AD: For the benefit of those who don’t know Darkshine, can you provide us with a description of the band’s current style.

BV: Since the group started, Darkshine’s style has fallen somewhere between black, death and dark metal, leaning one way or the other at different times. The tag varies according to the writers from black/death to brutal dark metal … today I would simply describe our style as “extreme metal”.

AD: How has the style developed since the group started out in 1995?

BV: Difficult to talk about a proper form of development. I think the elements which characterise the style were there from the start: a mix of epic moods, brutality and melody, all accompanied by guttural vocals. After 10 years of existence and musical experiments the method of composition has become more natural and intuitive, the musical sections have gained in impact and efficiency. You can feel that when you listen to our newer tracks like “A Whore for God”. We also feel that on stage.

AD: Darkshine recently released a CD “Ten Years” which includes tracks dating from 2000 to the present. A “greatest hits”, perhaps? What’s the plan to promote the CD?

BV: “Ten Years” is quite a special CD, it celebrates 10 years of Darkshine and that’s why it contains tracks we have produced previously. It’s not a “best of”, more a summary, a rundown of these past years, a means for us to present our background. It contains two tracks representing the current face of Darkshine, and serving as a “promo” for labels and distributors etc. “Ten Years” came off the press a few days before the start of the “Ageless Void” tour (with Aeternus, Devilish Impressions and Arum); naturally our set list was built around these tracks, the old ones and the recent ones.

AD: Is “Ten Years” already available in the shops?

BV: We are currently in search of a label and distributor. “Ten Years” isn’t in the shops yet, but you can order it directly through www.darkshine.new.fr

AD: Who has influenced your music?

BV: Ghyis (drums) and I were between 10 and 12 years old when we discovered groups like Metallica (And Justice for All), Coroner (No More Color) or Death (Leprosy) who were very striking musically and it was these groups who gave us the desire to play music and therefore influenced us.

AD: … and your life in general?

BV: Errm...Women? Beer? Women who like beer?!! Seriously, it’s music that has influenced my experiences, my choice of career, who I meet, my life rhythm etc, and it influences my daily mood. My family and close friends as well.

AD: Between November and December 2006, Darkshine took part in a European tour with Aeternus, Devilish impressions and Arum. What benefits did you derive from it?

BV: That tour was a very interesting experience, as much on the human level as musically, it enabled us to visit countries like Austria and Slovenia. It enabled us to meet people and promote Darkshine in various places across Europe; it’s always a challenge to try and conquer a new audience every evening, but I must say that I love that …

AD: During the tour, you were the sound engineer for the other groups. What other groups do you work with?

BV: I work regularly with Mephisto and Dagoba; I’ve been doing this work for 5 years now, and I have had the opportunity to work as sound engineer/Front of House/monitors or stage tech for a number of groups, such as Entombed, Morbid Angel, Krisiun, Impaled Nazarene, Marillion, Kreator, Dark Tranquillity, Finntroll, Paradise Lost, The Gathering, Napalm Death etc ..

AD: Do you consider that you personally or Darkshine are part of French “metal movement”?

BV: Hard to say... Darkshine’s development has always been a bit on the edge of the French scene, we’ve never adhered to any metal association or collective, we’re quite isolated in the way we go on. On top of that, we live in the south, so we’re quite isolated from the metal scene which proliferates in the Paris area.

AD: In Great Britain, we’re lucky to be able to welcome bands from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Germany and other countries, but rarely from France. Could you possibly say why that is the case?

BV: I don’t know at all … to tell you the truth, I didn’t know it was so rare; after all we’ve been lucky enough to be able to play in the UK! You’d have to ask the French booking agencies, hehe!

AD: As to the future of Darkshine, what are your immediate plans?

BV: At the present moment in time I’m working on the promotion of “Ten Years” through press articles and interviews, and always in search of a suitable label and distributors for the CD. Personally I’ve got a lot of work during the summer as technician with Mephisto, Dagoba and others, so quite a bit of travelling in prospect … on the road again!

AD: What are your aims in the long term?

BV: To continue moving forward, musically as well as professionally, then we’ll see where that takes us, through hard work and perseverance.

AD: And finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to our readers?

BV: Thanks to all the guys and gals who supported us when we played in London and Bradford, and I hope we’ll come back and play again there soon. Many thanks to you Andrew for your interest and your enthusiasm from our first meeting in Hamburg, and for this interview!

Thanks very much to you and good luck, Bruno!

You can visit Darkshine on the web at www.darkshine.new.fr

Interviewed by Andrew Doherty
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