{{Short description|Finnish/Swedish symphonic metal band}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Dark Element | image = | landscape = | caption = | origin = | genre = {{hlist|Symphonic metal}} | years_active = 2017–2025 | label = Frontiers<br />King <small>(Japan only)</small> | website = | current_members = {{plainlist| * Anette Olzon * Jani Liimatainen * Jonas Kuhlberg * Rolf Pilve }} | past_members = {{plainlist| * Jani "Hurtsi" Hurula }} }}
'''The Dark Element''' is a symphonic metal band formed by Swedish vocalist and former Nightwish member Anette Olzon and Finnish guitarist and former Sonata Arctica member Jani Liimatainen.
== History == In 2016, Frontiers Records offered Jani Liimatainen to record and publish a new album. Liimatainen had then thought that he was going to work with a female vocalist, because the singers of his previous projects had been men. Frontiers soon informed him that Anette Olzon would be the one. Also included on this album are some new songs from 2004, never used before.
The project was announced on 29 August 2017. The debut self-titled album was released on 10 November 2017, recorded with bassist Jonas Kuhlberg and drummer Jani Hurula (members of Cain's Offering).<ref>{{cite news |date=29 August 2017 |title=Former NIGHTWISH Singer Joins Forces With Ex-SONATA ARCTICA Guitarist in THE DARK ELEMENT |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-nightwish-singer-joins-forces-with-ex-sonata-arctica-guitarist-in-the-dark-element/ |accessdate=29 August 2017 |work=Blabbermouth}}</ref>
The Dark Element gave its first show at the Sweden Rock Festival on 7 June 2018.
Their second album, ''Songs the Night Sings'' was released on 8 November 2019, recorded with new drummer Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-dark-element-announce-new-album-songs-the-night-sings|title=The Dark Element announce new album Songs The Night Sings|last=Prog|first=Scott Munro2019-09-04T15:47:24Z|website=Prog Magazine|date=4 September 2019 |language=en|access-date=31 October 2019}}</ref>
On 8 September 2025, Olzon confirmed that The Dark Element has been put on hold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nepentherockpress.com.ar/entrevista-anette-olzon/|title=Entrevista: Anette Olzon - Nepenthe Rock Press|website=Nepeen the Rock Press|date=8 September 2025|language=spanish|access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>
== Band members == === Last known lineup === * Anette Olzon – lead and backing vocals (2017–2025) * Jani Liimatainen – guitars, keyboards, programming, backing vocals (2017–2025) * Jonas Kuhlberg – bass (2017–2025) * Rolf Pilve – drums (2019–2025)
=== Former === * Jani "Hurtsi" Hurula – drums (2017–2019)
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
*''The Dark Element'' (2017) *''Songs the Night Sings'' (2019)
=== Singles ===
* "The Dark Element" (2017) * "My Sweet Mystery" (2017) * "Dead to Me" (2017) * "The Ghost and the Reaper" (2017) * "Songs the Night Sings" (2019) * "The Pallbearer Walks Alone" (2019) * "Not Your Monster" (2019)
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Anette Olzon}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Element, The}} Category:Musical groups established in 2017 Category:Finnish symphonic metal musical groups Category:Swedish symphonic metal musical groups Category:Mixed-gender musical quartets Category:Female-fronted musical groups