suitable replacements in time for their eponymous 2003 album.
, Spain, and recorded their debut album, Shadowland
, in the summer of 1999. Dark Moor played live supporting Demons and Wizards on their Spanish tour.
Dark Moor began the recording sessions for their second album, The Hall of the Olden Dreams
, in August 2000 at New Sin Studios with producer Luigi Stefanini. During these recording sessions, the band recorded their cover
of "Halloween", which was included on the CD The Keepers of Jericho part I - A Tribute to Helloween
(Arise Records).
Their E.P. The Fall of Melnibone
was released in June 2001. This E.P was a limited edition; 1500 copies were released and only for the Spanish market.
Dark Moor began the recording of their third album, The Gates of Oblivion, in Autumn 2001 at New Sin Studios. Dark Moor signed with the major label JVC
for the Asian release. The band played 18 gigs at festivals such as Rock Machina, Viña Rock and Nit De Reis. After the first part of the tour, keyboardist Roberto Peña left the band and they were forced to finish the tour with a guest musician.
In August 2003 Dark Moor recorded four new exclusive acoustic tracks along with a string quartet
, to be included in Between Light and Darkness, which was released in April 2003. Due to differing points of view regarding the musical direction for the next Dark Moor album, vocalist Elisa Martin, guitarist Albert Maroto and drummer Jorge Sáez decided to leave Dark Moor to start a new band.
The two remaining members of the band decided to start a search for new members. After the auditions, they accepted vocalist Alfred Romero, guitarist Jose Garrido, and drummer Andy C.
In August 2003, the band started recording their fourth album, Dark Moor
, at New Sin Studios in Italy. Following a month of recording sessions, the album was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios
.
On 23 November 2006, the band announced the departure of their drummer on their official website, due to "incompatibility with his other musical projects." He would go on to play drums for Saratoga. His replacement, Roberto Cappa, was previously in the Spanish metal
band Anima Sola.
In January 2009, their seventh album Autumnal
was released.
The band made an announcement on their website, dated 4 June 2010, that their eighth album is in the works. It will feature Berenice Musa as a guest vocalist. The album is titled Ancestral Romance
and will be released in November.
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band from Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Formed in 1993, they produced three full-length albums before undergoing a line-up change in which three members left the band to form their own project, Dreamaker
Dreamaker
Dreamaker is a Spanish power metal band, formed by three former Dark Moor members, following the band's split.-Biography:Dreamaker begun when vocalist Elisa Martin, guitarist Albert Maroto and drummer Jorge Sáez left Dark Moor, in 2003, due to musical differences...
. The remaining two members carried on under the same name, recruiting suitable replacements in time for their eponymous 2003 album.
Biography
Dark Moor was formed in 1994 in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain, and recorded their debut album, Shadowland
Shadowland (Dark Moor album)
Shadowland is Dark Moor's first album released in 1999 by Arise Records.-Track listing:#"Shadowland" - 0:36#"Valhalla" - 6:57#"Dragon Into the Fire" - 5:05#"Calling on the Wind" - 5:04#"Magic Land" - 4:58#"Flying" - 6:40...
, in the summer of 1999. Dark Moor played live supporting Demons and Wizards on their Spanish tour.
Dark Moor began the recording sessions for their second album, The Hall of the Olden Dreams
The Hall of the Olden Dreams
The Hall of the Olden Dreams 2000 is the second full-length album released by Spanish power metal band Dark Moor.Many of the songs are based on historic figures or events, like "Maid of Orleans", "Bells of Notre Dame", and "Quest for the Eternal Fame", among others...
, in August 2000 at New Sin Studios with producer Luigi Stefanini. During these recording sessions, the band recorded their cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Halloween", which was included on the CD The Keepers of Jericho part I - A Tribute to Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
(Arise Records).
Their E.P. The Fall of Melnibone
The Fall of Melnibone
The Fall of Melnibone is an EP released by Spanish power metal band Dark Moor in 2001 through Arise Records. This limited edition EP contains bonus tracks that were previously released only in Japan and Korea.-Track listing:...
was released in June 2001. This E.P was a limited edition; 1500 copies were released and only for the Spanish market.
Dark Moor began the recording of their third album, The Gates of Oblivion, in Autumn 2001 at New Sin Studios. Dark Moor signed with the major label JVC
JVC
, usually referred to as JVC, is a Japanese international consumer and professional electronics corporation based in Yokohama, Japan which was founded in 1927...
for the Asian release. The band played 18 gigs at festivals such as Rock Machina, Viña Rock and Nit De Reis. After the first part of the tour, keyboardist Roberto Peña left the band and they were forced to finish the tour with a guest musician.
In August 2003 Dark Moor recorded four new exclusive acoustic tracks along with a string quartet
String quartet
A string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
, to be included in Between Light and Darkness, which was released in April 2003. Due to differing points of view regarding the musical direction for the next Dark Moor album, vocalist Elisa Martin, guitarist Albert Maroto and drummer Jorge Sáez decided to leave Dark Moor to start a new band.
The two remaining members of the band decided to start a search for new members. After the auditions, they accepted vocalist Alfred Romero, guitarist Jose Garrido, and drummer Andy C.
In August 2003, the band started recording their fourth album, Dark Moor
Dark Moor (album)
Dark Moor is the fourth full-length album of the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor.Shortly before releasing The Gates of Oblivion, the band announced their split. Due to musical differences, Elisa C. Martín, Albert Maroto and Jorge Saez left the band, and formed Dreamaker. Enrik Garcia and Anan...
, at New Sin Studios in Italy. Following a month of recording sessions, the album was mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios
Finnvox studios
Finnvox Studios is a recording studio located in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 1965, it was the first studio in Finland dedicated for music recording. Many metal bands have had albums mastered here , including Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Finntroll, HIM, Moonsorrow, Holy Knights, Ram-Zet, Throes of...
.
On 23 November 2006, the band announced the departure of their drummer on their official website, due to "incompatibility with his other musical projects." He would go on to play drums for Saratoga. His replacement, Roberto Cappa, was previously in the Spanish metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Anima Sola.
In January 2009, their seventh album Autumnal
Autumnal
Autumnal is the seventh full-length album by the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor. The recording of this album was announced as early as May 4, 2008, with constant updates posted on their website since then....
was released.
The band made an announcement on their website, dated 4 June 2010, that their eighth album is in the works. It will feature Berenice Musa as a guest vocalist. The album is titled Ancestral Romance
Ancestral Romance
Ancestral Romance is the eighth full-length album by the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor, released on 24 November 2010.-Track listing:# "Gadir" - 4:59# "Love From the Stone" - 4:02# "Alaric de Marnac" - 4:42# "Mio Cid" - 6:39# "Just Rock" - 2:35...
and will be released in November.
Current members
- Alfred Romero (2003–present) - Vocals
- Enrik GarciaEnrik GarciaEnrik Garcia is a Spanish guitarist. He is known as the guitarist of Spanish neoclassical metal/power metal band Dark Moor. He is the only constant member through all of Dark Moor's fifteen years, and writes most of their lyrics as well. For their album Tarot, he did all of the orchestral...
(1994–present) - Guitar - Mario Garcia (2008–present) - Bass
- Roberto Cappa (2007–present) - Drums
Former members
- Javier Rubio (1994-1999?) - Guitar
- Roberto Peña De Camus (1994–2002) - Keyboards
- Elisa MartinElisa MartinElisa Candelas Martin is a Spanish singer who has been the vocalist for power metal bands Dark Moor, Hamka, Fairyland and Dreamaker.- Career :Elisa started singing in metal bands when she was only 12 years old...
(1999–2003) - Vocals - Albert Maroto (1999–2003) - Guitar
- Jorge Sáez - (1999–2003) Drums
- Jose Garrido (2003–2004) - Guitar
- Anan Kaddouri (1999–2004) - Bass
- Andy C. (2003–2006) - Drums/Keyboards
- Dani Fernandez (2004–2008) - Bass
Demos
- Tales Of The Dark Moor (1996)
- Dreams of Madness (1998)
- Flying (1999)
Studio Albums
- ShadowlandShadowland (Dark Moor album)Shadowland is Dark Moor's first album released in 1999 by Arise Records.-Track listing:#"Shadowland" - 0:36#"Valhalla" - 6:57#"Dragon Into the Fire" - 5:05#"Calling on the Wind" - 5:04#"Magic Land" - 4:58#"Flying" - 6:40...
(1999) - The Hall of the Olden DreamsThe Hall of the Olden DreamsThe Hall of the Olden Dreams 2000 is the second full-length album released by Spanish power metal band Dark Moor.Many of the songs are based on historic figures or events, like "Maid of Orleans", "Bells of Notre Dame", and "Quest for the Eternal Fame", among others...
(2000) - The Gates of Oblivion (2002)
- Dark MoorDark Moor (album)Dark Moor is the fourth full-length album of the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor.Shortly before releasing The Gates of Oblivion, the band announced their split. Due to musical differences, Elisa C. Martín, Albert Maroto and Jorge Saez left the band, and formed Dreamaker. Enrik Garcia and Anan...
(2003) - Beyond the Sea (2005)
- TarotTarot (album)Tarot is the sixth full length album by the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor. The songs of the album are all named after the Major Arcana deck in the Tarot card game. The first single extracted from the album was "The Chariot"...
(2007) - AutumnalAutumnalAutumnal is the seventh full-length album by the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor. The recording of this album was announced as early as May 4, 2008, with constant updates posted on their website since then....
(2009) - Ancestral RomanceAncestral RomanceAncestral Romance is the eighth full-length album by the Spanish power metal band Dark Moor, released on 24 November 2010.-Track listing:# "Gadir" - 4:59# "Love From the Stone" - 4:02# "Alaric de Marnac" - 4:42# "Mio Cid" - 6:39# "Just Rock" - 2:35...
(2010)
Singles
- From Hell (2003)
- Before The Duel (2005)
- The Chairot (2007)
- On The Hill Of Dreams (2009)
- Love From The Stone (2010)