Vesperian Sorrow is an American dark science fiction symphonic metal band from Austin, Texas, United States. Vesperian Sorrow was created by Donn Donni and Kristoph in 1994 originally under the name Unholy Descent which changed shortly thereafter with the addition of Will.  They are considered to be part of the early American Black Metal movement that only consisted of a handful of bands at the time. Vesperian Sorrow and Absu are considered to be the first two black metal bands in Texas. In addition, Vesperian Sorrow is one of  the first melodic, symphonic black metal bands in the southern United States and the first in Texas.  They helped to establish the extreme Austin Metal Scene that flourished from the late 90s and continues to this day.  Despite Vesperian Sorrow having roots in black metal, their sound evolved into a more progressive form of extreme metal that included elements of death metal, power metal and black metal. As fans of science fiction, horror, and history their thematic elements veer towards dark fantasy science fiction or slipstream science fiction that includes some minor elements of dystopian, apocalyptic, cybergoth, and sword and sorcery.  Their lyrical content covers a multitude of subjects including existentialism, apocalypticism,  futurism, metaphysics, occult magic, war, mythology, civilization, ethical dilemmas, terraformation, transhumanism, and more. The name, Vesperian Sorrow, was thought to reference  "sadness or sorrow in the evening hours “ but the band has clarified that it has more to do with the sorrow and grim reminder of mortality that one experiences from witnessing the vesper, or the first evening star, signaling the coming nightfall that represent an end of the day along with the end of life, the end of time, and the end of all things. [2]

After releasing their first demo, Unholy Descent in 1998, Vesperian Sorrow signed a deal with Displeased Records for the release of their debut album Beyond the Cursed Eclipse in 1999 and continued with their second album Psychotic Sculpture in 2001.[1] Before their third release, the band toured North America[3] expansively, and then went on short tours in England,[4] Germany[3] and the Czech Republic to promote the album. Their third album, Regenesis Creation, was released in 2006 by their own label, Underscape Records.[1] Throughout 2007 and 2008, Vesperian Sorrow toured extensively across the U.S. and Canada, and played a couple of select festivals in Mexico. The band released Stormwinds of Ages on The Path Less Traveled Records on April 24, 2012.  In 2013 members of Vesperian Sorrow were featured in a short filmed called, “ Black Metal” that was screened at Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. They re-released, Regenesis Creation on Black Lion Records in 2019. Shortly thereafter, they recruited the talents of Austin musician,  Gabe Reyes as bassist. In 2020,  the band recruited  Texas vocalist, artist, and lyricist, Orlando Logan Olivero (Against the Plagues, The Golden Soth, Complete) in order to provide all the vocals, and to develop the art and concepts for their next album.

The newest album, Awaken The Greylight,  is set to be released in April 2024 on Black Lion Records.

Discography

Demos

• Unholy Descent (1998)

Albums

• Beyond the Cursed Eclipse (1999)
• Psychotic Sculpture (2001)
• Regenesis Creation (2006)
• Stormwinds of Ages (2012)
• Regenesis Creation (2019)
• Awaken The Greylight (2024)

Compilations

• Displeased Sampler III (1999)
• Blackened V/ Metal Blade (2000)
• Displeased Sampler IV (2002)
• Trois-Rivieres Metalfest (2006)

Band members

Cover songs

• "Cry Lil' Sister" − The Lost Boys soundtrack by Gerard McMahon from Regenesis Creation 2008 reissue, also on their MySpace page