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Legacy magazine interview

Ethereal Kingdoms Legacy Magazine germany interview

Journalist Lukas Schärer of Legacy magazine reached out to us for an interview in their 122nd issue.
We talk about Hollow Mirror, our view on our unique take on symphonic metal, our show preparations for our Wintersun support show, our inspirations as well as our hopes and plans for the future.

Legacy magazine interview with Ethereal Kingdoms about Hollow Mirror debut album.
Legacy magazine interview with Ethereal Kingdoms.
This full-page feature is crowned by our band portrait by talented Mathilde Maria Rønshof

Excerpts from the interview:

“(creating Hollow Mirror, red.) was a very emotional and intense experience. We hope that this energy reaches the listener. We can not wait to share the album with the world.”


“We focus on the contrast between beauty and brutality.
If it’s only brutal, you get desensitized, it’s the twist that makes it interesting”

Sofia Schmidt, interview with Legacy Magazine

The theme of contrasts on Hollow Mirror is apparent, when we shift the topic towards our music video for Heartchamber:


“The video shows a love couple being torn apart. Both are recurrent characters on the album. We use quite brutal images, such as when the heart is ripped from the chest. It underscores the balance between the beautiful music and the rather gloomy lyric theme of loss and pain in the soul.”

Sofia Schmidt, interview with Legacy Magazine
Musicvideo for Heartchamber
Mighty Music 2019

We elaborate on the connection to our single Endings.

Read the entire feature of this Legacy Magazine interview in their issue no 122.
Besides this interview, you can also find a 12 of 15 scored review of Hollow Mirror in the magazine’s review section.

Explore other interviews and reviews in the archives here on our website.

Hollow Mirror is out 11th of October 2019 via Mighty Music on Vinyl, CD and digital. Pre-add and pre-order links can be found in the shop section the official Ethereal Kingdoms website.

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“Dragged out of the comfort zone” – Legacy album review

Legacy Magazine Ethereal Kingdoms

Germany’s Legacy magazine explored the theatrical metal experience which is Ethereal Kingdoms.
Journalist LS awarded Hollow Mirror a grand 12 of 15 stars ★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆☆as well as an interview feature!

Legacy no 122 front page with review of Ethereal Kingdoms Hollow Mirror
Front page cover of Legacy Magazine no. 122

Journalist LS entered the Hollow Mirror soundscape and emerged with this experience:

“Hollow Mirror” is supported by the surprisingly variable voice of singer Sofia, who not only sings cleanly for several octaves, but likes to scream and growl in between.

“The band does not shy away from dissonances (…) there’s also a nasty bludgeon with a Deathcore touch on a hymnic elf-like vocals, such as on the middle section, Endings’.”

“Hollow Mirror” is a collection of ghost stories, with a 16-voice choir supporting Sofia in the dramatic rendition, as well as guest appearances with Sigurboði Gretarsson, who otherwise indulges in his one-man Niðafjöll command, and songwriter Amalie Skriver.

 “Hollow Mirror” takes time – the typical Crypt Metal crowd is unlikely to enjoy being dragged out of its comfort zone by the unruly arrangements and complex soundscapes – the Danes have the courage.”

Review of Ethereal Kingdoms Hollow Mirror by LS in Legacy Magazine no 122.
Review of Hollow Mirror by LS in Legacy Magazine no 122

Thank you so much Legacy Magazine for featuring Ethereal Kingdoms in your printed magazine!
Explore the interview feature and browse other interviews with internation metal media in our interviews section.

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“You’re in for an experience” – Review of Hollow Mirror

Ethereal Kingdoms Metaled
Ethereal Kingdoms Metalized front page October/November 2019 124th issue. 10 of 10 star Hollow Mirror review and interview feature.

★★★★★★★★★★ from Metalized!
The ‘Hollow Mirror’ album reviews keep coming in and we’re so honored by how well our stories and songs have been received by those who listen.
Journalist Hell(e) of Metalized explored the sounds of our debut album and shared her thoughts in the 124th issue of Metalized:

“(…) with a quality nearing that of Nightwish, you’re in for an experience!”

“It’s music that is to be experienced both in your living room and on stage”

“Well worth the money if you enjoy symphonic metal with beautiful, beautiful female vocals”

Thank you so much Metalized!

We are featured in the issue no. 124 (oct/nov 2019), not only with this lovely album review for ‘Hollow Mirror’, but also with an interview by Hell(e).

We talk about our creative process, our record deal with Mighty Music, inspirations, hopes and dreams for the future and how it works when we’re on the road with big names such as Finntroll, Forever Still and Wintersun.

In this magazine, we’re in the great company of Mayhem, Cult of Luna, Baest, Michael Monroe, Soren Andersen, Denner’s Inferno and many many other metal and rock heroes.

Metalized is the longest running rock and metal magazine in Scandinavia, and have published countless interviews with every heavy metal and rock legend imaginable. It goes back to 1987 and is an esteemed and important actor in the metal and rock journalism scene in the nordic countries.

More Hollow Mirror album review:

This is not the only album review we have received from Hollow Mirror. Other metal media have shared their thoughts as well:

“Beauty interrupted by brutality” – 6 of 6 skulls – Calle’s Rock Corner
“A complete range of voices” – 82 of 100 score – Musica.be
“A perfect balance of brightness and darkness” – 8 of 10 stars – Metal Temple
“A very deserving debut” – 7,7 of 10 stars – Lords of Metal

Ethereal Kingdoms Hollow Mirror debut album cover.
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Metalized magazine interview

Ethereal Kingdoms live Wintersun support Mikkelsen Photo
Ethereal Kingdoms Metalized oktober/november 2019. Front page conver of metallized magazine, hollow mirror album review 10 of 10 and interview feature article with Ethereal Kingdoms.
Metalized – the oldest scandinavian printed metal magazine – reached out to us for an interview and an album review feature for the October/November issue!

How do you create a symphonic metal album from scratch?
What is life on the road like for Ethereal Kingdoms?
And what is it like to sign with Mighty Music less than a year after your debut EP?
We spoke to journalist Hell(e) in this Metalized magazine interview, the oldest metal and rock magazine in all of Scandinavia

Excerpts from the interview:

“We try to create the music we feel is missing out there. We draw our inspiration from a lot of different places, and always strive to create something extraordinary”


“For me (Sofia, red.) the growl is the 6th gear of my voice, it’s for when what I want to say can’t be said with intense high notes. I need to scream and roar it out, it’s a raw masculine energy that I like to work with in my voice”

“(Signing with Mighty Music, red.) has opened up a lot of opportunities to get our music out to those, who want to hear it”

“Especially live, we sometimes take big chances and experiment in the intersection between show and concert”


In this issue no 124, you will find a review of Hollow Mirror as well (10 of 10 stars, thank you so much!) as well as articles with Baest, Mayhem, Soren Andersen and many many more!

Ethereal Kingdoms live at Wintersun 15th anniversary special show with Amalie Skriver.
Ethereal Kingdoms live with special guest Amalie Skriver at Wintersun 15th anniversary show.
Photo by Mikkelsen-Photo for Metal a Day



We have also spoken with Metallian, the largest French metal magazine in print (and even made it to the frontpage of their September/October issue! Thank you so much!

Explore our universe at instagram, facebook, Spotify and youtube for more adventures in Ethereal Kingdoms.

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Metallian magazine interview

Metallian – the largest French language metal mag – have honored us with our very first foreign print magazine feature! And our name even made it to the front page!

The editors reached out to us for an exciting interview about Hollow Mirror, our music and our creative process. Christian and Sofia goes into detail about the theatrical aspect of our music and the concept behind the stories on our very first album. We also talk about our inspirations and dreams.

Read it in in this September/October issue.

Ethereal Kingdoms Metallian interview sep/oc 2019. Full page magazine spread interview with symphonic metal band Ethereal Kingdoms. Mighty Music 2019.
Metallian Magazine honored us with this full page magazine spread for this interview!

We are featured alongside our heroes of Jinjer, Lacuna Coil, Killswitch Engage and our Mighty Music label mates Tygers of Pan Tang and Blood Red Throne.

Thank you so much for this opportunity!

Besides this interview, Metallian also awarded Hollow Mirror a grand 5/6 stars in their review of our debut album!

Ethereal Kingdoms is featured on the front page of Metallian, the largest French language metal magazine. Interview about Hollow Mirror inside.

Other magazines have shared their thoughts about our music as well:
‘A perfect balance of brightness and darkness’ – Metal Temple
‘A very deserving debut’ – Arrow Lords of Metal
‘A complete range of voices’ – musica.be

Have you entered the theatrical metal experience yet?
Have you dared to step into Hollow Mirror?
Get a glimpse into our soundscape with our three first singles:
Heartchamber – Endings – Distance
Three stories of torn fates, bitter hopes, loss, love and unbreakable bonds.

Follow us on Spotify and be among the first to hear our new album

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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

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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 🇩🇰

Interview: Ethereal Kingdoms – En forestilling, der peger ind i fremtiden

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

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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: