Q: What's the story on how "Darkest Hour" was formed and chose their name?

Mike: Well, we were formed as a high school band when the singer and I was 15. We chose the name because we were days before a show and it was just the least offensive of the names we had to choose from. The band has had many lineup changes but that is how we began as a bunch of hard-core kids in High School.

Q: How did Victory Records find out about Darkest Hour?

Mike: Actually we contacted them. We just emailed them and sent our first record on MIA, Mark of the Judas.

Q: Did you have to showcase for them?

Mike: They did send a dude to DC to see us and we did do a show in Chicago but they were normal shows. Nothing like us playing for them alone or something.

Q: Let's talk about your new album "Hidden Hands of A Sadist Nation" how is it different from previous Darkest Hour albums?

Mike: Lyrically it is more political. Musically it is faster, more thrash, has a lot more guitar focus, and the production is much more metal/clean.

Q: What tracks are your favorites?

Mike: I personally like Sadist Nation, Marching to the Killing Rhythm, and the instrumental.

Q: When does the album hit the streets and where can fans purchase a copy of it?

Mike: Well, it has been out for a while but the new re-release will come out sometime next month and it will have a lot of free goodies.

Q: As musicians how do you feel about fans who download your music for free -- instead of buying your CD?

Mike: Well, if it is instead of buying our CD then that is kind of brutal because we live off of this and we don't have a limo or stripers or cocaine or shit like that. But we support free Internet as radio. Music and ideas should be free. I download music all the time. But if I like something I tend to buy that CD, because I want to encourage that artist to be able to keep making music. As a person who loves music I like to support bands that I love.

Q: Legendary producer Fredrick Nordstrom produced "Hidden Hands of A Sadist Nation" How did he stimulate the creative process of the band?

Mike: He was really fun to work with. He had great ideas, and we really
respected where he was coming from and his ideas. That made the process really flow. Having someone you trust in control is a must.

Q: Will the band work with him on future projects?

Mike: Yes, we really want to do another record over there, time will tell I guess.

Q: How difficult was it recording an album in another country thousands of
miles away from home?

Mike: Actually it made it easier, as it made it possible for us to focus. We really liked being secluded and forced to focus. It was great to have the band alone.

Q: I may be wrong, but didn't the band have a problem last year where someone broke into your van and stole some of your equipment?

Mike: Yes, actually we had someone who stole all our traveling cash. It was a lot of money about $12,000.00 and it was a really big hit to the band. We are still digging our way out of that.

Q: How did the band persevere when this happened?

Mike: Dude, we just had to get it together. We used the theme song to Rocky as an intro and just went out and did it!

Q: What are some of the more memorable tours the band has done?

Mike: I always say the first tour we did with Drowningman, the tour with Dillinger Escape Plan, Anti-Flag, the tour with The Crown, and the last tour we did with Thrice and Cursive. Those were all awesome tours.

Q: If you could pick two or three current bands to tour with who would you pick?

Mike: Definitely, Entombed, Rancid, and Iron Maiden.

Q: Darkest Hour is performing on this year's Ozzfest. How difficult was it to
be added to this year's show?

Mike: Actually Victory did all the work so it was easy for us. But there is a ton of work to do now and we have some really good dudes helping us out.

Q: Fans are able to Email their favorite band member how often does the band read and respond to Emails?

Mike: All the time. I try to respond to all my emails. Like this one!

Q: Can you give us the 411 on why the band was locked up by Feds in Oklahoma?

Mike: We were charged with crimes we did not commit because of legal reasons we are not allowed to discus them publicly until litigation is over. Lets just say. Cops in Roland, OK, are corrupt as Scar Face!

Q: Where do you see Darkest Hour say five (5) years from now?

Mike: Who knows we never really thought we would be here so hopefully still rock N and Thrash N.

Mike: Q: Do you have anything to say to the fans of Darkest Hour who will read this Interview?

Mike: Just thanks for Rock N and hope to see ya in the Pit!

Interview by © 2004 Michael Montes - All Rights Reserved.

Catch Darkest Hour on the 2004 Ozzfest tour this summer.