D U S K Bio
Established in 1993 in the Northwoods of Wisconsin is Dusk. Six months of overcast, sub-zero weather tends to bring out feelings of bleak hopelessness. Dusk has chosen to channel these emotions into musical form. Mood, atmosphere, and a sense of "groove" are combined into a mournful; aural experience. This inspiration has helped the band to be considered part of a handful of bands that helped pioneer the Death/Doom genre.
“Back in the early ‘90s, the North American death-doom scene was neither diverse nor rich. The bands that made this music in this period can be counted on one hand, but the first among them would be Avernus, Morgion, Winter and Dusk” -NO CLEAN SINGING, 2024.
Dusk was formed in January 1993 by guitarists Steve Gross and Tim Beyer. Fed up with the stale attempts infecting the death metal genre, Steve and Tim set out to create something fresh. The line-up was completed with Shimron Heemstra on drums and bassist/vocalist Steve Crane joining later that year. The band recorded the original self-titled debut demo "Dusk" at Simple Studios with Eric James engineering. It was released in early 1994 and was very well received throughout the underground, sparking a worldwide licensing deal with Cyber Music in Holland later that year and also a distribution deal with Relapse Records.
“Chugging riffs played morbidly and at the speed of a monstrous catapult being hauled by wretched laborers” -THE GRIMOIRE #4, 1994
“Steering the turbulent waters are dark undercurrents of keyboard melodies, manifesting themselves as somber portrayals of dread afflictions. No, this is not a happy band; this is the sunrise that never arrived” -CHAOTIC CRITIQUES Vol. 5, 1994.
“...a mournful and depressive Doom band that howls with the fury of a hurricane crossing a vast, frozen lake” -SOUNDS OF DEATH Feb. 1995
In January 1995, Dusk went back to Simple Studios to record "Majestic Thou in Ruin" which has been considered as one of the top Death/Doom albums of all time still to this day.
“I’m awed by the depth of darkness that this band reaches. Slow, doomy, depressing metal; but not Death Metal. It’s too coherent to be called Death Metal.” -CANDLEMASS Issue #12, 1995
“You know that a Doom album is good when just sitting there listening to it can drain every ounce of energy from your body” -TEARS OF EBONY, 1995
“Their ability to harmoniously swing from heavy dirge to melodic melancholy is impeccable. Dusk has obviously found a niche for themselves in the genre of sorrow and is primed to be a major contender” -SHADOWS OF MICHELANGELO Vol.6 Issue #3
Later, in 1995 Dusk performed around the midwest and also played Milwaukee Metal Mania 9.
In 1996, Steve Crane left the band for personal reasons. The band recruited Chad Denslow on vocals and Keith Powers on bass to try and fill the void. Dusk did record some final material in 1997; the track "Yearning for Eternity" was used for “Visionaries of the Macabre Volume 1” in 1998; however, Dusk went on hiatus later that year. Lost Disciple Records approached the band to rerelease the original demo "Dusk" and "Majestic thou in Ruin" on one CD called "Mourning Resurrect" which was released in 2002. In 2004, Cursed Productions released the unreleased tracks titled "The Slumber" as a split with Aphotic.
After several years, interest in the band never wavered.and in 2015, the original line up was back together and began rehearsing for future shows. At that time, Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Records approached the band and agreed to release "Dusk"/"Majestic Thou Ruin" on CD and double vinyl which really helped spread the word that Dusk was officially back. Dana Ignarski was recruited by the band to sing "The Transfiguration" for live shows and to add atmospheric female vocals to future material that was being written. Their first show back was a sold out show in Milwaukee with Amorphis and Swallow the Sun in March 2017. Shortly after a hometown Green Bay show, Shimron informed the band that he was leaving for personal reasons and Sean Smith joined as Dusk's new drummer. In May 2018 the band was honored to be invited to play Maryland Deathfest XVI. The "Withdraw" EP was officially released by Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Records distributed by Dark Descent Records in September 2018. Dusk went on tour with the legendary death metal band Master on their "Vindictive Miscreant" tour the summer of 2019.
In 2023 Dusk recorded their first full-length album in 28 years, including a video for the song "Beacon Obscured" to promote the upcoming release. “Dissolve Into Ash” was officially released in December 2023 on CD/vinyl through Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Records, Dark Descent Records, and on cassette through Dread Records. The music in this album is true to Dusk’s roots including morbid chugging riffs, harrowing laments with dark melodies and a rich seam of synth with Dana’s vocals saturating elegantly through the brutal passages of doom and heavy dirge.
“...magical music, which can be loosely compared to what bands like diSEMBOWLMENT, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Novembers Doom, Draconian do. DUSK also has their own signature, you can recognize them immediately among the others.” -DEADLY STORM ‘ZINE Dec. 2023
“Dissolve Into Ash” is a dark, brooding monster of an album. While it exists primarily on the Death/Doom axis, Dusk are unafraid to let other elements into the mix, and the result is an album that has considerable dynamic-something greatly aided by the skill of the musicians involved. It’s a dense work, best heard as a complete album, and clearly the thought and care on the part of the band. Highly recommended, “Dissolve Into Ash” may take you to the gates of Hell, but what a journey.” -SONIC ABUSE Jan. 2024
“Dusk actually has an edge to them. With My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost still humming and the new guard of Dream Unending and Tribunal kicking up the feels, “Dissolve Into Ash” is home.” -DECIBEL MAGAZINE March 2024
In March 2024, Dusk had their official hometown album release show to a packed crowd in Green Bay; also winning “Performer of the Year - HEAVY METAL” Wisconsin Area Music Industry WAMI Award 2024. In early 2025 Dusk decided to go a different direction, and added drummer David Swanson to the fold. David brings back the signature sound and style of the classic Dusk material. In May of 2025, Dusk performed at Milwaukee Metal Fest and then made their second appearance at Maryland DeathFest XX a week later. In August Dusk headlined for a packed crowd at The Very Famous X-Ray Arcade and then in September they made their first European performance at KILL-TOWN DEATH FEST X in Copenhagen, Denmark,.getting nothing but stellar reviews and offers from booking agents from around the globe for tours and festivals. Inspired by the great fan response, Dusk is geared up for 2026 and beyond.
Dusk Releases:
Dusk 1994
Majestic thou in Ruin 1995
Mourning…Resurrect 2002
To Find New Darkness/The Slumber 2005
Dusk / Majestic Thou in Ruin 2015
Withdraw 2018
Dissolve into Ash 2023
Dusk has had great pleasure playing with the following bands: Megadeth, Cannibal Corpse, Death, Cynic, Type O Negative, Cancer, Portal, Morpheus Descends, Rippikoulu, Voivod, Malevolent Creation, Six Feet Under, Sinister, Morgue, Afterlife, Gutted, Master, Broken Hope, Paralysis, Morbid Saint, Morta Skuld, Viogression, Godflesh, Satyricon, Evoken, Broken Hope, The Ruins of Beverast, Kataklysm, Fear Factory, Spectral Voice and many more.