DARKFALL - Thrashing the era from 1995 to 2010

1995
The Austrian Thrash/Death Metal act DARKFALL was officially founded in January by Thomas Spiwak (Vocals), Wolfgang Koch (Guitars) and Marc Weissensteiner (Drums). Just a few weeks later the first line up was completed by Joachim Liebminger (Guitars) and Harald Koch (Bass Guitars).
After playing some cover songs the band started to compose their first own material until vocalist Thomas Spiwak left the band. From then on both guitarists shared vocal-duties and in April the first concert was played.

1996
After one more local show former vocalist Thomas Spiwak returned to the squad in November. Together, the band continued to compose new material and rearrange older songs.

1997
After completing their new material, DARKFALL played more regional shows until guitarist Joachim Liebminger left the band in November.

1998
In January, DARKFALL entered G-Point Studios to record the first demo “Winter Leaves”, which was released a few weeks later. Shortly after the release, Oliver Seebacher joined the band as second guitarist and in this new formation DARKFALL played several local shows.
Another line up change occurred in April when Harald Koch decided to leave the band and was replaced by Christian Kayer in September. Furthermore, the line up was enlarged by recruiting keyboarder Christoph Zavertanik in July. Soon the newly merged six-pack DARKFALL started to compose new songs and played several shows in Austria.

1999
One year after releasing “Winter Leaves”, the band decided to record their second demo called “Dimensions Beyond” in Radwerk 14 Studios, which was released in January.
After the recording session, Oliver Seebacher left the band and DARKFALL decided to play the upcoming shows with CRACK UP or SKULL CRUSHER only as quintet.

2000
While playing some local shows, the band wrote new material and entered Radwerk 14 Studios again in September to record the upcoming release “Firebreed”.
Unfortunately, the release date had to be delayed after some technical problems occurred. Therefore, DARKFALL decided to shorten the wait with playing some support shows for bands like HAGGARD, DARKSIDE or ASTAROTH.

2001
On the 1st of March “Firebreed” was released and enthusiastically embraced by both press and fans. Due to the great reactions, DARKFALL played all over Austria and supported MACABRE in Vienna.
Unfortunately another line up change affected the band because keyboarder Christoph Zavertanik decided to leave the band one day before the gig at Hell On Earth Festival in Austria. Nevertheless, the band played the show and soon found substitution in Julia Wernig who celebrated her baptism of fire at 666-Party and the funeral show for BLACKEND. After these memorable shows, DARKFALL came together to create new material while continuously playing shows in Austria.

2002
In June, DARKFALL decided to cancel all upcoming shows for recruiting a new guitarist and their last show for now was celebrated at Open Hell Festival in Czech Republic in July.
In September, the squad was enlarged by Florian Taubenschuss and during the following months new material was being created.

2003
After one year of absence from stage, DARKFALL successfully returned at the Austrian festivals Kaltenbach Open Air and Dark Moon Festival.
The show at Dark Moon Festival also was the goodbye concert for keyboardess Julia Wernig who decided to leave the band. The upcoming shows were played without a keyboarder, and finally the band decided to abandon using a keyboard.

2004
During the year’s first months, DARKFALL worked hard to finish new material. However, in April the band decided to continue without drummer Marc Weissensteiner. Soon Daniel Haberl joined the squad and soon the recording session for the upcoming album started.
At the same time, DARKFALL played well-received support shows for legendary bands like DISMEMBER and DISSECTION, which marked another highlight in band's history.
Still, not all band mates were satisfied with the band’s evolution and so guitarist Wolfgang Koch and drummer Daniel Haberl decided to leave the band in December due to unsurmountable personal and musical differences. Because of legal formalities, the ongoing recording session had to be cancelled.

2005
As a result of this reorientation guitarist Florian Taubenschuss had to leave as well and soon Thomas Stock, Sascha Pick and Richard Klösch joined the band.
Within this newly merged formation, DARKFALL triumphally returned to stages in the course of “Battlefield Europe Tour”, supporting bands like BEHEMOTH, CROWBAR, IN BATTLE or DESASTER. Few weeks later, the festival season started and DARKFALL thrashed at Fuck The Commerce Open Air, Devil Days Open Air, Metal Camp and Kaltenbach Open Air in Germany, Slovenia and Austria.
In July, Thomas Stock decided to leave the band and was replaced by Stephan Ritz in August who celebrated his live baptism on several shows in Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia.

2006
Soon DARKFALL started to compose new songs and signed a worldwide booking, promotion and management contract with Skydra Managment from Germany.
After a couple of concerts in Czech Republic, DARKFALL entered Studio 66 in Austria in order to record their fourth release “Phoenix Rising” which was released on the 7th of April and paid tribute to with a very special and memorable release party in Graz.
In the following festival season, DARKFALL hit the stage at Walpurgis Metal Days Festival, Bavarian Summer Battle Open Air, Queens Of Metal Open Air, Zabbaduschder Open Air and Metal Camp in Germany and Slovenia.
In autumn, DARKFALL continued with playing several shows at home and abroad until the ways parted with both guitarists Stephan Ritz and Sascha Pick.

2007
Already in January, DARKFALL presented their new guitarist Markus Seethaler, celebrating his first live appearances at Hotel 666 Event and Art Of Darkness Festival in Germany. In spring, DARKFALL were a part of the “Soul Of Metal Festival Tour”, Mai Rock Festival and Explosiv Still Alive Festival in Austria and headed into the festival season at Apocalyptic Form Of Death Festival in Czech Republic. The upcoming appearance at Kaltenbach Open Air also served as introduction show for new guitar player Alfred Hollerer who completed the classic five piece line up. After this decisive point in the band's history, several shows at Mamut Festival, Rock The Lake Festival, AUTScream Festival, Wolfsrock Festival and Zizka Festival in Czech Republic and Austria followed.
A worthy end of the year was granted with a couple of shows during the “NTEY Death Fest Tour” with PROPHECY and CARNAL DECAY and of course with appearances on Revelation Feast in Austria and Celebration Of Souls Festival in Slovakia.

2008
In the years’ beginning, DARKFALL concentrated their forces on finishing the works on the planned box set “Through Fiery Times and Beyond” which was released on the 7th of March. After the release, DARKFALL returned to European stages and played a couple of shows in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary. Furthermore, the “Fiery Times In Hellas Tour” in Greece became a very special highlight in the band’s history.
After this successful tour, DARKFALL signed a new worldwide booking, promotion and management contract with Catapult Promotion from Austria and played some festival shows at Gates Of Darkness Festival, Springtime Carnage, Mai Rock Festival and Care Festival in Austria, Hungary and Germany.
After these shows, DARKFALL prepared themselves for their upcoming tour and in October, DARKFALL finally hit the road on their 9-day-long “Fiery Times In Europe Tour”, which led them through Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary supported by PROSPERITY DENIED, RETURN TO INNOCENCE and PARSIFALL. After this tour, DARKFALL concluded this very eventful year as support act for THE EXCREMENTORY GRINDFUCKERS.

2009
The new year started with some regional club shows and a successful support show for CATARACT at Escape Birthday Bash in Vienna. After that, the ongoing spring was highlighted by some indoor festival appearances at Zizka Festival, Metal Swamp Festival and Gates Of Darkness Festival in Czech Republic and Austria. Furthermore, spring was marked by long-time bass player Christian Kayer’s decision to leave DARKALL and his replacement by Martin Klement in May.
The forthcoming festival season was opened at Mai Rock Festival and went on with shows at Zonk Festival, Summer Nights Open Air, Woodstone Festival, Next Generation Open Air, Rock the Lake Festival and Hellforce Festival, STP Metal Weekend and Dark Seasons Metalfest, all in Austria.
In November, drummer Richard Klösch decided to leave the band and was replaced by Thomas Kern. The first shows in the new line up took place in December, where DARKFALL closed the year on the “Maculate Conception Tour” together with BLEEDING RED in Austria, Germany and Slovakia and at Knut Fest in Austria.

2010
The year of DARKFALL's 15th anniversary started with a couple of shows in Hungary and found its first highlight on a successful anniversary show in Graz. A little bit later a show at Care festival in Germany and the “Bloody Eastern Party Tour” with DARKFALL supporting SANATORIUM in Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary followed. Afterwards, DARKFALL played the “Fiery Times In Suisse Tour” together with DARKMOON and once again at Mai Rock Festival in Austria. Some more regional club shows followed and the summer season closed with shows at Kaltenbach Open Air, Waldstock Open Air, Rocky Mountain Festival and Stonecrusher Open Air, all in Austria.
In autumn, DARKFALL appeared at Visions of the Apocalypse Festival, After Dark Festival, Blood n` Core and Metal Invasion Festival in Czech Republic, Austria and Germany and toured together with SCARECROW N.W.A. and BLEEDING RED.
In November the long-time guitarist Markus Seethaler decided to leave the band and the last two shows of the year were played at Fest der Pfosten and Bonebreakers Ball, both in Austria.