Exclusive Interview: Ethereal Realm talk writing and recording “Enter The Realm”!

It has been seven days since our last interview with Australian Power Metal quintet Ethereal Realm and having survived that one by the skin of our teeth it’s time to do the whole thing again. Taking elements of Power, Traditional and Thrash Metal they’ve built the foundations of a sound with flying guitar solos and lyrics that take about war in a metaphorical sense, using it as an analogy for the modern slave to the wage rat race. So here’s one about just how they forged their sound for new EP “Enter The Realm“…

How did your previous experiences writing and recording music help to smooth the path for “Enter The Realm“?

TNT: “As mentioned earlier [In last weeks interview ~ Ed], each of us have had different journeys to get to this point. I guess despite our previous experiences when it comes to this stuff, the fact that we all had the same goal and instead of coaching each other, we all went in with fresh eyes and an open mind to get the job done. It was a humbling experience & we learnt a lot in the process. More than that we even encouraged each other while recording our individual bits which I thought was really good & definitely smoothened the path for Enter the Realm”

How does the writing process of a new track start? Melody, riff or rhythm first? How does it evolve from there before you consider it the finished article?

TNT: “This is a mix to be honest. Most times there is a riff/rhythm that leads into a jam session that we lock in a structure and then I go away & listen to it a few times till its stuck in my head and I start writing a story for it and name the track. But there are instances like the track Nightmare, which I wrote lyrics for 12 years ago and had a melody and an idea on how to structure it which I discussed with the band and we sat together & jammed till we were able to bring it to fruition. So yeah there are different processes involved for the origin of a new track, and it all begins when the 5 of us have an open conversation about it”

Jim: “To elaborate a bit more on T’s point, typically myself or Leon who will either spontaneously come up with something on the spot when jamming or one of us will come into the session with a tasty lick that we build on. It’s pretty much a game of patience from here on in. As a band we figure out a rough structure we want and we go section by section figuring out riffs and composition until we are happy with a rough idea. During this time, T will usually sit quietly observing and adding input when needed whilst writing away, coming up with melodies in real time to the music. We then will usually do a rough phone recording as a placeholder, work on it a bit more than ta-da, a new song!”

What was it like working with Marc Scully at Studio 57 Records, the man who you entrusted behind the boards to mix and master the record?

TNT: “Marc is a legend, top bloke & an all round funny dude. He has the chops for what he does & has been doing it for a long time now. We discussed our vision of the EP with him & you could tell he was excited too. It is quite important to find a studio as passionate to record a band as the band is to play. Marc really went above & beyond to make sure we were happy with the final product before mastering was done. You could tell he loves what he does, and that right there was why we felt safe in his hands”

Jim: “Honestly the process and what was involved is fair to say was an eye opener for all of us. Marc’s a really likable guy that really took the time to not only understand what we wanted but also took us under his wing and mentored us through the process. By the end of it we were calling headphones ‘cans’ and cheering each other on when one of us nailed a section. The experience we gained and toolage under Marc is something that we will all take with us throughout our musical careers. To echo T’s point, he is 100% all about music, we knew from the second we met we were on the right path”

In our review we’ve mentioned these songs as having a timeless feel to them and sounding like they could have easily come from an early Iron Maiden demo. Was it always your intention or vision to write something steeped in Metal history or did that just flow naturally once the riffs started pouring out?

TNT: “A few reviewers have pointed out this early Maiden comparisons especially with their first two albums. This was not intentional at all and we as the band are quite surprised and flattered by it at the same time. I would say this came naturally to us because of the heavy influences Maiden & other similar bands have on us. One reviewer from our 3rd live gig said we wear our influences on our sleeve. So you could say we definitely went with the flow, went with our gut & even went with our heart”

Jim: “I agree with TNT, we don’t go into a writing session with the goal to sound like any band or produce a Maiden-esque song, but given our influences, those bands that we look up to for inspiration will always shine through in one way or another”

For us gear nerds out there, can you tell us what you’re using gear wise (pedals, strings, drums etc) to get your sound?

Jim: “We’re pretty traditional when it comes to gear. Myself and Leon would rather plug into a head running a 4×12 than use an amp profiler. Pedals wise, nothing really special going on, we don’t have massive pedalboards, just no fuss gear to give some variation to our sound. We are definitely delay and wah heavy (usually for solos) and don’t mind some modulation when called for. As for bass, Sam is straight into the head, no messing around. Rob usually plays the house kit as it’s more convenient than having to set up his whole kit every time but he doesn’t go anywhere without his main things like snare, kicks and cymbals”

Jim
Guitar – Chapman Ghost Fret V2
Pedal Chain – Boss WL50 > Boss GT100 (modulation, delay and amp channel switching only) >
MXR Smart Gate > Out (running 4 cable method)
Amp – Orange Super Crush 100 Head

Leon
Guitar – Jackson Soloist
Pedal Chain: Boss TU2 > Mooer Phaser > Mooer Chorus > Ibanez Analog Delay Mini > Rowin
Noise Gate > Out (running 4 cable method)
Amp – Blackstar HT100 Head

Sam
Bass – Warwick Thumb
AMp – Markbass Ninja Combo

Rob
Snare – Mapex
Double Kicks – DW Series 3 Double kicks
Sticks – Promark signature Mike Portnoy sticks
Cymbals – Mix of Headliner, Stagg and Paiste

What difference would it make to you as a band if you could land an endorsement from a gear manufacturer?

Jim: “I think it’s a mental game. An endorsement is a huge deal as a musician to land. It’s the right of passage and the point where you are formally acknowledged as someone who holds not only influence within the industry but also is typically representative of being quite successful and a musician or band. As for free gear, sure it would be great, but in terms of our writing process and flow, I doubt it would make a huge difference. With that said, If Orange or Blackstar Amps want to sponsor us, we’re all ears haha!”

“Enter The Realm” by Ethereal Realm is out now and available over at bandcamp.