South England’s DARKO blends the technical brilliance of Protest the Hero, the rallying pull of AFI, and the fire of Rage Against the Machine to deliver a sound that’s as sharp as it is sincere.
The relentless quintet have taken their explosive performances to 40+ countries (including Japan, Australia, and Canada) – from sweaty bars to the main stages of Punk Rock Holiday and Manchester Punk Festival, sharing stages along the way with powerhouses like Strung Out, Ignite, Frank Turner, Propagandhi, and H2O.
After frontman Dan Smith remained in Australia post-pandemic, the band turned to Tom West (of Lockjaw labelmates Almeida) to take the mic. West brought a harder-edged, metal-influenced direction – and a lyrical fearlessness that shook things up. Debut track ‘The Ladder,’ an uncompromising critique of misogyny within the punk scene, divided long-time fans and sparked urgent conversations while drawing in a new wave of listeners.
Now, DARKO are closing a bold chapter with Canvas – the final piece in a trilogy of conceptually-linked EPs. It’s their most dynamic and anthemic work to date, fusing post-rock textures, death metal growls, and groove-laden riffage into their signature brand of lightning-fast melodic hardcore.
The newly released title track highlights the growing financial risks faced by often underappreciated DIY promoters. DARKO’s riff-heavy “Canvas” serves as an anthem in their honor, acknowledging them as the backbone of the communities we cherish.
This is progressive punk with purpose. This is DARKO.
Upcoming Shows:
July 19 – Hormersdorf, DE @ KNRD
July 20 – Prague, CZ @ Cross Club
July 22 – Graz, AT @ Music House w/ MakeWar & The Anti-Queens
July 24 – Milan, IT @ CIQ
July 25 – Monteforte D’Alpone, IT @ Braustuberl Munchen
July 26 – Ferrara, IT @ DLB Festival
July 27 – Morrovale, IT @ Drunk in Public
Aug 5-8 – Punk Rock Holiday, SL
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