On January 17th 2025 we will release our final epitaph, the posthumous live album “Anthems From Beyond the Grave – Live in Europe 2023” via Century Media Records.

The album presales are starting today. You can pre-order the album (plus accompanying shirts) via the band’s own webshop.

We will release more in depth information and a first video single later today at 18h CET /12pm EST.

Come and let’s celebrate one more time. This will be your last chance to see Dark Fortress live:

03.05.2022 – Saarbrücken, DE, Garage – tickets
04.05.2022 – Aarau, CH, Kiff – tickets
05.05.2022 – Paris, FR, Backstage – tickets
06.05.2022 – Gent, BE, Asgaard – tickets
07.05.2022 – London, UK, Boston Music Room – tickets
08.05.2022 – Rotterdam, NL, Baroeg – tickets
09.05.2022 – Bochum, DE, Matrix – tickets
10.05.2022 – Berlin, DE, Hole 44 – tickets
11.05.2022 – Leipzig, DE, Hellraiser – tickets
12.05.2022 – Wroclaw, PL, Łącznik – tickets
13.05.2022 – Wien, AT, Viper Room – tickets
14.05.2022 – München, DE, Backstage – tickets

Our classic 4^th album „Séance“ (originally released in 2006) will be re-released on Vinyl via Seven Mater records! Release date is the 10^th of July 2022.
The album comes out as a deluxe Triple Gatefold edition in two colors (Gold and Red), each color limited to 500 unites. There is also a special limited Metal Box edition of 60 copies for the collectors (Gold Vinyl).
More information on www.facebook.com/sevanmater and www.sevanmater.com

“We can hardly believe it, but California Deathfest seems to happen for real next weekend! But not only because of the (obvious) circumstances California Deathfest will be a very special and meaningful show for us: This is our first show in over 2 ½ years, our first show in the United States ever, the very first show for our latest album „Spectres from the Old World“ and… also the last show of our drummer Seraph who has been our brother in crime for the last two decades:

Actually Seraph had „(in)officially“ left the band already after the recordings of „Spectres from the Old World“ and our good friend Hannes Grossmann was supposed to play all upcoming shows. But due to an injury Hannes was forced to cancel California Deathfest which at first seemed to leave us in a desperate situation regarding the show. Fortunately, Seraph, despite already having left the band, proved again that he is a fantastic guy and loyal friend and stepped in for Hannes. I see this situation with a laughing and a crying eye: On the one hand it is a pity that Hannes can’t be with us, on the other hand we are also excited to play one more time with Seraph and give him a proper farewell. And I think playing our first show on „the other side“ of the Atlantic in the City of Angels is a pretty great setting for a proper farewell. Seraph, we bow to you, and thank you for 2 decades of awesomeness!”

V.Santura/Dark Fortress

We just entered a cooperation with Vision Merch / Manic Merch and hereby announce that we have a new webshop online. The shop is based in the US, but ships Worldwide! So please check it out, more items are to come:

Click here to visit our new webshop!

“Yesterday our show in Rotterdam officially got canceled due to the prevailing situation regarding the spread of Covid-19, today the show in Munich… It is just a matter of time until every show will be down, so under the current circumstances of event size restrictions and a growing number of travel bans which affect some members of the band already, it simply doesn’t make any sense trying to tour at the moment, therefore we have no other choice than canceling the whole tour. Of course we are disappointed and cannot wait to finally get back on stage, especially after the amazing feedback our new album has received so far, but this is a force majeure… We can only hope that the situation will calm down in the upcoming weeks and months and that we will be able to tour in October as planned.”

V. Santura/Dark Fortress

Venerated black metal specialists DARK FORTRESS return with a new album, “Spectres from the Old World”, on February 28th, 2020. For a first taste check out a semi-static clip for the song “Pulling at Threads” here: https://youtu.be/JSuv9h6_wu0

“Spectres from the Old World” is more direct, more aggressive than its predecessors. At no time in DARK FORTRESS’history have they reached so far out into the darkness, only to find the domine of astronomy non-existent, the end merely an end. Recorded, engineered, mixed, and mastered by V. Santura at Woodshed Studios throughout 2019, “Spectres from the Old World” marks an important milestone in DARK FORTRESS’ journey along actual and spiritual left-hand paths.

Glimpse into the endless black of the universe on “Spectres from the Old World”, which is available in the following formats:
Ltd. CD Mediabook (ouside of North America)
CD Digipak (North America)
Gatefold black 2LP
100x Gatefold transparent blue 2LP – via the CM Distro Onlineshop
200x Gatefold transparent petrol green 2LP – via CM Distro
200x Gatefold transparent magenta 2LP – via EMP and Nuclear Blast
Digital Album
You can pre-order the album directly at the band’s own webshop: http://www.darkfortress.org/merch.html or here: https://DarkFortress.lnk.to/SpectresFromTheOldWorld

DARK FORTRESS have confirmed the following shows a month after “Spectres from the Old World” is released:
26.03.20 (DE) Munich – Feierwerk
27.03.20 (CH) Wetzikon – Hall Of Fame
28.03.20 (DE) Bochum – Matrix
29.03.20 (NL) Rotterdam – Baroeg

Morean comments: “To celebrate the release of our eighth studio album “Spectres from the Old World”, we are happy to announce a handful of release shows next spring in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. More dates later in the year to come. Hope to see you there!”

The following festivals are announced as well:
11.04.20 (NO) Oslo – Inferno Festival
24.05.20 (USA) Baltimore – Maryland Deathfest
27/28.06.20 (USA) Los Angeles – California Deathfest
23.07.20 (SK) Drevenice Reviste – Gothoom Festival
28.07.20 (SVN) Tolmin � Metaldays

“Spectres from the Old World” is scheduled for a worldwide release on February 28th, 2020. The track listing reads as follows:

1. Nascence (Intro)
2. Coalescence
3. The Spider in the Web
4. Spectres from the Old World
5. Pali Aike
6. Pazuzu
7. Isa
8. Pulling at Threads
9. In Deepest Time
10. Penrose Procession (Interlude)
11. Swan Song
12. Nox Irae

First shows are already confirmed, more will be announced shortly:

11.04.20 (NO) Oslo – Inferno Festival
24.05.20 (USA) Baltimore – Maryland Deathfest
27/28.06.20 (USA) Los Angeles – California Deathfest
23.07.20 (SK) Drevenice Reviste – Gothoom Festival

The classic third DARK FORTRESS album, “Stab Wounds” (2004), will be re-released via Century Media Records on November 22nd, 2019.

“Stab Wounds” will be released as Gatefold 2LP, Limited Edition CD Digipak and digital album. Strictly limited silver vinyl (100 copies) and transparent blue (200 copies) are available at the Century Media Store

Order “Stab Wounds” here:https://darkfortress.lnk.to/StabWounds2019ID

We are currently putting finishing touches to our eighth studio album. V. Santura comments:

“We have been working intensely on our new album over various sessions in the last couple of months. The title will be “Spectres from the Old World”. We decided to keep quite silent and vague about the process but now the recordings are basically completed. We have just finished recording all of the lead vocals with Morean on Monday, and only a few last details and two guitar solos are missing. Again, I am blown away by the power and versatility of Morean’s vocals. “Spectres from the Old World” will probably be perceived as less “progressive” than its two predecessors “Venereal Dawn” and “Ylem”, but it is more compact, super intense and I love the sheer power and brutality it bursts forth.”

The album will be mixed and mastered in late October/early November by guitarist and producer V. Santura at Woodshed studio, Germany and released worlwide via Century Media in late February 2020. More news will follow.

Coming Saturday we will perform at Dark Easter Metal Meeting in Munich!

Unfortunately, this show will also mark Dark Fortress’ last show together with our long-time (almost 18 years!) bass player Draug, who decided to leave the band for personal reasons. We all feel very honoured and grateful for having been an integral part of his musical carreer for so many years, witnessing his extraordinary presence both on stage as a performer, and off stage as a friend. He will be missed, and we wish him nothing but the best for his future!

Finally Dark Fortress launch their own official online merchandise shop! This store has been in the making for quite a while and long overdue and now at the end of the festival season we thought it would be a perfect point of time for the official introduction. For now we offer just a small but well chosen selection of items and the actual stocks are very limited. You can also find some very rare items which are almost sold out like the “Antiversum” shirt with a black on black print. Over time we will increase the selection of shirts, albums and other items as well as the stocks to make sure to cater for your needs. Orders are accepted world wide!

After a few months of stasis in the virtual word, our official website darkfortress.org finally underwent some long due updates. Please also check out the “Live” section for our forthcoming shows on various European summer festivals.

Only one week before we hit the road with Secrets of the Moon and Schammasch. Haven’t got a ticket yet? Follow the pre-sale links on our website and get yours now!

http://www.darkfortress.org/Live.html

As stated earlier on our Facebook page there has been a misprint regarding some of the booklets of the US Jewel Case Version of “Venereal Dawn”. In case you have discovered that misprint in your booklet (the lyrics for the song “Betrayal and Vengeance” are missing while the lyrics for the songs “Lloigor”and “Luciform” are printed twice instead) please get in touch via email with the US office of Century Media records (mail@centurymedia.com). Please put “Dark Fortress Booklet Request” as the header, include your name and shipping address and they will get you squared away ASAP.

“The sun is rising. Over a tortured and scarred landscape, the sun crawls over the horizon with a feverish scarlet glow. Its sick corona of expanding light makes the air glimmer like a tangible plague, which sickens all living things directly exposed to its light…”

And so it begins! As the living light starts to send its deadly rays upon the Earth DARK FORTRESS have launched the opener and title track of their forthcoming album “Venereal Dawn” via the website of Germany’s Rock Hard magazine:

http://bit.ly/1qeYSEc

“Venereal Dawn” is scheduled for a release on the following dates:

Europe, Australia / NZ: September 1st, 2014

USA, Canada: September 2nd, 2014

“What happens to life on earth if the fragile laws of nature are altered even by a little bit? How can the human psyche deal with the perspective of inevitable extinction? How far can the human soul be stripped before its essence vanishes completely? Can we contain the implications of forced and radical evolution and the insanity it brings?” Questions raised by DARK FORTRESS frontman and lyricist Morean on the band’s 7th studio album “Venereal Dawn”. Like most previous DARK FORTRESS albums, “Venereal Dawn” is again a concept album. Its nine songs weave a tale of survival, betrayal and sacrifice in an extremely hostile environment:

1. Venereal Dawn
2. Lloigor
3. Betrayal And Vengeance
4. Chrysalis
5. I Am The Jigsaw Of A Mad God
6. The Deep
7. Odem
8. Luciform
9. On Fever’s Wings

Expect epic song structures, mighty sonic cathedrals, virulent and sinister magic and lots of unexpected twists and turns as the bands drags you screaming and headbanging through the abysmal roller coaster of their universe once more.

To spill the viciousness of their upcoming, 7th studio album “Venereal Dawn” live DARK FORTRESS will tour throughout Europe together with Secrets Of The Moon and Schammasch in October:

DARK FORTRESS
Secrets Of The Moon, Schammasch
presented by Rock Hard, Legacy, Metal.de
16.10.14 (DE) Munich – FeierwerkÂ&xnbsp;Â&xnbsp;
17.10.14 (CH) Vevey – Rocking ChairÂ&xnbsp;
18.10.14 (DE) Trier – ExhausÂ&xnbsp;
19.10.14 (FR) Paris – Point EphemereÂ&xnbsp;
20.10.14 (UK) London – UnderworldÂ&xnbsp;
21.10.14 (NL) Nijmegen – DoornroosjeÂ&xnbsp;
22.10.14 (DE) Essen – TurockÂ&xnbsp;
23.10.14 (DE) Berlin – MagnetÂ&xnbsp;
24.10.14 (AT) Vienna – Viper RoomÂ&xnbsp;
25.10.14 (CH) Winterthur -Â&xnbsp; GaswerkÂ&xnbsp;
26.10.14 (DE) Nürnberg – Rockfabrik

To spill the blackness and viciousness of their upcoming, 7th studio album “Venereal Dawn”live DARK FORTRESS will tour throughout Europe together with Secrets Of The Moon and Schammasch in October:

DARK FORTRESS
Secrets Of The Moon, Schammasch
presented by Rock Hard, Legacy, Metal.de

16.10.14 (DE) Munich – Feierwerk
17.10.14 (CH) Vevey – Rocking Chair
18.10.14 (DE) Trier – Exhaus
19.10.14 (FR) Paris – Point Ephemere
20.10.14 (UK) London – Underworld
21.10.14 (NL) Nijmegen – Doornroosje
22.10.14 (DE) Essen – Turock
23.10.14 (DE) Berlin – Magnet
24.10.14 (AT) Vienna – Viper Room
25.10.14 (CH) Winterthur – Gaswerk
26.10.14 (DE) Nürnberg – Rockfabrik

Venereal Dawn is scheduled for a release on the following dates:
Europe, Australia / NZ: September 1st, 2014
USA, Canada: September 2nd, 2014

(Artwork by Nespress)

What happens to life on earth if the fragile laws of nature are altered even by a little bit? How can the human psyche deal with the perspective of inevitable extinction? How far can the human soul be stripped before its essence vanishes completely? Can we contain the implications of forced and radical evolution and the insanity it brings? Questions raised by DARK FORTRESS frontman and lyricist Morean on the band’s 7th studio album “Venereal Dawn”. Like most previous DARK FORTRESS albums, “Venereal Dawn” is again a concept album. Its nine songs weave a tale of survival, betrayal and sacrifice in an extremely hostile environment:

1. Venereal Dawn
2. Lloigor
3. Betrayal And Vengeance
4. Chrysalis
5. I Am The Jigsaw Of A Mad God
6. The Deep
7. Odem
8. Luciform
9. On Fever’s Wings
“Venereal Dawn”is scheduled for a release on the following dates: Europe, Australia / NZ: September 1st, 2014 USA, Canada: September 2nd, 2014

Three years in the making, “Venereal Dawn” will take the band’s traditionally rich musical spectrum further than ever. Always aiming for an innovative equilibrium between hellish black metal, sophisticated melancholy, atmospheres of metaphysical horror and a deep occult spirituality, the album will be a substantial offering to DARK FORTRESS’ already extensive back catalogue. DARK FORTRESS have never taken the challenge of making a new album lightly, and again took a radically uncompromising attitude in concept and composing. Many songs were written since 2010’s “Ylem”, and many were discarded again to make sure the new material would be able to exceed previous releases in quality, relevance and authenticity. Increasing scheduling conflicts with the member’s other bands and jobs, as well as the humongous amount of hours that this endeavor required, had forced the band to postpone this release a few times in recent years. At the end of an excessive recording session in late 2013, nine songs were chosen to mark the band’s 20-year anniversary with what they hope will become a landmark album in their long career. Expect epic song structures, mighty sonic cathedrals, virulent and sinister magic and lots of unexpected twists and turns as the bands drags you screaming and headbanging through the abysmal roller coaster of their universe once more.

We will release our 7th studio album worldwide on SEPTEMBER 1st, 2014 through Century Media Records. The record will bear the title VENEREAL DAWN and will be a concept album in nine chapters.

Three years in the making, VENEREAL DAWN will take our traditionally rich musical spectrum further than ever. Always aiming for an innovative equilibrium between hellish black metal, sophisticated melancholy, atmospheres of metaphysical horror and a deep occult spirituality, the album will be a substantial offering to our already extensive back catalogue.

We have never taken the challenge of making a new album lightly, and again took a radically uncompromising attitude in concept and composing. Many songs were written since 2010’s YLEM, and many were discarded again to make sure the new material would be able to exceed previous releases in quality, relevance and authenticity. Increasing scheduling conflicts with our other bands and jobs, as well as the humongous amount of hours that this endeavor required, had forced us to postpone this release a few times in recent years. At the end of an excessive recording session in late 2013, we chose nine songs to mark our 20-year anniversary with what we hope will become a landmark album in our long career.

Expect epic song structures, mighty sonic cathedrals, virulent and sinister magic and lots of unexpected twists and turns as we drag you screaming and headbanging through the abysmal roller coaster of our universe once more.

Further details to be announced. A tour and video clip are in the making for autumn 2014. It took longer than we had hoped for, but as of today, one fact is undeniable:

DARK FORTRESS IS BACK.

Dark Fortress have just started tracking drums for their (yet untitled) new album. The album is roughly scheduled for a release in early 2014. More news will follow soon…

Dark Fortress has announced a new live date to their 2013 itinerary. The band will be performing at Extremefest in Hunxe, Germany, held on May 23 – 25th, 2013. The exact running order is TBD.

Dark Fortress has announced a new live date to their 2012 itinerary. The band will be performing at the Alte Kaserne venue in Landshut, Germany on December 15, 2012, along with Obscura, Hokum, and Illegitimation.

We are proud to announce that Dark Fortress will be playing a headlining tour of the UK in November. Supporting them on the “Black Terror 2012” tour will be Saturnian (UK) and Ethereal (UK).

Black Terror 2012 will spread in the UK across the following dates:

November 15, 2012 – Liverpool at The Lomax
November 16, 2012 – Derby at the Vic Inn
November 17, 2012 – London at the Bull and Gate
November 18, 2012 – Bristol at The Croft

The band is currently planning more shows for 2012 and 2013. Please visit the Official Dark Fortress website at www.darkfortress.org regularly for updates.

The following is an update to the upcoming Dark Fortress performance at the Party.San Open Air 2012 – Dark Fortress are scheduled to play on Friday, August 10th, from 18:30 – 19:15. Tickets are available at this location: Party.San Open Air 2012 Tickets.

Dark Fortress are pleased to announce a new live date for 2013 – Dark Fortress will be performing live at the 2013 Dark Easter Metal Meeting, to be held March 31, 2013 in Munich, Germany.

We are back from our tour as direct support for the mighty Nachtmystium, together with Verdelet, Phlefonyaar and Wraithcult! It was a pleasure to share the stage with those bands every night, so a big thank you to each and every one of them! And also of course to the ones attending the shows, thank you very much, we had a blast!

Also we want to take the time and thank and salute our session members for this tour – A.R. (Secrets Of The Moon, Odem Arcarum, Ascension – guitar), Tobias Ludwig (Wraithcult, Thulcandra – bass) and Phenex (Dood – keyboards). You guys rock! It’s been an honor working with the three of you. We are very grateful to have shared the stage with you.

Draug and Paymon unfortunately could not join us on this tour due to schedule conflicts; additionally, shortly before the tour started, Asvargr had to cancel due to an injury. We wish Asvargr a speedy recovery and look forward to having our actual line-up back at our next show, which will take place at the renowned “Wave Gotik Treffen” in Leipzig/Germany on the 26th of May! We are very proud to take part in this event, so make sure to be there when the city of Leipzig gets painted black in a few weeks…