Rock Era Magazine is sharing the official statement published by Darkside Records in response to the growing number of bands who have come forward with accounts of unfulfilled commitments, missing payments, removed music, and broken promises. We publish it in full — because transparency, as we have said from the beginning, cuts both ways.
Darkside Records has spoken. Now it is the bands’ turn to answer back — not with words, but with evidence.
Bands: it is about time to show your proof and contracts for Darkside Records’ contract violations. Show your messages with the founder of Darkside Records that prove your rights — the commitments that were made to you, and that were never delivered.
The statement, published across social media, addresses the allegations raised by multiple bands across Italy, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, and beyond. We summarise its key points here:
On payments, Darkside Records states it does not charge bands for signing or for standard label services, and challenges any artist claiming otherwise to show invoices, payment proof, bank transfers, and contractual obligations publicly.
On Metal Station / Metal Over Cairo, the label states it has records of payments made for six shows and acknowledges one final payment remains pending, citing difficulties with international transfers into Egypt.
On Antiquus Infestus and Ludus Umbrarum, Darkside Records publicly acknowledges and apologises for delays experienced by both bands — while maintaining that contractual and financial investments made by the label do not disappear simply because an artist no longer wishes to continue.
On Catharsis, the label claims it spent approximately twice the originally contemplated budget on the project and states the matter will be referred to legal counsel.
On Anemoya, Maddox Theory, and Galloglaigh, Darkside Records disputes the allegations, claiming contractual commitments were performed and in some cases exceeded.
On DUSK, Mythos, Hëllridër, and Obscured Violence, the label claims the artists failed to deliver the agreed music within contractual timelines, and states it cannot be accused of failing to complete release work it was never given the material to execute.
On its legal status, Darkside Records states it is legally registered in Morocco under Commercial Registration number RC 165117, and that its website is currently offline due to a technical transition — not, it insists, because the company has disappeared.
The statement closes with a clear warning: where allegations are deemed legally actionable, Darkside Records will pursue proceedings in Egypt, Italy, Algeria, or any other relevant jurisdiction.
We note that Darkside Records has, within this statement, publicly acknowledged and apologised for delays to at least two of the bands named — Antiquus Infestus and Ludus Umbrarum. That acknowledgement is significant. It confirms that problems occurred. It confirms that bands were not imagining them.
We also note the following: the Estonian court dissolution of Darkside Records Europe — documented in case 2-20-16477, enforced in December 2020 and January 2021 — is a matter of public record, not allegation. The non-existence of DS Records Maroc under ICE number 00305806500003 in Morocco’s official business registry at the time it was signing bands is a matter of public record, not allegation. CARTHAGODS’ album being taken down from platforms and a €100,000 claim being levelled against them is a matter of documented public statement, going back to 2024.
The statement from Darkside Records invites bands to show their evidence. We echo that invitation — and we take it seriously in the other direction too.
Every band that has been affected, every artist that signed a contract and did not receive what was promised, every musician who sent messages to Saïd Chebacheb and received silence, delays, or threats in return: now is the moment.
Show your messages with the founder of Darkside Records that prove your rights — the commitments made to you that were never delivered. Show the agreements. Show the timelines. Show the promises that were made in writing and the silence that followed. Show everything!
Rock Era Magazine remains available to receive, verify, and publish documented evidence from any affected artist. Our coverage of this situation will continue for as long as bands are coming forward — and for as long as the truth requires a platform.
