Darkest Hour Members, Gear & Sound
American metalcore band
Members
Select a Darkest Hour band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.
About
Darkest Hour is an influential American metal band hailing from Washington, D.C., recognized for their fierce combination of melodic death metal and metalcore. Formed in the mid-1990s, the band features John Henry (vocals), Mike Schleibaum (guitar), Nico Santora (guitar), Aaron Deal (bass), and Travis Orbin (drums). Their sound is a potent blend of the aggressive energy of punk and hardcore with the intricate melodies and speed of Scandinavian death metal, making them pioneers in the New Wave of American Metal movement.
How to Sound Like Darkest Hour
Darkest Hour's sound is aggressive yet melodic, characterized by high-speed riffs and complex guitar harmonies that create an intense, layered sonic landscape. Their music often features crunchy, distorted guitar tones, achieved through equipment like the EVH 5150 III 100-Watt Tube Head and Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer, which offer both clarity and raw power. The rhythm section maintains a relentless drive, with bass lines that underpin the chaos and drums that provide both precision and ferocity. This combination of melodic intricacy and rhythmic intensity is central to their sound, offering a visceral experience that balances fury with finesse.
Discography
The Mark of The Judas (Remastered 2022)
2000
So Sedated, So Secure (Bonus Version)
2001
Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation
2004
Undoing Ruin
2005
Deliver Us
2007
The Eternal Return
2009
The Human Romance (Bonus Track Edition)
2011
The Human Romance - Instrumental Version
2011
Darkest Hour (Deluxe Version)
2014
Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora
2017
Live in Lockdown
2022
Get the Darkest Hour Sound
Want to sound like Darkest Hour? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.