Darkwoods My Betrothed
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 in Kitee, Finland |
| Headquarters | Kitee , Finland |
| Products | Black metal music |
| Website | myspace |
Darkwoods My Betrothed is a Finnish black metal group originating from Kitee, with activity spanning intermittently since 1993.
History
Initially established in 1993 under the name Virgin's Cunt, the band aimed to become Europe's "most blasphemous black metal act," before adopting the name Darkwoods My Betrothed. Their 1994 demo, Dark Aureolis Gathering, presented a fusion of intense black metal with sophisticated songwriting and unique vocal delivery.
The band's first full-length release, Heirs of the Northstar (1995, Hammerheart Productions), represented a deliberate transition toward a slower, melodic viking metal approach, featuring "drunken Viking" clean vocals alongside conventional black metal screams. Bassist and lyricist Teemu Kautonen introduced themes centered on Odinism, signaling a shift from Satanic motifs to anti-Christian and Norse mythological subject matter.
In 1996, the album Autumn Roars Thunder (Solistitium) preserved the anti-Christian and Odinistic thematic focus but reverted to faster, more aggressive black metal compositions. The 1998 conceptual record Witch-Hunts completely discarded melodic Viking influences in favor of pure black metal, although its release was postponed by the label.
After Witch-Hunts, the band dissolved but briefly reunited in 2000 with a refreshed lineup, issuing a compilation and preparing for live shows before disbanding once more in 2001.
In December 2020, founding member Teemu "Hexenmeister" Kautonen announced the group's revival along with plans for a new studio album scheduled for late 2021. The album, entitled Angel of Carnage Unleashed, was released on 12 November 2021. Its lead single, "In Evil, Sickness and in Grief," premiered on 30 August 2021.
Upon release, Angel of Carnage Unleashed attracted notable media coverage and received predominantly favorable critiques.
Current
- Teemu "Hexenmeister" Kautonen – bass guitar (1993–1996, 2020–present)
- Jouni "Hallgrim" Mikkonen – guitars (1993–1998, 2004–2005, 2020–present), bass guitar (1996–1998)
- Pasi "Emperor Nattasett" Kankkunen – lead vocals (1993–1998, 2020–present), bass (2004–2005), drums (1993)
- Tuomas Holopainen – keyboards (2020–present; session musician 1993–1998)
- Kai Hahto – drums (2020–present)
Former
- Tuomas "Spellgoth" Rytkönen – vocals (2004–2005)
- Juhana "Icelord" Salo – guitar (2004–2005)
- Lauri "Larha" Rytkönen – drums (2004–2005)
- Juha "Magician" Kokkonen – keyboards (2004–2005)
- Tero "Ante Mortem" Leinonen – guitar and vocals (2004)
Session
- Emppu Vuorinen – guitar
- Tero Leinonen – drums (1994–1996)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Heirs of the Northstar (1995)
- Autumn Roars Thunder (1996)
- Witch-Hunts (1998)
- Angel of Carnage Unleashed (2021)
Compilation albums
- Dark Aureoles Gathering (2000)
Demo recordings
- Dark Aureolis Gathering (1994)
External links
- Finnish black metal musical groups
- Symphonic black metal musical groups
- Viking metal musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1992
- Musical groups disestablished in 1998
- Musical groups reestablished in 2000
- Musical groups disestablished in 2001
- Musical groups reestablished in 2020
- Finnish musical quintets