Darkher
„The Kingdom Field“
CD, EP, Repress 2022 (2014). Doom, Gothic, Rock.

In 2012, Jayn Hanna "Darkher" Wissenberg founded the band Darkher, initially as a solo project in Yorkshire, England. Their first EP, "Darkher," was released in 2013 in a limited edition and found success within the doom and post-rock scene. After signing with Prophecy Production, the EP "The Kingdom Field" was finally released in 2014. The band's music (no longer as a solo project) is characterized by plodding doom drums, acoustic and electric guitars, and lyrics steeped in world-weariness. Jayn's slightly mystical vocals, blended with the heavy sounds, create a compelling atmospheric doom sound.

The four songs are slow and languid doom. Drums and guitars create a heavy foundation, over which floats Jayn Hanna's (understandable!) fragile, plaintive voice. "Ghost Tears" is doom, while I would place the longer, quieter "Hung" more in the dark rock genre. A very ethereal song. At 7:14, "Foregone" is the longest track. For me, it's the heart of the EP. Heavy, dark doom. Here, the vocals are demanding, though still bright. "The Kingdom Field" also begins with acoustic guitar. The opening has something pastoral about it. It sounds like a cemetery, very gentle and flowing. And here the EP is already over. A shame, I would have liked more. Two albums have since been released, which will, of course, receive their own reviews.

Ethereal doom, post-rock, and dark rock. Mystical vocals. All of this creates an atmospheric mood. The sound is cleanly recorded, and this EP sounds fantastic.

What do I really think:

Wonderful doom, beautifully poignant, kitschy, slow, and calmly delivered. A wonderfully clear voice, bright, fragile, and, when needed, powerfully beautiful and demanding. Everything here is geared towards the mood. And while there's plenty of reverb on the EP, the music and vocals don't drown in it. Highly recommended.

E-Guitar, Guitar, Vocals – Jayn Hanna Wissenberg
E-Bass, E-Guitar – Martin T. Wissenberg
Drums – Shaun Taylor-Steels

All photos are from my CD/EP. The rights to all motifs, logos, texts, and fonts shown in the photos naturally belong to the respective copyright holders.

No AI was used in the making of this Review.
©22.04.2026