Portraits by Mark Stoumann of Metal-A-Day

Theatrical symphonic metal.
Upredictable beauty. Unexpected brutality.
Stories and songs.
Soaring high notes, desperate screams.
Nostalgic melodies, shattered violins.

This is Ethereal Kingdoms.

"Heartchamber"
First single out now

Live

Biography

Unpredictable beauty. Unexpected brutality.

Surrender to the theatrical metal experience.

Characterized by intense and unpredictable liveperformances, Ethereal Kingdoms deliver a unique and modern take on theatrical symphonic metal.

Intersecting show and concert, you are invited into a sonic universe with songs spanning from soaring high notes to shattering screams, from nostalgic melodies to haunting dissonances, from heartfelt solos to destroyed violins.

Fronted by Sofia Schmidt’s characteristic stage performance and unique vocal, spanning the highest soprano notes to the deepest growls, Ethereal Kingdoms deliver poignant stories and moods with heartfelt passion and unexpected turns.

Ethereal Kingdoms’s debut at Blastbeast’s The New Sh*t Showcase pt. 5 I January 2018 was followed by an intense first year. In the company of Forever Still, MØL, Xenoblight and many others, they displayed their musical dramas at SPOT festival, the finals of Wacken Metal Battel Denmark and ended the year in the company of Finntroll at a sold-out Gimle.

2019 the Copenhagen-based band returns to Roskilde as support for Finnish symphonic metal legends Wintersun.

Autumn 2019 the band reveals their debut album via Mighty Music.
The album is a collection of selected ghost stories, brought to life by choir and classical soloists in fusion with the established metal ensemble.

Torn fates, ghost stories and metal fuses in a grandiose soundscape on the coming album, produced by Jakob Gundel.
The stories have already been unleashed at their first critically acclaimed liveshows in 2019 at a special feature show at Royal Metal Fest and Nordic Noise Festival in Amager Bio. These shows featured singers from the internationally acknowledged Men’s Choir of Roskilde Cathedral, bringing the massive choir-parts to life. The stories were made corporeal by dancers (Royal Metal Fest) and by award winning singer/songwriter and violinist Amalie Skriver as special guest (Nordic Noise Festival).

Ethereal Kingdoms unfolds the theatrical metal universe.

You are invited.

Press Mentions

gaffa.dk Nordic Noise Festival - Review

Review of Nordic Noise Festival performance with special guests, May 11th 2019
Score: ★★★★☆

"People (…) have heard something akin to this with Nightwish and Within Temptation and Ethereal Kingdoms is well on their way to their league”

“Ambitions are sky high with an efficient and talented metal band behind the vocalist”

"(…) I felt that something big is on its way with a new album this year.””

By: Keld Broksø
Published: 12th of May 2019

Photo: Mark Stoumann, Metal A Day

Revolution-inc.dk- Royal Metal Fest - Review

Review of special performance at Royal Metal Fest 2019, April 6th
Score: 4,5/5

“There’s more attention to detail than what is found within several bigger acts in symphonic metal.” 

“They are a refreshingly ambitious project”

“I would watch them live again, not only because I feel truly entertained but uplifted, inspired and hopeful on behalf on the group”

By: Andreas Kielland
Published: 9th of April 2019

Photo: Jacob Dinesen, Devilution

Heavymetal.dk- Royal Metal Fest - Review

Review of special performance at Royal Metal Fest 2019, April 6th
Score:★★★★★★★★★☆

“I was absorbed by what was happening on stage (…) I left with an experience of having witnessed something unique.”

“Lead vocalist Sofia Schmidt’s voice is incomparable to anything else in the Danish metalscene”

“The theatrical aspect of Ethereal Kingdoms is something nobody else in Denmark can do”"

By: Jeanett Meibom
Published: 10th of April 2019
Photo: Jacob Dinesen, Devilution

Heavymetalwebzine.it- Finntroll, Vanir, Sylvatica, Ethereal Kingdoms - Review

Review of Finntroll, Vanir, Sylvatica, Ethereal Kingdoms at Gimle, 21st of September 2018

"Those who think that the symphonic metal has nothing more to say will soon have to change its mind. This band, young and well organized, has all the qualities to write new pages in the history of this genre"

"The charming singer Sofia Schmidt (...) has a truly phenomenal voice capable of alternating lyrical singer virtuosities, evolving unexpectedly into a true growling beast."

By: Davide Bonavida
Published: 18th of October 2018

Blastbeast.dk - Finntroll, Vanir, Sylvatica, Ethereal Kingdoms at Gimle - Review

Review of Finntroll, Vanir, Sylvatica, Ethereal Kingdoms at Gimle, September 21st 2018
Score: 5/5

"Gimle (...) havde sørget for den noget nær perfekte sammensætningen af bands denne aften."

"(...) Ethereal Kingdoms, med Sofia Schmidt’s smukke rene vokal, og bandet’s sans for store melodier var som skabt til Gimle’s fortræffelige lydbillede “

By: Weiss
Published: 25th of September 2018

Metal-a-day.dk - Finntroll, Vanir, Sylvatica, Ethereal Kingdoms at Gimle - Review

Review of Finntroll, Vanir, Sylvatica, Ethereal Kingdoms at Gimle, September 21st 2018
Score: 4/5

"Man kunne under deres fremførsel denne aften blandt andet risikere at få stykker fra en violion, der blev smadret på scenen, i hovedet, hvilket blot understreger detaljerigdommen i dette orkester."

"(...) vokalregister fra forsangerinde Sofia må indynde beundring fra andre personer, der aspirerer og drømmer om at optræde på en scene. “

By: Anders Lundtang
Published: 24th of September 2018

Metal-a-day.dk - Wacken Metal Battle - Review

Review of Wacken Metal Battle Denmark finals, May 26th 2018
Score: 4/5

“Første band på scenen var Ethereal Kingdoms, som jeg havde set frem til at opleve live, da jeg via vores andre anmeldere og musikelskere havde hørt positivt om bandet [...]
det er langt fra rammende nok til at beskrive deres teatralske tag på en omgang metal-opera, som jeg bedst kan betegne det ud fra det, der blev (forsøgt) kanaliseret over scenekanten“

By: Anders Lundtang
Published: 29th of May 2018

Devilution.dk - Morgendagens Stjerner - Interview

Interview in connection to Wacken Metal Battle Denmark 2018

“I vores take på symfonisk metal kan man både få lov til at svæve oven på skønne violinpassager med englestemme og skrige helt nede fra bunden af hjertet, mens tunge riffs kommer væltende ind over dig.“

“Generelt er det det store, dramatiske, udtryksfulde lydbillede, der er idealet, samtidig med at der godt må være nogle strukturelle elementer, der tager røven på én og overrasker. [...] En af vores store drømme er at kunne spille shows med et symfoniorkester i stedet for backingtrack. [...] ”

“Vi går efter drømmene ved at sætte meget konkrete målsætninger og deadlines for os selv. Vi arbejder, til det er færdigt, og stopper ikke før. Det hele handler om at arbejde igennem og også gerne være lidt opfindsom. Inden for musik er intet umuligt, man har bare ikke fået øje på løsningen endnu."

By: Adriana Zak
Published: 23rd of March 2018

Heavymetal.dk - Detektoren - EP review

Review of debut EP

“Ethereal Kingdoms har alt det talent og al den dygtighed, som skal til for at kunne blive Danmarks største band indenfor genren. “

“Den operaagtige stil, som man kender fra både Nightwish og Within Temptation, er straks at høre, og den nailer [Sofia Schmidt] perfekt.”

“Introen [på Paper Stars] med orkesteret og Sofias stemme er ganske smuk og sætter virkelig en fantastisk stemning. Et mere anonymt vers følger, men hold nu op, et stykke, der kommer bagefter. Den flerstemmige overgang er helt fænomenal og går lige i hjertet på denne anmelder! "

By: Carsten Bach
Published: 23rd of January 2018

Rockfreaks.net - The New Shit Pumpehuset - Review

Review of Blastbeast.dk Presents: The New Shit Showcase pt V, Pumpehuset, Copenhagen

“[...] Ethereal Kingdoms play through their debut concert with a great attitude that never gets too dramatic for the setup to follow through.”

“ Their lead singer [...] delivers some pretty impressive notes that also get some impromptu cheers in the middle of songs [...]"

"Other people smile a little overbearingly at the group's initial songs but everyone looks like they wake up properly when the singer goes on to add some solid growling to the mix as well. “

“[...] for a first show, they made everything on their end work well and I'm sure they have gotten some new fans who are eagerly looking forward to new music in the coming years. “

By: LL
Photo: Michael Hyldgaard Løgtholt
Concert: 6th of January 2018
Published: 12th of January 2018

Devilution - The New Shit Pumpehuset - Anmeldelse

Review of Blastbeast.dk Presents: The New Shit Showcase pt V, Pumpehuset, Copenhagen
Score: 3/5

"[...] den rene vokal fra Sofia Schmidt gav hints til Nightwish og Within Temptation. Men der var også takter fra noget mere kaotisk og ondt, og her kom Sofia Schmidt også med brutal vokal, både growls og nogle formidable hysteriske skrig."

"Det var specielt skiftene fra de pæne passager til disse hidsige sager, der gjorde Ethereal Kingdoms til en interessant oplevelse."

"[...] en solid indsats og bestemt godkendt som debut."

By: Casper Willumsen
Photo: Jacob Dinesen
Concert: 6th of January 2018
Published: 10th of January 2018

The Ensemble

Schmidt brings an intense stage presence, musical-theatre inspired vocals, desperate growls and classically based orchestrations to the Kingdoms.

Broad performance experience spanning from classical music over melodeath to musical theatre.

Studies musicology at University of Copenhagen and classical singing at Sjællands Kirkemusikskole.

She sometimes posts things on Instagram

Rasmussen is in charge of guitars and heavy parts in the Kingdoms, as well as mixing and general tech stuff.

A writing style consiting of catchy hooks, aggressive riffs and memorable themes is strongly present in Ethereal Kingdoms.

Former guitarist of Fall of Pantheon and The Vision Ablaze.

Holm keep the bottom low and heavy with his tight and meticulous bass playing. His calm and stable aura is a powerful presence in the studio as well as on the stage

Being both a guitarist and a bassist, he’s spanned a variety of styles and stages. From playing bass at party band gigs to wielding the guitar at Copenhell stage with Fall of Pantheon, Holm is an experienced gentleman, regardless of the number of strings between his hands.

Elmquist brings his charachteristic style and groovy feeling into the drum backbone of Ethereal Kingdoms.

Well versed in the world of drumming, he’s explored anything from extreme metal (Banahogg) over black metal to melodeath (Blaze of Barbaroid) and popmusic.

Energetic blasts, inventive fills and an absolutely unstoppable stage energy is Elmquist’s trademark.

Production Credits

Our crew is at the backbone of Ethereal Kingdoms. Meet the people behind the stage here.

Single Covers and T-shirt design - Anna Holm Sørensen

The covers for 'Beginnings' 'Endings' and 'Heartchamber' was created by the talented Anna Holm Sørensen. Her eye for detail and great conceptualization skills created the visual backbone for our first t-shirt and our dual concept single release.

Anna paints and draws in a beautifully vivid and diverse style, ranging from classical drawing across digital painting to nordic and dark inspired artworks.

For album artwork, tattoo designs or something entirely else, enquiries go to:
annaholms@outlook.dk
Anna Does Drawing on Instagram

EP Drum Composition - Emil Frøsig

Frøsig has explored the world of drumming since he first picked up the sticks at age 15. He helped us out adding the final touches to the drums to our debut EP. He's the founding memeber, composer and drummer of our power metal friends Downfall
With an unbridled love for anything powermetal, Frøsigs drumming style embodies a sound, that is powerful, efficient and straight to the point.
If you liked his drums here in the kingdoms, you'll love the powermetal magic he makes with Downfall!