“Darkest Hour” (out May 31) is the first single taken from Aztek’s upcoming EP, to be released later in 2019. It's an upbeat track, driven by a catchy, fuzzy riff and a

captivating vocal performance by Benjamin Vestergaard Johansen, which

make this piece a clear example of the band’s sharp and intuitive songwriting.

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While the outside layers of the song prove Aztek's ability to create powerful rock-infused and almost anthemic sound, melancholy and reflection lay on the inside of their newest single.

In fact, the song is about experiencing a loved one’s life crisis and all the feelings that

come with it. The duality of life reflected through sound truly is something that Aztek

 have perfected on “Darkest Hour”, not only emotionally but also structurally. In their lightness, the verses of the song contrast the dark and heavy chorus, forcing its way

into the structure of the song.

Despite the tragic elements of reality that come with this single, Aztek's “Darkest Hour” can be seen as anything but an anthem for sadness or destruction. In the end, the song’s message is: even when everything seems hopeless, there’s in fact hope. And just like

the convincing lyrics say, “the darkest hour is just before dawn”.

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Formed back in 2015 in northern Denmark, Aztek is a name known to most people of the Danish underground indie scene. Born out of mutual interest for experimental rock, this adventurous prog rock quintet from Aalborg introduces a sound that is equally powerful

and challenging but also has a distinct melancholy to it. The classic rhythm section

- guitars, bass, drums - is complemented by dreamy synthesizers and the inciting

vocal of lead singer Benjamin Vestergaard Johansen, whose grandiose voice

adds a colourful flavour to the band’s sound.

Harmonically experimental and ambitious, the band’s debut album ‘Dream Dealer’ (2016) led to Aztek playing several big venues and festivals in recent years, including Way Up North, Nibe Festival or Denmark’s well known SPOT Festival, an annual showcase event also known as the Nordic SXSW. Undoubtedly, ‘Dream Dealer’ was a success for them. 

A follow-up to Aztek's debut, released in August of last year, was the sophomore album ‘Perfect Imbalance’; a solid, almost an hour-long LP (released digitally and on vinyl)

that only helped strengthen their position on the underground indie scene of

Denmark.

Influenced by some of the world’s most successful musical pioneers

(Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Kashmir, and some newer creations from

The Queens Of The Stone Age), driven by endless possibilities that

experimental rock brings with it and, most importantly, not afraid

of progressing and improving their sound, the band is definitely

here to stay.

 

And with the release of the new single “Darkest Hour” on May 31, it is safe to say that now it’s also the act’s own youthful energy and confidence helping them not only explore this

new chpter in their career but also deliver what’s been harvested as a result of their work.

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B I Z Z A R R E

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