Cryptal Darkness

Band members

• Final line-up
  • Mark Kelson (vocals, guitar)
  • O'Neil Alexander (drums)
  • Chris Burton (guitar)
  • Paul Tipping (bass)
  • Chris Stevenson (keys)

• Former members
  • Martin Powell (keys, violin) (1999 - 2000)
  • Luke Wong (bass) (1996 - 2000)
  • Jade van Nagy (bass) (1996)
  • Paul Venables (bass) (1993 - 1996)
  • Geoff Kloprogge (guitar, vocals) (1994 - 1996)

Formed

Melbourne, VIC, 1993

Band information

Cryptal Darkness was a dark and brooding Melbourne doom band formed by Alexander and Venables in 1993. Kloprogge joined in 1994 and the band recorded an EP called “Chamber of Gore”. Kelson then joined the following year and Cryptal Darkness recorded the “Last Cries of a Dying World” demo.

Following the departure of Venables the band released the four-track single, "Descend into Thy Grave" that featured Van Nagy on bass. Shortly thereafter the debut album Endless Tears appeared, which was later re-released for international distribution.

Former Paramaecium guitarist Burton replaced Kloprogge in 1997 and Wong served as the band’s live bassist until he joined full-time in mid-1998.

An opening slot at the 1997 Metal for the Brain festival raised awareness of the band somewhat, and much of 1998 was spent working on new material. Around the same time the band started working with ex-My Dying Bride keyboards player Martin Powell, who came to Australia to join the band and record the They Whispered You Had Risen album, which displayed a more Gothic character than earlier work and featured Kelson on guitar and bass, with Powell contributing keys, strings and violin.

Cryptal Darkness had plans to tour Europe in late 2000, but this did not occur. After recording a second album with the band, Powell left Cryptal Darkness and later joined Cradle of Filth. Following this, Cryptal Darkness began to move into a more Gothic direction and the line-up also changed significantly. After Alexander left the band, complications arose with the Icon label and the band changed its name to The Eternal in late 2002.

Discography

Album:

	1996	Endless Tears	Icon
	1999	They Whispered You Had Risen	Icon
	2001	Chapter II - The Fallen	Icon

Single:

	1996	Descend Into thy Grave	Obscure

EP:

	1999	The Coldest Winter	Icon