FEATURED ARTIST

Mike Schleibaum

Darkest Hour

Success in the world of music takes tenacity. Just ask Mike Schleibaum, founding member and guitarist of Washington, D.C.-based melodic death metal band Darkest Hour. After their formation in 1995, it took almost ten years of hard work, constant touring, and writing/recording records before they finally got the worldwide recognition they deserved all along. Their most recent album, 2024’s Perpetual Terminal, received high marks from the metal community and critics alike. This year, ESP has introduced a major update to Mike’s LTD Signature Series MSV-1 guitar, now featuring a Black Gloss finish and gold hardware to accentuate the bold look of its beveled neck-thru-body Arrow shape.