"The Dark Days" is an original percussion ensemble unlike anything you can imagine. Alongside the usual marching percussion, the "pit" (front ensemble) utilizes most types of percussion instruments, from xylophones, marimbas, vibraphones, to electric guitars, electric bass, synthesizers, and various SFX (machine guns, helicopters). As well as a competitive type arrangement, The Dark Days is more of a soundtrack and is suitable for cinematic use.  The composition features 4 movements, The Invasion, The Resistance, The Last Stand, and A New Dawn. 
On a personal note, this isn't my normal type of tracks you hear from me, though writing percussion music has been a life-long affair with me. Enjoy....Jim

The Dark Days

🎤 Jim Helsel – Bio (2025)
Producer. Songwriter. Artist. Drummer.

I’ve been writing, recording, and mixing my own music since I was a kid with sticks in my hands and fire in my chest. My debut album, Lucidly Surreal, dropped in January—and since then, I’ve been chasing the edge of every sound I create.

Now I’m back with a second album in progress—AfterShock—and it’s already packing heat. Six tracks deep and mastered. One single out: Love Lost. This isn’t background noise. This is full-on emotional expression—layered guitars, dark textures, tight arrangements, and raw energy.

My soon-to-be-released track, Runner, was born in the shadows of Christchurch—pulled from personal struggle, raw emotion, and the restless energy of a city with something to prove. It’s about moving forward when everything's stacked against you. It's rock. It’s rhythm. It’s real.

Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, I’m a local artist with a global sound. Every song I write is a story from my life—tangled in emotion, textured with rhythm, and always relevant.

I don’t write songs for algorithms—I write for connection.
If you feel it, it’s yours too.

Expect the unexpected. And turn it up.

New tracks tagged ##percussion ensemble, #soundtrack, #drumline, #cinematic, #instrumental, #original composition, #rock band