CANCELLED – Xaon | Sunless Dawn | Ethereal Kingdoms | Lamentari

Xaon Sunless Dawn Ethereal Kingdoms Lametari Forbrændingen Heavymetaldk

ETHEREAL KINGDOMS LIVE AT FORBRÆNDINGEN
9th of October 2020

By HEAVYMETAL.DK and FORBRÆNDINGEN
Vognporten 11
2620 Albertslund

Lineup
XAON (CH)
SUNLESS DAWN (DK)
ETHEREAL KINGDOMS (DK)
LAMENTARI (DK)

Doors: 18.00

Swiss progressive death metal mastodons XAON return to Denmark for a night of wonder, magic and complexity at FORBRÆNDINGEN in Albertslund, Copenhagen.

In the company of WACKEN METAL BATTLE DENMARK 2015 winners SUNLESS DAWN, we bring our finest songs to this show.
We will also have a special collaboration between Sunless Dawn and Ethereal Kingdoms at this performance.

New symphonic black metal band LAMENTARI joins this show, unleashing their critically acclaimed debut EP f live this night.

Ethereal Kingdoms live
Portrait by Mikkelsen-Photo for Metal A Day || Copenhagen Metal Fest 2019


XAON’s 2019 album SOLIPSIS made it onto our “Sounds of the Kingdoms” Spotify playlist, a handpicked selection of songs that inspire, delight and fascinate us. Vocalist Sofia especially is a big fan of this band.

“Frighteningly powerful”

Ethereal Kingdoms udlejre kirke review by Nordica Live

The very first Ethereal Kingdoms church concert took place Friday the 21st of February in Udlejre Kirke, Copenhagen.


Journalist Nargiz Galib Andersen witnessed this sold-out special theatrical performance performance, where we incorporated choir, organ and flute soloist with the metal ensemble and the church’s unique architectural structure to create a total experience.

Her report of this Ethereal Kingdoms church concert in Nordica LIVE Magazine reads as follows:

“(…) You could feel the excitement amongst people as we were queuing to enter the church, where Ethereal Kingdoms played their concert”

“The mixed audience could be characterized as “grey gold” and “black metal””

“(…) We were seated around the drum set in the middle of the church-room (…) The quartet and the band entered the room to beautiful tones of a-capella and concert flute (…)

The sound in the church was special and different. The sound of the drums seemed natural and real. Sofia‘s growl seemed frighteningly powerful in the contrast to the church’s beautiful architecture. (…) That woman can growl you into an nightmarish entrancement. and she can sing soprano-notes, that makes you fly in the summer rain. “

“The entire room was used by the band and choir as a stage”

Portraits by Tankepine /Doomed Images for Nordica LIVE Magazine

CANCELLED – Næstved Metalfest

Ethereal Kingdoms live at NÆSTVED METALFEST
September 4th & 5th

Næstved Metalfest – KONGEBRYG
Kasernevej 21, 4700 Næstved , Denmark

With BAEST, WAYWARD DAWN, PECTORA, DAWN OF DEMISE, HATESPHERE, WITHERING SURFACE, BLACK SWAMP WATER, PITCHBLACK, LAMENTARI, ALTERFACT, CHRONICLE, ROT AWAY, MURDER AMONG KINGS

Doors: 14:00
Concert: 15:30

Running order available now

NOTE: THE SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 4th/5TH!
Næstved Metalfest 2020 full lineup
Ethereal kingdoms næstved metalfest 2020 lineup kongebryg

For our first show ever in NÆSTVED, we enter NÆSTVED METALFEST. Arranged by MIGHTY MUSIC, we are in the grand company of legendary BAEST, HATESPHERE, WITHERING SURFACE, DAWN OF DEMISE, WAYWARD DAWN and more!
The venue KONGEBRYG will set a raw and intense frame around our stories, which we will unleash in an unbridled and furious format at an open air experience.

Our vocalist SOFIA SCHMIDT spend her teenage years creating music and culture in the city of NÆSTVED, and have spent many after-school hours at co-sponsor NÆSTVED UNGDOMSSKOLE, so it will be an evening with a nostalgic return.
She and drummer JON ELMQUIST played their first ever open-air festival show at the ROCK PÅ MUNKEN 2 event and SKULL SMASH FESTIVAL back in the early 2010’s with their now-defunct melodeath project BLAZE OF BARBAROID.

NÆSTVED METALFEST

Press statement in Danish 🇩🇰

I 2019 slog Næstved Metalfest for første gang dørene op til den største og tungeste metalfestival syd for København. Allerede 14 dage før selve festivalen, kunne vi melde alt udsolgt!
Til august gør vi det igen, bare endnu større!

I stedet for én dag, tager vi to dage i brug og dermed lukker vi også op for dobbelt så mange gæster som sidste år. D. 28 & 29 august 2020 går det løs, denne gang med endnu flere bands.

JIMMY NIELSEN medarrangør, udtaler:
“Jeg kan simpelthen ikke vente med at præsentere den endelige plakat for Næstved Metalfest 2020. Jeg synes selv vi har samlet nogle enormt fede bands til denne festival som favner bredt, rent musikalsk og at vi allerede i år kigger ud over landegrænsen. Både Michael (H. Andersen) og jeg er helt på røven over den enorme opbakning og modtagelse der har været af vores lille hjertebarn. Den havde vi ikke helt set komme, men det viser bare at metaltrætheden har trænge kår, når det kommer til musikgenren og at dansk metalmusik er i voldsom vækst. Nu håber vi bare at det smitter af på scenen i Næstved, så næste generation af bangers kan steppe op og vise kronen & nøglerne”.

Næstved Metalfest 2020 finder sted D. 28 & 29 august 2020 på Kongebryg. Der er lagt i ovnen til en stor oplevelse i det Sydsjællandske med de rustikke faciliteter hos det populære lokale bryggeri og spillested. Der vil således både være brygget specielt øl til lejligheden og være et stort udbud af boder med mad, drikke og merchandise.

Der arrangeres bustur fra København til Næstved Metalfest i samarbejde med Club Dark. Den oplagte mulighed for få en på opleveren uden for Hovedstaden. Bustur t/r fra Zeppelin Rock Bar på Vesterbro Torv til et af Danmarks bedste bryggerier med metalkoncerter oveni hatten, alt sammen i de smukke omgivelserne omkring den gamle Gardehusar kaserne.

SOLD OUT – Ethereal Kingdoms live at Udlejre Church

Ethereal Kingdoms udlejre kirke koncert vinterkoncert 21 februar 2020

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Udlejre church
February 21st 2002

Udlejre Kirke
Ørnebjergvej 7, 3560 Ølstykke, Copenhagen

Doors 19.00
Concert: 20.00
Reception with wine after the show

Free admission
Limited seats, please reserve your ticket here
SOLD OUT

Ethereal Kingdoms live concert
Potrait by Johnny Fravn // Metaltone.dk

Description

Ethereal Kingdoms presents a musical total experience in Udlejre Church
The critically acclaimed band experiments in the intersection between classical, metal and theatre concert in an intense, contrasting and emotional show, featuring the church’s beautiful organ.

The stories are brought to live exclusively by The Kingdom Choir, the church’s organ and special guest soloists in concord and contrast with roaring drums, elegant guitar lines and Sofia Schmidt’s characteristic soprano notes and low growls

The concert program consists of works from the critically acclaimed debut album Hollow Mirror (Mighty Music 2019) and two new pieces of music composed specifically for this concert experience.

Surrender. Let yourself be surprised, overwhelmed and full of wonder when Ethereal Kingdoms opens the doors to their beautiful and strange universe.

SETLIST

ACT I

01. Hollow light
New composition for organ and vocal ensemble
with organist Karsten Kristensen and The Kingdom Choir

02. Distance

ACT II

03. Ashes within
With flute soloist Lærke Krarup, Karsten Kristensen and The Kingdom Choir

04. Silent dance
with flute soloist Lærke Krarup and The Kingdom Choir

ACT III

05. My Kantele – Amorphis cover
With flute soloist Lærke Krarup, Karsten Kristensen and The Kingdom Choir

06. Lumisade
New composition for bouzouki, frame drum, electric bass and vocals for this concert

07. Heartchamber – semi-acoustic version
with flute soloist Lærke Krarup, Christian Haystack Rasmussen on Bouzuki and Jon Elmquist on frame drum.

08. Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen
12th movement from G. B. Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater
Soprano: Sofia Schmidt
Contratenor: Darnell Boddie
Organist: Karsten & Simone Kristensen
as well as the Ethereal Kingdoms metal ensemble for the “Amen” passage

09. Hollow light – reprise
with organist Karsten Kristensen

Links

Facebook event
Egedal lokalavis
Egedal lokalavis 2
Vores Egedal

Tornvang Open Air 2020

Tornvang open air 2020

Ethereal Kingdoms live at TORNVANG OPEN AIR
August 21st/22nd 2020

Tornvang Open Air festival
Lunkærvej 1, 8500 Gjerrild, Århus, Denmark

With Shadowspawn, Anoxia, Demolixer, Archangel, Herezy and more TBA

Doors: TBA
Concert: TBA

TICKETS
250,- DKKR|Billetten.dk

https://www.facebook.com/events/421814431807659/

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Wintersun anniversary show support. Gimle 2019
Portrait by Skoett Photography

We unleash our universe at our very first open air performance.
Tornvang festival writes:

“The band creates grandiose and pompous metal with a taste for the melodic, but at the same time balancing a harder and more direct edge.
The band released the album “HOLLOW MIRROR” via MIGHTY MUSIC. The album received good reviews and Ethereal Kingdoms will without a doubt give the audience or TORNVANG a taste of how the songs work live as well.

If you add their highly original and almost theatrical stage performance, you can definitely expect a memorable experience at the festival, when the band enters the stage!”

Explore our upcoming shows or read about others’ experience in our live review section.

Udgårdsfest 2020 | CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19

Udgårdsfest 2020 cancelled

Udgårdsfest 2020 – Denmark’s finest viking/pagan metal festival
21st/22nd of August 2020, Pumpehuset, Copenhagen
Early bird tickets available now:
https://bit.ly/2saPYnw

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Wintersun support show at Gimle. Sofia Schmidt performing My Kantele by Amorphis in front of crowd.
Portrait by Skoett Photography


In the grand company of Unleashed, Varang Nord, Heidra, Einherjer and more to be announced.
Ethereal Kingdoms return to Pumpehuset in 2020
A very special night for us, as this was the venue we played our very first show and the Wacken Metal Battle Denmark 2018 Finals.

In celebration, we bring special surprises for this show!
You will experience the songs from Hollow Mirror with a uniquely scandinavian and nordic twist as we celebrate our roots at Udgårdsfest 2020.

Tickets are on sale now.

Get in the pagan mood with our cover of Amorphis’ My Kantele:

Ethereal Kingdoms – My Kantele – Amorphis cover
Featuring Sigurbodi Gretarson on hurdy gurdy and the sound of Sofia Schmidt’s 10-string Kantele
Udgårdsfest 2020 poster. Ethereal Kingdoms Unleashed Varang Nord Einherjer Heidra and more TBA.
Poster by Anna Holm Sørensen
https://www.facebook.com/udgaardsfest/

Ashes within – Ethereal Kingdoms video live

Enter the theatrical metal experience.
Ashes within, the opening song of this Ethereal Kingdoms live performance is now shared with the world.
A raw, personal and intense recording from our performance with Wintersun, Seven Thorns and Faanefjell in Roskilde, Denmark, 30th of August.

“I search for beauty. For within me there is none”
Unpredictable beauty.
Unexpected brutality.
Enter the theatrical metal experience with this Ethereal Kingdoms live clip.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Wintersun support. Ashes within full live clip.
Levitation.
Sofia Schmidt and Jakob Holm of Ethereal Kingdoms
Portrait by Skoett Photography.


See upcoming show dates at the Show-section of our website or follow us on facebook, instagram and youtube for latest news from Ethereal Kingdoms.

Others who have entered the theatrical metal experience say the following:

“I witnessed something unique”
9 of 10 stars – Heavymetal.dk

“A show of the grandiose kind” –
4 of 5 stars – Metal A Day

“New pages in the history of this genre” – Heavymetal.it

“This band has a story to tell”
8 of 10 – Powerofmetal.dk

Explore our press archive

‘Hollow Mirror’ acoustic release concert

Flute soloist Lærke Leth rehearsing with vocalist Sofia Schmidt for Ethereal Kingdoms Acoustic release concert.

In celebration of the release of our debut album Hollow Mirror
We have created a special night full of strange wonder and beauty
We play a one-of-a kind acoustic set with special guests
Enjoy the band’s signature ‘Sovereign’ drink
Contests, surprises and more! 
You are invited

Hollow Mirror release concert

11th of October 2019 
Doors: 19.30 
Showtime: 20.15
DJ’s, special surprises and more! 

Venue:
Zeppelin Rock Bar, Vesterbrogade 45, Copenhagen

For this show, we will be joined by flute soloist Lærke Leth, viola soloist Hansi Andersen and The Kingdom Choir in a bit of a different configuration. This night, they will consist of Victoria Omberg, Oliver Svensson and Mads ‘Arpeggio’ Sørensen. All of these artists except Victoria took part in creating Hollow Mirror, so this will be a very special moment for us to unleash the strange beauty in an intimate acoustic setting.


Hollow Mirror has already enchanted reviewers and metal journalists across the world:
10 of 10 – “You’re in for an experience!” – Metalized
6 of 6 – “Beauty interrupted by brutality” – Calle’s Rock Corner
8 of 10 – “A perfect balance of brightness and darkness” – Metal Temple
4 of 5 – “Almost near perfection” – Metal A Day
82 of 100 – “A complete range of voices” – Musica.be
12 of 15 – Legacy Magazine
82 /100 – Fireworks Magazine

‘A show of the grandiose kind’ – Copenhagen Metal Fest live review

Ethereal Kingdoms live

Our intimate Copenhagen Metal Fest show gets ★★★★☆ from Metal-A-Day in this live review!

We were invited for the very first installment of Copenhagen Metal Fest. A festival celebrating danish metal culture and Heavymetal.dk‘s 20th anniversary on three renowned stages: Amager Bio, Beta2300 and Teater ZeBu.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Copenhagen Metal Fest. Vocalist Sofia Schmidt with bloody special effect. By Mikkelsen Photo for Metal A Day.

We’ve played both of the first stages at Nordic Noise and Dirty Days of Summer Festival, but we had yet to unleash our theatrical metal universe at at true, real theatre stage.
We got this opportunity when we were offered a slot at 21st of September 2019 at Teater ZeBu stage.

The reporter Anders Lundtang witnessed our performance, which included our new single ‘Distance‘:

“(…) you feel like you’re witnessing a show of the grandiose kind!”
“Not two of their shows are alike (…)”
“(…) you cannot be anything but impressed (…)”

-Anders Lundtang, Metal A Day

THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Explore other live reviews of Ethereal Kingdoms in our reviews section, where you can also find album reviews and more.

Outstanding portraits created by Anders Mikkelsen // Mikkelsen-Photo

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Copenhagen Metal Fest. Vocalist Sofia Schmidt. By Mikkelsen Photo for Metal A Day.
Ethereal Kingdoms live at Copenhagen Metal Fest. Vocalist Sofia Schmidt in stagelight. By Mikkelsen Photo for Metal A Day.

Our next show will be a special acoustic performance with unique guests.
🔸 11th of October – Ethereal Kingdoms “Hollow Mirror” Release Fest + Koncert – Acoustic special show  at Zeppelin Rock Bar 

Copenhagen Metal Fest interview

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Copenhagen Metal Fest 2019

September 20th and 21st 2019 something new happened in the Danish metal scene. We were among the lineup for the very first installment of Copenhagen Metal Fest – a new festival focusing only on Danish metal bands.

Heavymetal.dk reached out to us for an interview before the show, where we talk about our inspirations, the state of the Danish music scene and how it feels to be part of starting up something entirely new.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Copenhagen Metal Fest 2019. Portrait by Claus Ljørring.
Sofia Schmidt in a moment of bliss at Copenhagen Metal Fest 2019.
Portrait by Claus Ljørring for Heavymetal.dk

“We’re not afraid of taking chances and creating shows, that extend beyond just being a concert”

“Expect something intimate, something intense – with surprises! (…)
We’re playing on a theatre stage, (…) so there’s space for getting up close and personal when the intensity and emotions are peaking. “

“Our format is flexible. Theatrical metal can be a lot of things. We’re gonna have a blast regardless”

With Claus Ljørring for Heavymetal.dk

Read the rest of the interview at Heavymetal.dk, who have also awarded our debut album Hollow Mirror an 8/10 score in their latest review.

How did our intimate performance go at the dark theatre stage of ZeBu?
Three metal journalists shared their experience here:

“A show of the grandiose kind” – 4 of 5 stars – Metal A Day
“The vocals are impressive as always!” – Devilution.dk
“Impressive!” – Metaltone.dk

“This band has a story to tell” – Nordic Noise live review

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Nordic Noise festival.

Our Nordic Noise 2019 special show gets ★★★★★★★★☆☆ from powerofmetal.dk!
We had the honor of playing at the big stage of Amager Bio for the 2019 installment of Nordic Noise Festival. We were in the grand company of Candlemass, Tygers of Pan Tang and other great acts during the two lovely spring days in May.

Nordic Noise 2019 poster with lineup for both days.
Nordic Noise 2019 lineup poster.

For this show, we celebrated the release of our first single Heartchamber.
We wanted to make something magical, so we brought special guest violinist Amalie Skriver and The Kingdom Choir along to our show, as well as some special effects.

Ethereal Kingdoms performance at Nordic Noise. Broken violin on stage.
A shattered violin on the stage of Amager Bio
Portrait by Mark Stoumann for Metal A Day


Journalist Mia Hall of Danish webzine powerofmetal.dk witnessed this performance.
These are excerpts of her thoughts:

“The way this singer sings is rarely heard. Her opera voice, screams and growling shows some real technicality to her singing, and it is almost as if she has different masks she puts on. Very impressive!”

“I can tell that this band has a story to tell, as the singer is very active on stage, both dancng around like a fairy and then jumping around, growling and breaking things on stage. The choir and fiddle also helps to get the atmosphere in that right kind of mood, as symphonic power metal can give. And the harmonies sound GREAT!”

“No matter what they do, it can not be less intense than what they performed this evening.”

Mia Hall, Powerofmetal.dk
Ethereal Kingdoms live at Nordic Noise festival.
Ethereal Kingdoms live at Nordic Noise 2019 with special show.
Portrait by Stoumann of Metal A Day

Thank you so much powerofmetal.dk!
GAFFA and Metal A Day was also present at this performance.
Want to hear more impressions of our shows?
Check out the reviews section for album and live reviews!

“Ambitions are sky high” – Nordic Noise live review

Ethereal Kingdoms live at nordic noise festival imager bio Metal A Day

GAFFA awarded ★★★★☆☆ stars for Ethereal Kingdoms special guest show at Nordic Noise Festival 2019 in Amager Bio.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Nordic Noise festival 2019 at Amager Bio.
Sofia Schmidt in an intense moment at Nordic Noise festival 2019 in Amager Bio.
Portrait by Stoumann for Metal A Day

Nordic Noise Festival – the rock and metal herald of the Copenhagen spring since 2013. This year, for the first time in Amager Bio, Ethereal Kingdoms were invited to join this historic stage. We were in the grand company of legendary Candlemass, The Night Flight Orchestra and more on the 11th of May 2019.
In celebration of our new single Heartchamber, we created a special event with guest violinist Amalie Skriver and The Kingdom Choir – three singers of Roskilde Cathedral.

Amalie Skriver and Christian Rasmussen in a duet of strings.
Portrait by Mark Stoumann for Metal A Day


Journalist Keld Broksø of GAFFA was present at our performance and shared the following thoughts:

“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.”

Article in Danish 🇩🇰

The Kingdom Choir – three otherworldly voices of Roskilde Cathedral.
Left to right: Darnell Boddie (Coutnertenor), Christoffer Müller (Bass), Frederik Gade (Tenor)
Portrait by Mark Stoumann for Metal A Day

Thank you so much Gaffa!

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Amager Bio Nordic Noise 2019. Full lineup from the crowd with special guests
The full lineup of the night – with special guests Amalie Skriver (violin, vocals) and The Kingdom Choir – three otherworldly voices of Roskilde Cathedral.
Portrait by Jakob Muxoll.

“Death, love and ghosts” – Royal Metal Fest live review

The Kingdom Choir of Ethereal Kingdoms at royal metal fest 2019.

★★★★☆ from Metaltone.dk for Ethereal Kingdoms’ special theatrical show at Royal Metal Fest 2019.
Backed with a special production grant, we brough stories from Hollow Mirror to life for the first time. We created a theatrical show featuring The Kingdom Choir, dancers, special effects and special light show.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at royal metal fest 2019. Sofia Schmidt
Sofia Schmidt in the stage light setting created by Martin Rasmussen.
Royal Metal Fest 2019
Portrait by Johnny Fravn of Metaltone.dk


“There were different highlights at Royal Metal fest this year. One of them definitely was Ethereal Kingdoms”
 
“I could almost have wanted a bigger stage for this show”

“The songs were executed beautifully with (…) Sofia fronting. (…) She’s educated in opera (…) but sometimes shifts to high pitch screams and even very masculine deep growls. (…). I was deeply impressed (…).”

“(…) performing the songs in text, dancing and acting backed by skilled and competent musicians (…)”

“An incredibly ambitious show” 

“We experienced death, joy, sorrow, love and ghosts this night (…) one of the interesting performances this year”

Johnny Fravn, Metaltone.dk
Christian Rasmussen performing at Royal Metal Fest 2019 Ethereal Kingdoms.
Guitarist and composer Christian Rasmussen.
Royal Metal Fest 2019
Portrait by Johnny Fravn for Metaltone.dk

Thank you so much metaltone.dk!
Before the show, we spoke with Royal Metal Fest about our thoughts and ambitions for this one of a kind performance in this interview.
We were honored to be backed with financial grant from DMF, DAF and Metal Royale foundation.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at royal metal fest 2019. violin breaking on stage.
Sofia Schmidt shattering a violin on stage.
Royal Metal Fest 2019.
Portrait by Jakob Dinesen of devilution.dk

Others who have witnessed this performance say the following:

4,5 of 5 stars – “Refreshingly ambitious” – Revolution Music

9 of 10 stars – “I witnessed something unique” – Heavymetal.dk

Curious about our theatrical metal universe? Learn more in our about-section!

“I witnessed something unique” – Royal Metal Fest live review

Ethereal Kingdoms live at royal metal fest 2019. Sofia Schmidt

★★★★★★★★★☆ from Heavymetal.dk for Ethereal Kingdom’s special theatrical show at Royal Metal Fest 2019.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at royal metal fest 2019 with dancers presenting hollow mirror songs.
Corporeal ghost stories of Hollow Mirror brought to life by two dancers
Royal Metal Fest 2019
Portrait by Johnny Fravn of Metaltone.dk

April 6th 2019 at 17.00 at Radar in Århus marked a milestone for Ethereal Kingdoms.
We unleashed our very first theatrical special performance at Royal Metal Fest .
We received their grant for creating an extraordinary concert.
We assembled The Kingdom Choir, premiered new songs from Hollow Mirror, unleashed corporeal ghosts, shattered violins, blood and a torrent of emotion from the intimate stage setting.

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Royal Metal Fest 2019. Sofia Schmidt Jakob Holm Jon Elmquist performing at Radar stage.
Sofia Schmidt, Jakob Holm and Jon Elmquist of Ethereal Kingdoms
Royal Metal Fest 2019
Portrait by Johnny Fravn of Metaltone.dk

Journalist Jeanett Meibom shared her thoughts about our show:

“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” 

“(….) entered Radar with a show in two acts: Act I and Act II. The first round featured just the band on stage but as the show moved along, more joined in: smoke-spitting ghosts and three young male choir singers (…)”

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

Jeanett Meibom, Heavymetal.dk

Thank you so much Heavymetal.dk!


The Kingdom Choir of Ethereal Kingdoms at royal metal fest 2019.
The Kingdom Choir – Frozen screams and exalted voices.
Royal Metal Fest 2019
Portrait by Johnny Fravn of Metaltone.dk


Other media outlets shared heavymetal.dk’s excitement about our special show performance:

4,5 of 5 stars – “Refreshingly ambitious” – Revolution Music

4 of 5 stars – “Death, love and ghosts” – Metaltone.dk

Use the review section to explore other’s experiences of our music.

Dare to enter the theatrical metal experience?

Check our show-section and see if we’re playing at a venue near you!
Follow us on facebook and instagram for more updates.

“Refreshingly ambitious” – Royal Metal Fest live review

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Royal Metal Fest. Sofia Schmidt with bleeding heart special effect.

4,5 out of 5 stars for Ethereal Kingdoms special theatrical show at Royal Metal Fest 2019

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Royal Metal Fest. Sofia Schmidt with bleeding heart special effect.
Sofia Schmidt unleashing fury with a torn out heart at Royal Metal Fest 2019.
Portrait by Jacob Dinesen of Devilution

Royal Metal Fest 2019 was a very special show for Ethereal Kingdoms.
Supported by a special grant from Metal Royale foundation, DMF and DAF, we created our very first installment of out theatrical special show format. Employing two dancers and premiering The Kingdom Choir, we told many of the stories of Hollow Mirror for the very first time at the Radar stage, 6th of April 2019. With the use of video backdrops, special light show by Martin Rasmussen (MØL, Hatesphere, Copenhell and more) and lots of special effects, we brought our stories and songs to life in a new format.

Journalist Andreas Kielland was present and awarded us a grand 4,5 of 5 stars!

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

“The narrative is a chapter of its own. For the band’s theatrical, epic foundation does not only cover the form, but also the content”

“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”

Andreas Kielland, revolution-inc.dk
Ethereal Kingdoms live at Royal Metal Fest 2019. Special theatrical show with choir singers and ghostly dancers in the background.
Ghosts came alive at Royal Metal Fest 2019 with our theatrical special show.
Portrait by Jakob Dinesen of Devilution

Thank you so very much Revolution Music!

Royal Metal Fest also reached out to us for an interview. We spoke to them before the show when we were in the heat of planing the performance and rehearsing it to perfection. You can find this interview and more in the interviews section here on our website.

Other metal media left this night with the following impressions:

9 of 10 stars – “I witnessed something unique” – Heavymetal.dk

4 of 5 stars – “Death, love and ghosts” – Metaltone.dk

Royal Metal Fest interview

Ethereal Kingdoms live at royal metal fest 2019 with dancers presenting hollow mirror songs.

Ethereal Kingdoms have been granted a very special time slot at Royal Metal Fest 2019. A unique opportunity to bring our theatrical metal visions to life. A space to experiment in the intersection between show and concert.

Each year, the Metal Royale Foundation, Dansk Musikerforbund and Dansk Artistforbund offer a grant for a band, that wants to do something extraordinary with their performance.

For 2019, we had the honor of being chosen – Showtime is 6th of April at 17.00 at the Radar venue at Royal Metal Fest.

Journalist Pernille Randrup reached out us to learn more.
We spoke about what’s happening behind the scenes, our ideas and concepts for the show and how to make ghosts come to live on stage.

“It’s not a concert, it’s not a musical, it’s not theatre. It’s something different where we think stage-oriented. A show”

“Ethereal Kingdoms is about experimenting in the intersection between show and concert. The balance between the grotesque and the beautiful. Contrasts, quick shifts, sudden flows.”

“We bring dancers to coporealize ghosts and (…) bring a choir to be a living part of the stage, to make everything more vivid – and it’s just nicer with live voices!”

“We’re experimenting with video backdrops and to assist in the lights we have Martin Lundholm, the light tech of MØL”

Article in Danish 🇩🇰


So how did the show play out?
Various media outlets witnessed our performance and shared their experiences here:

9 of 10 stars – “I witnessed something unique” – heavymetal.dk

4,5 of 5 stars – “Refreshingly ambitious” – Revolution Music

4 of 5 stars – “Death, love and ghosts” – metaltone.dk


Explore other interviews and learn more about our theatrical metal universe

Heavymetal.it interview

Sofia Schmidt live with Ethereal Kingdoms supporting Finntroll 2018

Finntroll. Sylvatica. Vanir.
A sold out venue. Special guests.
A broken violin.

That was the ingredients of Ethereal Kingdoms’ night supporting Finntroll at Gimle 21st of September 2018.

Fresh off stage with the adrenaline still rushing, Sofia spoke with journalist Davide Bonavida  of Heavymetal.it
In this very first italian magazine feature, they talk about musical influences for Ethereal Kingdoms, the creative process and performance.

Sofia Schmidt from Ethereal Kingdoms holding a broken violin at Finntroll support show at Gimle.
Sofia Schmidt with a shattered violin
Gimle at Finntroll support show 2018
Portrait by Gaia Micatovich

A few excerpts from the original interview in Italian 🇮🇹

“We wanted to create something unique that differentiates us, not just copy other bands. We don’t just make music, we create stories”

“I study as a classical singer (…) whereas Christian comes directly from death metal. The funny thing is that in our compositions it’s me who brings the chaotic part and the growling while he brings the nostalgic melodies.”

“(…) those who spend time listening to us cannot get that time back. So I want to make sure they have a good experience.”

“(…) you can’t wait for something to happen by itself, you have to do it yourself. We took initiative to organize this show. I contacted the club while Christian called the bands he already knew personally. (…) we needed a prominent name (…) so we contacted Finntroll, explaining our project and … they said yes. I could not believe it!”

Sofia Schmidt with Davide Bonavida for Heavymetal.it
Sofia Schmidt live with Ethereal Kingdoms supporting Finntroll 2018
Sofia Schmidt on the stage of Gimle at Finntroll support show 2018

Portrait by Gaia Micatovich

Thank you so much for taking time to talk with us, Heavymetal.it!

About the performance, the media said:

“They can write new pages in the history of this genre” – Heavymetal.it
“A sense for great melodies” – Blastbeast.dk

4 of 5 stars – “Flying pieces of a violin” – Metal A Day


Explore our performance of Endings from this night in this live video: