Chemicals
Los Angeles-based The Dark has officially signed with Arising Empire and dropped their debut single, 'Chemicals', out now worldwide - welcome to the family!
The band, fronted by Craig Johns Jr. with guitarist Alan Ashby (Of Mice & Men), alongside Derek Vautrinot on drums and Nick Goins on bass, is already making waves. Released by the independent label Arising Empire—home to metalcore upstarts thrown and previously to While She Sleeps—this debut signals a bold new entry into the heavy music scene.

'Chemicals' paints an apocalyptic vision of the end of the world through the eyes of two lovers. While the entire world is falling apart, 2 people choose to solely focus on each other and allow the world to collapse into ashes around them.
“Influenced by 90’s bands like Nine Inch Nails, White Zombie, Fudge Tunnel and Filter, 'Chemicals' felt like a natural choice for our first single."

Singer Craig Johns Jr. says: "It’s something I’m less than proud of, but this story of two lovers focusing on each other while the world falls apart… This comes from a very real place I’ve found myself in in the past. There have been times where I’ve wrapped myself in things like lust and drugs, rather than facing the harsh reality of living in poverty in a major city like Los Angeles. Sometimes it’s easier to obsess over what’s in front of you, an easy escape, whether it’s a partner or a substance, and end up willfully blind to the bigger picture. This band is our love letter to the dark side of our human nature."