Darkest Hour Looking Forward to Recording With New Producer

Darkest Hour have selected Soilwork guitarist -- and noted producer in his own right -- Peter Wichers to man the boards for their forthcoming, as-yet-untitled debut for E1. The band has worked with a slew of cred producers in the past. Add that to the fact that Soilwork had an influence on Darkest Hour, and it makes sense the band would choose the Swede, who currently resides in North Carolina.

"Personally, other than just being stoked to record a new record, I think that I am most stoked about the approaching guitar duel shred-a-thon that will happen once a few riffers like [Mike] Lonestar [Carrigan] and I party with Peter," guitarist and founding member Mike Schleibaum told Noisecreep. "Of course everyone in the band has their own reasons, but that's mine. I mean we learned so much from jamming with [previous producers] Devin [Townsend] and Brian [McTernan] that I just can't wait to rock with someone new."

Darkest Hour, who hail from our nation's capital, have a thing for Sweden when it comes to their music. The band recorded 2002's 'Hidden Hands of a Sadist Nation' in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, so they certainly have mad love for the Scandinavian country. While they can learn a lot from working with Wichers, cursing in Swedish isn't one skill the band expects to pick up. "We spent a February in Gothenburg and let me tell you surviving that cold winter is enough to teach anyone how to curse in Swedish," Schleibaum said. "Actually, since Peter is living in North Carolina now, it's gonna be all about NASCAR and BBQ ... Swedish style, I guess!"

Schleibaum was coy and would not reveal any hints about the new material, but we can't blame him after he explained why. "I am not at liberty to divulge such great tidbits such as song titles," he admitted. "Working with a producer is an important part of the process and I like to keep things tight -- at least until we've had a chance to work with Peter and flesh out the material as a group. I will say however that we've brought back some of the melody and instrumental elements that were on some of the Swedish and Devin records. And that will definitely show its face along with, of course, some awesome new jams! We've been working on this material for a while now, and everyone in the band seems more excited and focused then ever. It's gonna be a good time once we roll into that studio."

Studio time is often bro time and bonding time for a band, and it's often surrounded by good food and libations to enhance the experience. Schleibaum, however, abstains from drinking while studio-bound. But only while working.

"I don't like to drink in the studio, but at the end of a full day of rock I definitely will enjoy at least one Red Stripe," he said. "I don't know why. Either that or Corona, but it's always nice to have a cold one after a long day of acting like adolescents screaming at each other. One food everyone in the band can agree on is chicken sandwiches. We love 'em ... even fried chicken. I think one of our favorite spots is right in RVA. It's called Lee's Chicken. Too bad they don't deliver to North Carolina. But hey, it's still the South, so they know how to do food. Trust me."