Gothic Rock: Dark Side Cowboys

Country of origin: Sweden
Year of creation: 1993
City/ Location: current residens: Umeå, Sweden
Official site: www.darksidecowboys.com (under reconstruction now)
Members:
Nik
VigilAnte
Vagrant Bob
Atreyo
Side projects: no side projects but Nik can also be found in the electro band Chaos All Stars

Official Biography:

Swedish alternative band Dark Side Cowboys (a.k.a. DSC) are nowadays an almost legendary act in the Scandinavian alternative scene. They are often described as a wave/gothic act but still with metal, electro and pop elements the DSC deliver a unique soundscape. DSC say about themselves: “We are a society of artists or fools, the listener’s choice”

DSC have created their own unique sound during the years and the critics have found it hard to file DSC under a certain category. It's like DSC have created their very own genre, altough most critics claim that their music have belonged in the "alternative" category - related to gothic/metal/synth/industrial sounds.

The band formed in 1993 and has since released 5 official albums and a bunch of singles and limited edition releases. Their greatest hit so far would be "New Religion" (2001). The band has toured lots but since 2003 it has been no releases from this band. The fans are waiting for the next move...

HISTORY (1993-2011)

A saying about DSC goes “DSC is a society of artists or fools, the listener’s choice” and it is a pretty good place to start if you want to understand what DSC is all about. The band formed back in 1993 and has been going strong ever since, releasing five studio albums until 2003. They quickly became known as one of Swedens finest underground/alternative bands of their time.The DSC have been silent towards the world since 2003, except for a special gig in 2006 on request.

THE MUSIC

Dark Side Cowboys is a very unique band due to many reasons. The music itself is hard to categorize and DSC also use various other medias in order to create the right concepts together with their musical works. Many DSC-releases are made up like soundtracks to films. Hardcore fans might even find scripts or excerpts to the stories behind, all written by DSC.

Musically DSC take wide influences from many genres but basically they say that most of their inspiration comes from playing their instruments, feeling the music itself. DSC have created their unique sound during the years and the critics find it hard to file DSC under a certain category, it’s like DSC have created their very own genre, altough one could also claim that their music belongs in the “alternative” category – related to gothic/metal/synth/industrial sounds.

THE DISCLOSURE STORY

DSC have also been known for a special way of making records. Starting with the first release DSC buildt a filmistic concept that has sort of become a trademark. Those who’ve got all the DSC-releases can follow a thrilling movie-like story that still has not ended… The first 5 demotapes were all part of the Ars Moriensis story, and it’s full contents have been kept secret from the listeners so far.

All DSC -CDs from Pure Hearts EP (1995) to High (1999) are connected as part of the Disclosure-story, an epic tale that starts off hundreds of years ago and continues into the future of the 21st century. The Disclosure-story covers the destinies of the people from a world metropolis city, their struggle in search for themselves to disclose the mysteries around them. It’s connection to the Ars Moriensis-story is yet unknown.

In time the whole story might be revealed, but the date is not set if and when DSC will release the total script to Disclosure, if ever. The album Believe (2001) has no connection to the Disclosure story, but rumors has it that DSC have been working on Disclosure Episode III. Excerpts from the novel has been known to be found on the www.

THE EARLY RELEASES

What has happened with DSC during the years then? It all started with the release of Ars Moriensis, divided into five full-length cassettes released on Moriensis Productions, a producers society and underground label. These five cassettes were made as film music, each one of them following a different concept, all released during a period of ONE year! (1993-94). The first part Ars Moriensis gave the band “a name” in the Swedish underground scene and was praised by the critics.

With the third part ,The Hall Of Pain, DSC started to reach outside of Sweden and fanzines in Europe, USA, Australia, even Japan showed a lot of interest. So even the Swedish record label M&A Musicart, who offered DSC a place on their Angel Child compilation (along with The Mission, Merry Thoughts and many more). Soon M&A offered DSC a record deal and they accepted. 1995 still started off with the release of DSCs sixth cassette: Pearls For The Swine , this time available only to subscribers of Wanted Magazine.

THE FIRST CD’S

In November -95 M&A released Pure Hearts EP, the debut cd-maxi from DSC, including the underground hitsongs “Bloodred Moon” and “UnfortuNataly”. All songs were exclusively recorded (not taken from the forthcoming album). This CD has a theme of “love and friendship” but does not follow the filmistic formula on the earlier cassettes, although it has it’s place in the Disclosure-story. This release made DSC even reache no 4 on the alternative top 20 in South Africa with the song “Bloodred Moon”.

February 26 1996 was the releasedate of The Apocryphal – album on M&A Musicart. This album is made like the soundtrack to a movie, just like the other ones and deals with “abuse of messages” (especially religions, faith & friendship). The Apocryphal is also part of the Disclosure story, but still no details have been revealed. A massive releaseparty was organized by Moriensis Productions and held in the city of Umeå (Sweden) 1st March, followed by a minitour in Sweden to promote the album. Songs like “Happy” and “Tears For You” soon became pupular songs for the DSC-fans!

NEW RECORD DEAL

1997, and DSC had now left M&A Musicart and continued on their own label Moriensis. Soon it was time for DSC to go touring again… Such A Bitter Tour hit Sweden & Denmark during the year and DSC played along with various bands and even made a minitour together with Swedish EBM-act Project-X and finnish EBM-band Chaingun Operate.

The album Disclosure was then released on Moriensis Productions in May 1997. This album covers the first part of the Disclosure”-story – like part 1 of a soundtrack (although the “first” part of Disclosure is really somewhat the middle part). From this album songs like “Autumn Song”, “Disclosure” and “Stars” have since become live-highlights while the acoustic “Paralyzed” came to be the “hit” on the album.

After the release of the first part in the Disclosure-story the Cowboys took some time off, rebuilding and gaining strength. Meanwhile they worked on the follow-up story and in late summer 97 DSC started the recordings of Disclosure – Episode II. But of course they didn’t forget their fans and in October the ultralimited edition CD Reflections was released. Rumor has it that this CD could still be available somewhere if you look hard enough… A collector’s item for sure.

It was at this point when DSC closed a new record deal with Swedish label Nangijala Records.

COMPILATIONS

DSC have also contributed to many compilations. Among others (besides Angel Child) one can mention Subsoil II (from Nangijala Records- includes artists like The Nefilim, Covenant and more), The Hex Files vol 2 from Euromedia/NovaTekk, Monument, a Swedish synth comp.CD where you can find a very popular remix of UnfortuNataly from Pure Hearts EP , The Norwegian compilation The Revenge Of The Orange (a progressive/symphonic rock comp) and New Alternatives III goth-sampler from Nightbreed & M&A. The variety of different compilations again shows that the music of DSC might be hard to put a finger on.

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

In 1998 DSC started off with releasing the MCD entitled UnfortuNatalie, containing tracks from their forthcoming third album, among with exclusive songs. It was released on Nangijala Records, where DSC were signed until the Revival album (they still cooperate with the label). Included on this album is a re-recording of the classic “Bloodred Moon” and also a tasters of what would come in the future. The single was voted Single Of The Year -98 in Zynthec Music magazine!

During summer -98 DSC once again went off on a tour to promote the new CDs. This time they hit Arvikafestivalen (alonside bands like Sisters Of Mercy, DAF, Moby and more) and a lot of other venues across Sweden. After a short break DSC returned in the autumn to play at Gothic Helloween Festival in Copenhagen.

In December 1998 Dark Side Cowboys released the second single from their forthcoming album, a CDin full length format, entitled Most. It was the length of a full length album filled to the limit (19 tracks) with new DSC-sounds.

Then the DSC did some gigs during winter time awaiting the big release of their new album High – Disclosure Episode II. A video to the brutal track Most was also recorded in Umeå, directed by John Soliman.

HIGH – DISCLOSURE EPISODE II

High was released in Sweden autum 1999 on Nangijala Records. This album is the sequel to the Disclosure album and musically the songs dig deeper into the Disclosure story, offering moody soundscapes mixed with heavy guitars. On the album are also more atmospheric and symphonic songs like “The Ritual”, where guest artists perform the parts of the characters from the Disclosure-story. High was re-released in Scandinavia in April 2000. The album was also voted no 12 on Best album of 99 at SAMA (Swedish Alternative Music Awards).

BELIEVE

In spring 2000 the Cowboys did one more minitour in Sweden and Norway but most of the time DSC spent at Dimrakk-studios recording their next album, Believe. The first single from this album entitled New Religion was released late 2000 and got praise from the critics. It also went up to no1 position on the Finnish Gothic/Industrial Chart. In April DSC released Believe and started the Believe-Tour 2001, which is one of the most massive tours across Finland and Sweden any alternative Swedish band has done so far.

REVIVAL

2003 saw the release of the Revival album from DSC. It was made as sequel to the successful Believe-album and took the new DSC sound even further. From the melodic “Song of Selena” (with guest guitarrist Mia Coldheart from Crucified Barbara) to heavy metal sounding “No More” to the catchy hit “Circles” the DSC once again renewed their genre.

The same year (2003) DSC made a special 10-year anniversary concert, a one-time only performance for sure featuring guest starring previous members like Andre who performed old DSC songs in a way they have not been done for many years.. Then the Cowboys disappeared on the plains except for an appearance live in 2006.

This is a way to cut a longer story short. By reading this summary you’ll just get to know a little about what Dark Side Cowboys is all about. This story has already been continued…

Official Discography