2015: Saw former Sacred Heart members Paul Stead & Mark Stephenson release an album "Acquiesce" under the banner The Darker my Horizon. The reaction was so positive that they put a live band together - featuring Max Notaro (bass) & on drums, Gavin Tester.

This led to shows all over the UK - both headline & support.

2016: continued busily on the live front and second album "No Superhero" was released through Broken Road Records.

While the debut was incredibly well received, featured in many top 20 albums of the year & received radio play worldwide it was specific songs from "Superhero" that really got people talking.

Dear Olivia & the title tracks  firmly leading the way.

 

2018: The "Phoenix: Volume One E.P" was released. This features a very popular rendition of Knocking On Heaven's Door - which remains a firm live staple (only available on CD & USB).

By this time The Darker my Horizon had played many established and well known venues & festivals in the UK. And had now jetted off to Czech Republic for shows in Prague - including  Hard Rock Cafe's European flagship.

2019: late in the year & early 2020 it was packed show after packed show, and 3rd album "Seize The Day" was received with a fanfare.

 

Then... Covid...

We had around 35 shows & festivals appearances cancelled. However, we kept up our momentum & profile with Paul Stead performing online.

During the break between lockdown 1 & 2 we played 5 sold out shows.

 

And then... hackers...

We lost our original Facebook page - which had over 11,000 legitimate followers. No matter what we did we couldn't get it back.

It was a soul-destroying kick to the tambourines!

But we regrouped, set up a new page, and following the end of the pandemic started performing again.

2022: 4th album - regarded by many as the best - "When Two Worlds Collide" was released. & for the first time, a live performance in France.

 

2023: Continued festival and club dates all across the UK & into Spain, Belgium & Netherlands. Our second E.P "Phoenix: Volume Two" was released December 1st. And was voted - with such a short space of time & opportunity for people to hear it - 3rd best E.P of the year on Facebook's NWOCR group.

 

2024: Paul Stead & Russ Barnett are joined by new members Jamie Bannon on guitar & Mike Wigglesworth (bass).

A full schedule of live dates is in place - again in Europe as well as UK.

 

2025 will see the tenth anniversary of "Acquiesce" and to celebrate, the release of our fifth album "From Out Of The Ashes". Bookings have flooded in, we already have a huge schedule. Included, our first shows in Greece. The horizon is still very very bright.

 

Bands/Artists we've performed with (amongst many): Terrorvision, Tyketto, Eric Martin (Mr Big), Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime, Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper, Enuff Z'nuff, Phil Cambell and TBS, Stone Broken, Fury, Scarlet Rebels, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Dan Byrne, Girlschool, Mean Man Chris Holmes, Skam, Dare, South Of Salem, Skarlett Riot, Leatherwolf, Nazareth, and many more...

Venues/Festivals we've performed at:
Bannerman's Bar - Edinburgh
The Underworld - Camden
02 Academy: Leicester & Birmingham
O2 Arena

Under The Bridge (Standford Bridge)

The Slade Rooms - Wolverhampton
Robin 2 - Bilston

Cornwall Rocks

Love Live

Nottingham Rock City

Breaking Bands Festival
Hard Rock Hell -

NWOCR, 13, 15, Spring Break, HammerFest & Road Trip
BognorRox

IceBreaker Festival

Giants Of Rock - Bootleg Ball

Mayor's Fest Wolverhampton
Great Dorset Steam Fair (main stage)
Quarantune Rocks
and many more...