KINGS OF DARK DESIRES deliver a dark and immersive blend of Black Metal and Dark Metal shaped by early 1990s influences and decades of underground experience. Following coverage in Orkus and Sonic Seducer, the band now returns with CURSE OF THE THRONE (digital release: February 13, 2025; vinyl edition: March/April 2025), a more focused and atmospherically dense release that deepens their distinctive sonic identity.
KINGS OF DARK DESIRES were founded in late 2022 in Oldenburg, Germany, as the project of two musicians deeply rooted in rock and metal culture for more than three decades. For around 25 years, both members have been active in various underground bands and projects, shaping a musical identity forged through experience rather than trend. Beyond their own work, they are also involved in the local metal scene, including activities connected to Hellpower Oldenburg e.V.
With KINGS OF DARK DESIRES, the duo set out to rekindle one of their earliest passions: the raw and uncompromising Black Metal of the early 1990s. Drawing inspiration from bands such as Darkthrone, Immortal, and Marduk, as well as Dark Metal acts like Type O Negative, and Moonspell, the band blends harshness with atmosphere, maturity, and emotional depth. The result is a dark and intense fusion of Black Metal and Dark Metal, shaped by life experience and a strong sense of mood rather than nostalgia.
The new album CURSE OF THE THRONE will be released digitally on February 13, 2025. Compared to its predecessor, the album is darker, more focused, and atmospherically denser, unfolding a sonic landscape steeped in decay, power, inner abysses, and dark magic as a narrative and aesthetic element. CURSE OF THE THRONE is conceived as a cohesive work, drawing the listener into a bleak, immersive world with a distinctly ritualistic intensity—without relying on dogma or ideology.
A vinyl edition is scheduled for release in March/April 2025, underlining the band’s strong connection to physical formats and classic album culture.
The debut album Battles Below, released on March 8, 2024, laid the foundation for this path. Recorded and produced entirely independently, its nine tracks marked the starting point for the artistic development that now reaches a new level with CURSE OF THE THRONE.
KINGS OF DARK DESIRES appear under the pseudonyms “King Orcus” and “King Victor”, which are part of a broader thematic framework connected to the fictional universe of THE BOOK OF ODDITY. While this background is not required to engage with the music, it offers additional layers for those who wish to explore further.
As a two-member project, live performances are not planned at present, though they remain a possibility in the more distant future with additional musicians. Instead, the band released a music video for the song “Mistress of the Dark”, produced entirely in-house as a homage to classic horror cinema.
CURSE OF THE THRONE will be available on all major streaming platforms, with Bandcamp serving as a central hub for listeners and press alike.
Website: https://kingsofdarkdesires.com
Bandcamp: https://kingsofdarkdesires.bandcamp.com
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