Dark Sanctuary is a French band that was created in February 1996, which plays "dark atmospheric" music. Their first official release was a 20 min single track Mcd, " Funeral Cry ", released in 1997; at that time the band only consisted in two members, Arkdae on keyboards and Marquise Ermia on vocals.
In 1998, the band wanted to increase its strength by adding new members, consequently another keyboards player, Hylgaryss, a percussionnist/bassist, Sombre Cÿr and a violinist, Eliane, joined Dark Sanctuary. Together, they recorded their 1st album, " Royaume Mélancolique " and made their first concert in September 1998 near Paris.
In November 1999, they signed with Wounded Love Records and, after the 2nd violinist Marguerite joined, they recorded their 2nd album, " De Lumière et d'Obscurité ", which was released in November 2000.
But, right after their recording sessions, Marquise Ermia left the band to carry on her studies, and a new singer, Dame Pandora, thus joined Dark Sanctuary.
Their 3d album, " L'Etre Las-l'envers du miroir " was recorded in March 2002 and released at the beginning of 2003, few months after the release of a two-track single. This album, which has had a huge success in France and Germany, definitely established Dark Sanctuary as one of the greatest bands in this musical style.
After few concerts in France, the band returned to Germany in order to record its 4th album, " Les Mémoires Blessées ". This album was released in early 2004 and confirmed Dark Sanctuary's own style while providing a deeper maturity, as well as new musical horizons. The same year, the band was on tour in Europe, including a memorable date at the Wave Gothik Treffen, in the majestic Leipzig's theatre.
Then the year 2005 began with a major event: their first compilation, " Thoughts:9 years in the sanctuary " was released on the U.S label Projekt; it summarizes no less than 9 years of career. The other event of the beginning of this year is Dark Sanctuary's appearance in the tribute to Dead Can Dance, " Summoning of the Muse ~ a tribute to Dead Can Dance ", also released on Projekt.
In july 2005 Dark Sanctuary went back to Germany to record their 5th opus at the E-Klangschmiede Studio. As a result,their new album " Exaudi Vocem Meam - Part I " had been released in November 2005 and a year after, in November 2006, its sequel "Exaudi Vocem Meam – Part II" was brought to light as well. These two opus have been warmly welcomed by the audience and are considered as the most attained albums that the band has ever recorded. Concerts through Europe followed, during which the band delightedly verified its popularity.
During 2007 and 2008 the band had had a piece of work in hand with the 7th album, in collaboration with a talented drawer. Troughout these two years Dark Sanctuary had to face events, which have considerably delayed the creation of this album, the most significant of them being the departure of the two violonists, Eliane and Marguerite, members of the band during respectively 10 and 8 years.
At the present time, Dark Sanctuary finishes off the recording of the new album, which should be available at the beginning of 2009. This opus promises to be a special one in the band's career: for the 1st time indeed the band has worked with the well-known Spanish drawer Victoria Francés in order to create an original and unique work.
