The present biography is medium sized, if you're hurried, a summeriszed biography exists and if you want to have all the details, there's also a detailed biography.
With the whole beginning, B.Iron and Gloom had different pseudonyms and Aran didn't have any pseudonym. To ease the reading, this page is written like if those ones would already have their actual pseudonyms.
In Liége area (Belgium), on the second half of the year 1994, B.Iron, drummer and Gloom, guitar player, integrate their first band, the one of Aran, signer guitar player, band that, by the way, never realy had a name. In December 1994, Gloom have just found a bass player named David S. for this band when Aran decides to follow alone his way. B.Iron and Gloom (that became a signer by still being a guitar player) thus create Black Swords, accompanied by David. B.Iron and Gloom's texts have been the composition's bases for their music that evolve in a Down Tempo Metal more or less dissonant (at least at their beginning).
In April 1995, Laurent E., guitar player, a Gloom and almost David's acquaintance join the band. Two weeks later, in May, David leave Black Swords.
In june, B.Iron and Gloom are invited by Psycho-Fred to take part to his programme broadcast on radio Amay. Besides the interview, they broadcast Eternal Peace
and Back from the front
on air, recorded with what they have as a test for their future first demo.
That same month, Laurent leave Black Swords.
At the beginning of July, a bass player, Bertrand V. integrate the band. He only stayed two weeks.
Then B.Iron record the drums for the demo until August. From September to November, Gloom record the bass, the guitars as well as the vocals. The result being far from what was expected, the demo have been entitled: démo ratée
(Failed demo
translated in english) and is not commercialized.
December 16th, 1995, Black Swords makes it's first gig at Comblain la Tour opening for Ragnarok (Aran's oneman band) …and with Ragnarok opening.
Later, Anne-Christine C., bass player signer, join the band.
In January 1996, Aran join Black Swords as a guitar player.
In February, Aran leave the band, Anne-Christine do the same later in that month.
In August, Eternal Peace
is recorded with a synthetiser on that B.Iron programmed the drums (concidering that with their material, they couldn't record the real drums suitably) and Gloom programmed the choir to then record the bass, the guitars and the vocal. This recording was a test to know how it sounds like with a synthetic drums (a rythm box).
The band is joined by a guitar player: Lio., that becomes the Black Swords' bass player.
In September, a guitar player Benja., an acquaintance of Lio., integrates the band.
September 21st, 1996, Black Swords gives its second gig at the Salle Bonne Nouvelle (without Benja. that didn't already rehearse with the band), opening for the bands Psyko-map, BooZe and Heinz 57.
In December, Life From A Distant Point Of View
and Death From A Close Point Of View
(programmed by B.Iron on the synthetiser) are recorded at Aran's home to have the best sound possible.
In January and February 1997, Gloom records 7 other songs in the same way that Eternal Peace
(with each synthetic instrument programmed). The result of this demo is satisfying but, the real drums not being recorded, this one is not commercialized. It's title is: ? (Preview Demo)
(a demo with the drums is then forcast under the title: ?
).
In April, not being enoughtly involved in Black Swords, Lio. is pleased by B.Iron and Gloom to do an effort. He then prefer to leave the band. Gloom leave his guitar beside for the bass in order to do the gigs.
At the en of July, the Black Swords members are interviewed by Jean-François L. for the 2nd number of the Metal Mania fanzine.
At the end of September, to announce the output of the 2nd number of that fanzine, Jean-François and Morbid Noise, the Metal Mania editors, as well as Gloom (that also participate a bit to that 2nd number), went to Équinoxe radio, in the Tohu-Bohu broadcast of Killer. The broadcast being centered on the fanzine, Killer just asked to Gloom a few questions about Black Swords and then broadcasted Rotting Decadence
.
October 1st, 1997, Black Swords gives a gig headlining with Eidôlon opening at Le Couvent's café.
Later, Gloom began to elaborate a concept with a great part of the lyrics written for Black Swords.
About two weeks after that gig ΚΦ, Eidôlon's bass player, accept to join the band (so, Gloom takes back his guitar).
Since the 3rd Black Swords' gig, Benja. didn't came to rehearse. He announced his decision to leave the band at the end of January 1998.
Around April or May, K.Dich join Black Swords as live session keyboard player
.
July 18th, 1998, Black Swords do a gig at the Carlo Levi with Épiphora opening.
In august, it's decided that Black Swords will become a studio band. ΚΦ propose to do a last gig, the other band members agree.
So, October 9th, 1998, Black Swords gives its last gig at A Bâton Rouge's café with F.O.R: opening.
One week later, K.Dich is integrated as permanent member.
In March 2000, the Black Swords members decide that after their demo's recording, the band will become a project that will record an heptalogy (7 albums whose conceptualisation began in October 1997), with only B.Iron and Gloom as members.
About June or July, some external to the band events hinders Black Swords to rehearse. Not being hurried, the band prefer to wait to have enouth time for Black Swords before they rehearse again.
Life's vicissitudes do that the band only start to rehearse again in July 2005.
At the end of September 2006, it's decided that the title of the Black Swords demo (that has changed its name a few time) should finaly be: ?: Written with a sword: from the graves, the man in black in disgrace's death's praise to souls takers' preach as dying by lie's humanity's suicide's dream
. Lastly, B.Iron and Gloom decide that after the recording of that demo, the name of the band will change to become Optimistic decay
.
May 30th 2007, K.Dich deceases. B.Iron, Gloom and ΚΦ decide to leave the mourning time before starting Black Swords again.
The mourning time passed, personnal problems between B.Iron and Gloom render impossible the band's recovery. June 4th, 2009, Gloom decides to come to an end with Black Swords to go ahead and that's what he've done. At the end of that same year, more serene, he comes back to his decision, concidering the band as on hold
.