You may have overlooked that name on Melodka's posters in Brno, lost among the foreign headliners. And yet this is a band that grew up just a few kilometres past the exhibition centre, in Kuřim. Here is the thing that makes even a seasoned genre fan perk up: Embrace The Darkness Brno do not play pure death-metal brutality - they let violin into their slow, heavy riffs. Melodic death-doom with a violin part in the arrangements is not exactly a common discipline here, and that is precisely what makes this band's sound recognisable on first listen. The band itself admits that it tries to sneak a piece of violin into every song if at all possible.
If the darker, slower wing of metal appeals to you and you want to know who to follow in Moravia, this text will walk you through the lineup, the sound, and where to catch the band live. No filler, just verified facts.
Who are Embrace The Darkness Brno
Embrace The Darkness Brno is melodic death-doom from Kuřim, active since 2012, with an EP, a single, and a full-length album to their name. The core lineup has held together from the start.
(cite index="6-2">The band comes from Kuřim in the South Moravian Region, is active, was founded in 2012, plays melodic death/doom metal, and operates without a label. (cite index="1-1">It was founded by five members: Jindra Vincenc on guitar, Aleš Krupica as vocalist, Martin Zejda on second guitar, Jan Šmerda on bass, and Petr Hejč on drums. The lineup is built on two guitars, which suits death-doom well, because between the slow riffs there is room for melodic lines.
The start was not slow. (cite index="2-3">The first single came out in 2015, followed by the EP The Nameless, which featured Stanislav Žoldak on violin as a guest; after the first EP, drummer Petr Hejč departed and was replaced by Václav Nováček. It is precisely the violin combined with the rolling weight of the riffs that still sets the band apart from ordinary metal brutality. That the band has built a solid audience over the years is also shown by its social media reach, where (cite index="4-2,4-3">nearly nineteen hundred people follow them and the band introduces itself as melodic / doom / death metal from Kuřim.
Death-doom with violin: what Embrace The Darkness Brno sounds like
Slower tempos, melodic yet heavy guitar riffs, and a growl that functions more as an additional instrument than a gratuitous scream. Add violin and a Nordic melancholy in the arrangements. It is not a sprint - more of a dark walk.
The roots of that sound point north. (cite index="11-10">The band's music has been influenced by Nordic melodic-death bands such as Insomnium, In Mourning, and Omnium Gatherum. Anyone familiar with those names can picture the mix of cold melody and weight. On top of that, Embrace The Darkness adds its own signature: (cite index="11-11">they try to bring a piece of violin into every track and build the right atmosphere through it.
How that works in practice has been well described by listeners of the latest record. (cite index="1-9">It is carefully crafted melodic death metal with memorable riffs and a well-executed dual vocal approach, where the growl and the higher, raspy singing complement each other nicely. Another listener particularly appreciated the vocal approach: (cite index="1-11,1-12">the sound is dense and balanced, the individual instruments are clear, and the vocals are not pushed to the front but underline the atmosphere, essentially serving as another instrument. That is exactly the difference between death-doom and fast brutality. The growl carries mood here, not just aggression.
From the first single to the album Eclipse
The band's discography runs from the debut EP of 2016 through a standalone single to a full-length album released in 2025. Over that time the sound has been refined, but the direction has stayed the same.
The debut arrived after several years of development. (cite index="5-4">The EP The Nameless was released on 20 February 2016 and contains six tracks, including the title track The Nameless One and Falling Snow, with Stanislav Žoldak on violin; it was recorded at Studio Sonidos and the release was supported by the city of Kuřim. The support from their home city of Kuřim is a nice detail that hints at how closely the band is tied to the region.
A year later came a standalone piece. (cite index="2-5">The single Temptation's Nest was released by the band on 18 May 2017. Then they went quiet for a longer period while something bigger matured. (cite index="1-2,1-16">The album Eclipse was released on 7 September 2025 and contains seven tracks. (cite index="1-3,1-4,1-5,1-6,1-7,1-8,1-9">On the record you will find the titles Eclipse, Beyond the Horizon, Stargaze, Temptation's Nest, Dead Inside, Implosion, and Last Resort. Temptation's Nest thus returned to a full-length format after years, which is quite typical of bands that take care with their material. Anyone who wants to listen before a concert will find recordings on streaming services and on Bandcamp, where both the EP and the album are available in full.
Kuřim, Brno, and Studio Sonidos: the band's roots
The band is based in Kuřim, but musically has one foot firmly in Brno. This is mainly connected to the studios where the recordings were made and the clubs the band keeps returning to.
The debut was made right in the Moravian capital. (cite index="3-2">The title track The Nameless One was released on 20 February 2016 and was recorded, produced, and mixed at Studio SONIDOS in Brno; the music was written by Jindra Bubeník, Martin Zejda, Jan Šmerda, and Petr Hejč, and the lyrics by Aleš Krupica. Brno's studios, clubs, and metal community are the band's home turf, even if the map says Kuřim.
This connection is exactly why it makes sense to speak of Embrace The Darkness Brno as a band of the Brno scene rather than an isolated project from the suburbs. Kuřim and Brno are so musically intertwined that nobody here really worries about city boundaries. For anyone following what is emerging in the region, this band is a good example. Current happenings on the Brno scene and further concerts can be found on an ongoing basis in our events calendar.
Where to see Embrace The Darkness Brno live
The band plays regularly at clubs across Moravia and Slovakia, and in Brno it is most closely associated with the club Melodka. They have appeared there several times, and in the small hall exactly what death-doom is built on comes through.
Their history of performances at Melodka is quite long. (cite index="25-3">As early as 14 May 2016 they played at Brno's Melodka as part of the event DARK and LOUD alongside Drunk With Pain. Seven years later they returned twice: (cite index="25-1">on 18 February 2023 they performed at Melodka together with Down to Hell and Orkrist. In the spring of the same year they supported a foreign name when (cite index="21-1,21-4">on 6 May 2023 at Nová Melodka they supported the Swedish band The Moth Gatherer alongside Elbe. And when the club reopened at its new address, they were there: (cite index="27-6">in January 2024 they played at the opening event Nová Melodka opening together with Spineless Fuckers, Liquid Jesus, and Them Switcheroos.
Why clubs like these? Death-doom needs closeness and volume for the weight of the slow passages to press down on you. (cite index="26-4,26-5">Melodka is a Brno club with a capacity of around four hundred people and has operated as the wine bar Melodie at that location since 1929. In a space like that the stage is within reach, the growl settles into your stomach, and the violin does not get lost in the noise. Expect sets to stay at a mid to slower pace, alternating melodic motifs with heavier onslaughts, with the atmosphere building gradually, crescendo by crescendo. This is not a concert where you would expect blast beats from the first minute to the last.
Right now there is no specific date for the band showing in our database, but the Brno club scene is alive and Melodka is its centre. If you want to head to that club for live music right now, take a look at Pepsi Free Night with Girlstruction and The Scrambles at Melodka na Střeláku, where you will find the exact date, venue, and tickets. Keep an eye on the concerts section for further shows.
Tickets and where to look next
Dates for metal bands change quickly, so for direct tickets stick to the band's and the club's official channels. You can find them all in one place easily.
The band posts new concerts and links to pre-sales on their Facebook profile, and their recordings are on Bandcamp and streaming services. For Brno dates it is also worth following Melodka's own programme. And if the topic has got you going and you want to catch some live music in the meantime, browse the current concerts, open the events calendar, or search for specific names among the artists. Death-doom is a niche, but live music in Brno offers plenty of other doors.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Embrace The Darkness come from?
The band is from Kuřim, just outside Brno. (cite index="6-2">They come from Kuřim in the South Moravian Region, play melodic death/doom metal, and have been active since their founding in 2012. They are connected to Brno through recording studios and regular concerts.
What genre does Embrace The Darkness play?
It is melodic death-doom with a Nordic flavour. (cite index="11-10">The band's music has been influenced by bands such as Insomnium, In Mourning, and Omnium Gatherum. Expect slower tempos, a dark atmosphere, melodic lines, and a growl that serves more as an additional instrument.
What has the band released?
Alongside the debut EP The Nameless from 2016 and the single Temptation's Nest from 2017, they also have a full-length record. (cite index="1-2,1-16">The album Eclipse was released on 7 September 2025 and contains seven tracks.
Where can I see them live in Brno?
Most often at Melodka. (cite index="25-1">In February 2023 they played there with Down to Hell and Orkrist and (cite index="27-6">in January 2024 they performed at the opening event Nová Melodka opening. Keep an eye on current dates in our calendar and in the concerts section.
Who plays in the band?
(cite index="1-1">The founding lineup consisted of Jindra Vincenc, Aleš Krupica, Martin Zejda, Jan Šmerda, and Petr Hejč. (cite index="2-3">Stanislav Žoldak guested on violin and after the first EP Václav Nováček replaced drummer Petr Hejč.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives - band profile for Embrace the Darkness (origin, genre, founding year, status)
- Bandcamp Embrace The Darkness - EP The Nameless, single Temptation's Nest, album Eclipse (lineup, release dates, tracklists, Studio Sonidos, influences, listener reviews)
- Facebook Embrace the Darkness (@EmbraceTD) - genre self-description and band reach
- smsticket.cz and melodka.cz - concert programme (performances at Melodka, The Moth Gatherer, Nová Melodka opening)
- downtohell.sk - overview of past concerts (Melodka 2016 and 2023)
- darkzin.cz - Melodka club profile (capacity, history)
- kdykam.com - Pepsi Free Night at Melodka in Brno, concerts, events calendar, and artists