Dark Funeral was the result of a project put together in 1993 by Blackmoon and Lord Ahriman. Naturally the band's self-titled 1994 EP would appear on Blackmoon's and Lord Ahriman's Hellspawn Records. This EP was licensed for Poland to Carrion Records. In the meanwhile several line-up changes occurred.

The Secrets Of The Black Arts is attempted first at Dan Swano's Uni-Sound Studio, but the recording is better completed with Peter Tagtgren at Abyss Studio. Metal Blade releases this album in the USA. Founding member Blackmoon, who had in the meanwhile left his other band Necrophobic, was also out of the revolving door. The band toured Europe with Necromass under the Satanic War Tour I moniker. 1997 brought the band to the USA for The Expo Of The Extreme and a tour with Usurper - Destroyer 666 and Acheron having earlier cancelled. In 1998 the band saw several more line-up changes (Masse is back on bass again), before the band toured Europe with Infernal Majesty and Cannibal Corpse. The year 2000 brought the Teach The Children To Worship Satan EP (the band's debut EP is also re-released with a different cover), which is recorded by Tommy Tagtgren and a tour with Deicide, Immortal, etc. That album, incidentally, depicted Ahriman's daughter on the cover. Matte Modin replaced Gaahnfaust at this point and the band played in Canada. The band's third album was produced by Peter Tagtgren and was no disappointment to fans and friends. An Apprentice Of Satan, originally from the last EP, was revisited on Diabolis Interium. In fine Scandinavian fashion, each member of the band is involved with other projects and Masse is not really Emperor Caligula!

The year 2002 was spent touring. The band first toured Europe where the opening bands were let go due to financial difficulties. The band then hit America with Cannibal Corpse and Incantation where Caligula concentrated on the vocals handing the bass to former Carbonized/Dismember/Unanimated and current Dismember and Murder Squad bassist Richard Cabeza. That summer guitarist Dominion left the act in order to "pursue other musical avenues." He also went on to a local university. His last act, as a member of Dark Funeral, was an Asian tour.

Later in 2002 the band, and their MNW label, issued a statement accusing Necropolis Records of embezzlement and financial impropriety. Nevertheless, the band also left the MNW label and signed with Regain Records in late 2003. A live and a studio album were announced for 2004. The summer of 2004 also brought a new EP called Devil Pigs which contained the band's debut EP, a couple of cover versions and material by Von. Candlelight USA released De Profundis Clamavi Ad Te Domine, the live album from Dark Funeral, in 2005. The band's fourth studio album, Attera Totus Sanctus, was issued in the late summer of 2005 and was the first featuring guitarist Chaq Mol. Recorded at Dug Out Studio and produced by Daniel Bergstrand, it also featured a guest performance by bassist Gustaf Hielm (ex-Meshuggah). The band was forced to cancel several European shows in April, 2007 following the unavailability of drummer Matte Modin. The man was apparently on the road with another group without notice. Dark Funeral was seeking a new drummer and was working on a video. Drummer Nils Fjällström (Aeon, Sanctification etc) joined in late spring and was henceforth called Dominator. The band’s vocalist Emperor Magus Caligula replaced Therion's Christofer Johnsson in Demonoid in November of 2007. The group announced the release of a second DVD recorded during the band's tour in support of the Attera Totus Sanctus album. Attera Orbis Terrarum - Part 2, was recorded in South America and was expected in May of 2008.

DARK FUNERAL - DIABOLIS INTERIUM - NO FASHION
I will readily admit that the numerous line up changes, wimp out and falsehood accusations and misdirected marketing ploys have taken their toll on my relationship with Dark Funeral. Which is why I am so surprised at the impressive nature of Diabolis Interium. Diabolis Interium is an incredibly together and organized assault on all that is weak and diluted in today's metal scene. A cursory glance at the cover is enough to catch on to the type of bestiality awaiting the listener inside. It is as early as opener The Arrival Of Satan's Empire (silence traitor! The Empire of Metallian rules) that the listener finds himself immersed and writhing in what can only be gloriously pure black metal. Dark Funeral 2001 is a force that brings together the vocals, riffs, speed, harmonic rhythms and death blasts, with nary a nod to the ever-weakening environs surrounding the band. One, of course, would be forgiven for still considering Marduk and Dissection the masters of the game, but it is clear that Dark Funeral stands on the podium with those bands. Dark Funeral is yet another example of the superiority of Sweden in all things metal and yet again proof that countries like Norway and Finland are Satanic light years behind Sweden. - Ali "The Metallian"