Matthew Knight reports that the recordings for the next ETERNAL WINTER album are well underway and moving along quickly. The songwriting is completed, most of the instruments have already been recorded, and Knight will soon be tracking vocals. Fans can expect the band to return in full force, this time with a brand-new epic concept album to follow up last sword and sorcery themed opus. More updates to come...
Sword and Sorcery Heavy Metal
Matthew Knight has been appearing alongside Howie Bentley in several episodes of Echoes of Crom Records' new series SWORD AND SORCERY HEAVY METAL. The episodes can be found here:
Matthew Knight's latest sword and sorcery tale THE KEY TO THE BLOOD PYRAMID has been published in DMR books' DIE BY THE SWORD anthology. The story is a brand-new action-packed adventure of Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice. Available now through DMR Books.
A Gothic phenomenon of New Wave decadence! NOIR SENSATION is the latest side project by Matthew Knight and Matt Brookins of ETERNAL WINTER. Now available for streaming and digital download via Bandcamp. Physical releases coming soon!
Interview with Matthew Knight of Eternal Winter
Questions by Lex J. Oven of Metal Underground Austria
Sometimes I search for hidden gems and hopeful newcomers on Bandcamp. That's how I found Eternal Winter, hailing from Maryland (USA), and their new work of epic power metal called "Archaic Lore Enshrined - Songs Of Savage Swords And Dark Mysticism" (2020). Eternal Winter's over-the-top brand of Epic US Heavy Metal is something unique that I couldn´t find in other bands. Better sooner than later, I needed to do an interview with the bands voice, composer and mastermind Matthew Knight.
Hello Matthew! I hope you're alright and proud of your new album "Archaic Lore Enshrined". You have every reason to do so, because it simply is damned good. I had it running for a few rounds the last days, and can already rehearse the album's songs in original order in my mind. Congratulations! How where the reactions so far?
Greetings Lex! Cheers and thanks very much for your kind words! I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the new album. Indeed, I am happy with it and am very proud of the work. It was a long, bloody road getting it completed but finally, it's been unleashed. The reactions have been mostly positive. The majority of listeners seem to be embracing it and we've received a lot of supportive comments and messages from fans all over the world. That's really great and makes all the hard work well worth it. Of course, the album is quite eclectic-as you picked up on-so it may not suit everyone's fancy. There will always be some folks out there who won't get it at first, but perhaps they'll come around in time.
Here your band is almost completely unknown, so let's get a little bit into the band's history and your vision of Eternal Winter: I learned that the band was found in 2002. At the beginning, you had a lot of different elements you played with, even black metal. There have been some smaller releases until your first album "Within The Castle Shadowgate" in 2014 was released. At this time, you already had established your very own signature sound. The lyrics of the album told stories from the Eternal Winter Saga, that you created yourself, because you're also a fantasy writer who recently published a new novel called "Karnov - Phantom Clad Rider Of The Cosmic Ice" via DMR Books. So generally Eternal Winter is about creating your own fantasy saga and delivering the heavy metal soundtrack to it?
Yes, since the dawn of Eternal Winter in 2002, we've explored a variety of metallic territories. Our music has contained elements of thrash, power metal, prog, glam, goth, and even black metal in the early days. There's a core signature songwriting style that's been threaded through all of it since the beginning, and the lyrical content has always been based around heroic fantasy themes. Eternal Winter is a very narrative and theatrical band. Whether relating our own stories, or those of the authors we love; our musical vision is about telling dark, epic tales through our interpretation of the heavy metal art form. In regards to Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice, it is a Gothic-inspired sword-and-sorcery novella. The book is a collaboration between me and my good friends Howie K. Bentley (Cauldron Born/Briton Rites) and Byron A. Roberts (Bal-Sagoth). It's about the adventures of an enchanted warrior who fights vampires.
While your first album "Within The Castle Shadowgate" was about your own Saga of The Eternal Winter, your new album "Archaic Lore Enshrined" is full of already known short stories from famous weir fiction writers like Robert E. Howard, C.A. Smith or Michael Moorcock. It's like a pulp fiction collection in the shape of a heavy metal album. There seems to be something special about these author's writing that makes them still worth reading today. Maybe you can tell something about what makes these stories special for you, so that you decided to pay some tribute to them?
There is indeed something special about those works, and I agree with you completely. I believe it is not only the amazing atmosphere the stories conjure, but also the immortal imaginations and masterful prose of these writers that sets them apart. It is the dark and mystical combined with the epic and fantastic-told in a weird, pulp style that hearkens to an earlier time-which I admire so. I've said before that I can be just as inspired to write a song by reading a tale by C.L. Moore or Michael Moorcock as I can by listening to a band I like. Whenever I'm in the right mood, reading such works can be the ultimate form of inspiration. I often write songs to convey the exact mood I felt when reading a particular story. That in fact was how this new record came about; I'd read so many tales that spoke to me in such a profound way, I wanted to sonically pay tribute and re-tell them to the world through my music.
If I try to describe your style of metal, it would be something like: "European Power Metal but done with the tools of classic US Power Metal, with a healthy dose of Virgin Steele, sometimes a little bit over the top to scare the hipsters away". What would you say? What are your most important musical influences?
I'd say that's a pretty cool and flattering description. I can certainly understand each aspect you pointed out there. I personally think of us as a unique form of dark true heavy metal with epic and progressive elements. When it comes to influences, there are so many. In the metal realm, I've been very influenced by bands such as Manilla Road, Cauldron Born, Virgin Steele, Stormwitch, early Queensryche, Crimson Glory and countless others. 80's hard rock bands such as Winger, Slaughter, TNT, Nitro and others have been a big inspiration. I am a huge fan of alternative/new wave artists like Bryan Ferry and David Sylvian. I like Goth rock bands such as The Sisters of Mercy, H.I.M. and The 69 Eyes. In addition, I am very much into Fusion masters such as Al Di Meola who, in particular, has had a huge impact on me over the years. I think it's important to listen to different genres of music and to branch out stylistically.
The exact same things that I love about "Archaic Lore Enshrined" and your sound in general, e.g. the sometimes-extreme vocal performances, seem to expel others very effectively. I sincerely hope you'll always continue to do your own thing to the max?
I'm glad you enjoy that aspect. Yes, I definitely agree that we are not for the faint of heart when it comes to vocal theatrics. I like doing all sorts of things from aggressive bits to soaring high notes and big choirs. There are narrative parts, Gothic lows, and a lot of unexpected things happening at all times. I often compose the songs with the vocal parts in mind, and I don't hold back when it comes to that. I try to paint a musical backdrop with my voice, tapping into whatever I can to create myriad layers and textures. There are always a lot of harmonies happening, tons of screaming, etc. This is the way I have always been and I do not ever intend to change. I imagine our new album may prove disappointing to anyone who is not into creatively "over-the-top" vocalists. Too bad for them.
I really liked these narrations and interludes that connect the songs. I learned that you even have a project called the Haunted Abbey Mythos, where you do atmospheric readings of weird tales from C.A. Smith and the likes. So can we expect more of these in future Eternal Winter albums?
I've always been a fan of interludes, segues, connecting pieces... I feel that they give the work a sort of completion, in addition to accentuating an epic vibe. I also think that interludes are a great way to incorporate different sounds and explore new terrain. Both Eternal Winter albums contain those sort of pieces, and indeed, I do the exact same thing in Haunted Abbey Mythos. The music composed by co-founder Jon Zaremba that I theatrically read over is dark, atmospheric, and brilliantly unusual. Since it is not done in any sort of metal or rock-based formula, it becomes an ambient backdrop enhancing the foreboding atmosphere of my narration. In this case the musical interludes have a big impact in giving the listener an "intermission" of sorts and providing an added dose of color as well... In Eternal Winter, they are more like joining pieces that link one song cycle to another, changing the mood and setting the stage for the next crazy thing that's about to be experienced. This is my style of album writing that I don't intend to change. So yes, you can expect many more things like this to come from me in all areas. Expect the unexpected!
You wrote that "The Dark Kingdom" (with DeFeis on guest vocals) is a taste of what's to come in the next album - so new stuff is already waiting for release?
That's right. The Dark Kingdom (Invoking the Nightside) is the one song that was co-written by Keith Moye (keyboards). He and I wrote the track together many, many moons ago and had no idea at the time that it would eventually end up being an epic duet between me and David. The song was originally written for an entire separate album which is already written and ready to be recorded. That song cycle has a totally different tone incorporating other unusual elements than those heard on Archaic Lore Enshrined. Several songs on the upcoming record were written by me and Keith together so much of it has the flavor and harmonic character of The Dark Kingdom. That is what I was speaking of in those liner notes... So yes, a brand new Eternal Winter album is waiting in the wings and we will be hitting the studio in the coming months to dive into the recordings!
There currently are limited physical copies available of "Archaic Lore Enshrined" in CD format. Will there be new pressings and/or vinyl/tape releases?
Absolutely. I am a big fan of the physical formats and the majority of our fans are as well. There will always be physical media available of all of our recordings. I plan to do a cassette release in the near future as well. We did a special edition cassette for the Shadowgate album and it was a big hit. As for vinyl, I'd love to do that as well. We've had several requests for it already. Any labels who are interested, please get in touch!
Matt, Thank you for the interview and a great album - the last words are yours!
Thank you very much for the great interview, your support, and all the thoughtful questions! I just wish to send out an epic thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years, and a loud "Cheers" to all our fans old and new. Stay tuned… the best has yet to come!
Matthew Knight announced as lead vocalist for CAULDRON BORN
Knight states:
Howie Bentley and I have been friends for a very long time. In addition, I've always admired him as a fellow musical fantasist and am a big fan of his music. We collaborated a few years ago with the Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice novella, which was a great success. When Howie asked me if I'd be interested in singing for CAULDRON BORN I jumped at the chance. I now look forward to working together on a musical level. The music of CAULDRON BORN is 100% sword-and-sorcery heavy metal, and I'm proud to now be the voice behind it!
People can expect new releases from CAULDRON BORN and ETERNAL WINTER in the near future.
Sword And Sorcery Articles!
In recent years, Matthew Knight has contributed several articles to DMR Books' blog. A few of these are based on tales that inspired the songs on Eternal Winter's latest release "Archaic Lore Enshrined". Here is a list of the articles Matthew has written to date:
The brand new ETERNAL WINTER album ARCHIC LORE ENSHRINED: SONGS OF SAVAGE SWORDS & DARK MYSTICISM is now available on CD and via digital download HERE!
MAJESTIC METAL RECORDS announces:
Following their 2014 underground debut WITHIN THE CASTLE SHADOWGATE, on Sept. 16th 2020 ETERNAL WINTER unleashes a brand new opus - ARCHAIC LORE ENSHRINED: SONGS OF SAVAGE SWORDS & DARK MYSTICISM. The True Knights of Metal make their triumphant return with 13 tracks of dark & unique epic metal mysteria. Based on tales of sword & sorcery, Gothic literature, pulp fiction and heroic fantasy, this collection is sure to please any fan of metallic blood & thunder!
A fitting sonic tribute to literary masters such as Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Michael Moorcock, C. L. Moore, and others, ETERNAL WINTER delivers the goods in royal story-telling fashion. In addition to over-the-top epics loaded with vocal theatrics and shredding musicianship, the song cycle also includes a lengthy duet between Matthew Knight and David DeFeis of VIRGIN STEELE (THE DARK KINGDOM). Featured as well are the talents of Edgar Allan Poe interpreter/impersonator David Keltz. His haunting narration adorns the intro to the band's version of the classic STORMWITCH track MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH.
This Autumn, fans will not want to miss this eclectic true metal offering!
Track Listing Revealed!
ETERNAL WINTER have unveiled the track listing for the upcoming new album
"Archaic Lore Enshrined: Songs Of Savage Swords And Dark Mysticism".
1. Ludar's Litany to Thasaidon
2. The Curse of Baron Sengir
3. Nosferatu Necronomica (Voodoo Staff Fantasia)
4. The Hills of the Dead
5. Sojan Shieldbearer
6. The Pearls of the Vampire Queen
7. ...And Death Waltzed in the Court of Prospero
8. Masque of the Red Death
9. The Dark Kingdom (Invoking the Nightside)
10. Jirel Meets Magic
11. Hellsgarde
12. Victor of a Hundred Battles
13. The Eldritch Dark
Matthew Knight states:
"Since the dawn of Eternal Winter in 2002, I have relentlessly adhered to a strict, story-telling lyrical content based solely on events pulled from an original, dark fantasy saga. This time around, rather than continuing with the usual concept, I have chosen to take an intermission, and pay tribute to various literary masters that have inspired me throughout the years. As a result, the aforementioned song-cycle has turned out to have quite a heavy and melodic edge with many dark, mystical moments. It is quite colorful with much variation. Because each song tells it's own story, each have their own individual vibe, and none sound exactly the same. The album has been in the works for a few years now, and will soon see the light of day via Majestic Metal Records. We are currently deeply involved in the mixing stage, and are looking forward to unleashing the album in early 2020."
New Book Release!
Matthew Knight of ETERNAL WINTER has collaborated with fellow heavy metal fantasists Howie K. Bentley (CAULDRON BORN/BRITON RITES), and Byron A. Roberts (BAL-SAGOTH) to write KARNOV: PHANTOM-CLAD RIDER OF THE COSMIC ICE. Now available from DMR Books featuring a Foreword by Jon Zaremba.
From the publisher:
"Matthew Knight, Howie K. Bentley and Byron A. Roberts unite to pen this blood-drenched tale of Gothic-inspired sword and sorcery, each of their individual styles bringing to life memorable characters, otherworldly creatures, savage battles and darkly heroic scenarios. Classic horror film atmosphere meets pulp-style swashbuckling adventure, this action-packed epic is sure to please any fan of dark fantasy."
Matthew Knight adds:
"The result of this great collaboration has exceeded my wildest expectations, and I couldn’t be happier with the final product! In addition to being good friends of mine, Byron and Howie are two of the finest writers in genre. I feel honored to have worked with them on this project. It was an incredible experience, and I sincerely hope that all the readers of this book will enjoy our creation as much as I do."
To order the print or digital editions via DMR's official Amazon links, please visit DMR Books.
ETERNAL WINTER Unveil Cover Art for Upcoming New Album!
US Epic Heavy Metal band, ETERNAL WINTER unveil cover art for upcoming album ARCHAIC LORE ENSHRINED: SONGS OF SAVAGE SWORDS AND DARK MYSTICISM. Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Matthew Knight has released the following statement about the new album cover:
"The upcoming album will feature songs based on Sword and Sorcery, Gothic Literature, and other written works of the dark and fantastic. Several tracks are about stories from the Weird Tales pulp-era of which I am a big fan of. One that I chose to write about from this genre was C.L. Moore's HELLSGARDE which was first published in 1939. It is a Gothic-inspired ghost story and one of my very favorites. The song featured on the album, simply titled, HELLSGARDE is a dark epic of supernatural eeriness, and the lengthiest track on the record (clocking in at right around 13 minutes). Although I chose to make the album's title more extensive, I consider this particular song to be what some people might consider a 'title-track' of sorts..."
Matthew Knight continues, "Moore's Jirel of Joiry tales are masterpieces of dark fantasy bejeweled with rare words, and flashes of macabre weirdness-all containing a mystical, dreamy quality about them that conjure up a true sense of otherworldliness. I wanted to find an artist who would be able capture this kind of atmosphere as well as convey the emotions that I felt when reading the story for the first time. We ended up choosing to work with a brilliant artist from New Orleans named Louis Braquet. The album cover portrays the opening scene of HELLSGARDE where Jirel is mounted on her warhorse observing the haunted castle brooding in the shining marshes that surround it at sunset. We feel that Louis did an absolutely fantastic job! I am very fond of the warm tones, and the overall mystical vibe of the piece. It captures the essence of the scene-a foreboding strangeness looming over the beautiful countryside of medieval France, darkly blighted by sorcery and the supernatural."
ETERNAL WINTER is currently wrapping up final recording sessions for the album, and is now moving into the mixing stage. Release date to be announced soon!
Matthew Knight: Guest Vocalist for DARK AWAKE!
Matthew Knight is now featured as a guest vocalist on "Die Sonne Man", the latest album by DARK AWAKE. Matthew contributes dramatic narrations to "The Great Pan" in which he reads lines from Arthur Machen's Gothic classic in usual theatrical fashion.
DARK AWAKE's music is described as "Pure spiritual, esoteric, neoclassical, apocalyptic industrial ambience with mysterious field recordings and ethereal, neofolk musical landscapes". The album is available now through Ultra-Mail Prod.
Majestic Metal Records has released a new Haunted Abbey Mythos CD entitled...
"The Mountain of Souls"!
Haunted Abbey Mythos is Matthew Knight from Eternal Winter (performing theatrical narration and flamenco guitar) and Jon Zaremba (providing electronic music score, sound effects, and production). This time the duo tells Gustavo Adolfo Becquer's classic Spanish tale of gothic horror, "El Monte De Las Animas", the story that inspired the popular Blind Dead films of the 1970s.
Knight and Zaremba re-penned the story in English, remaining faithful to the spirit of the original while approaching it from their own unique angle of atmospheric supernatural weirdness.
Learn more about it, hear some sound samples, and place your order at Majestic Metal, Bandcamp, or via youtube (below)!
Mark Shelton Tribute
Matthew Knight explains the impact that the music of Mark Shelton has had on him and Eternal Winter and does a rendition of "Sea Witch".
Bandcamp Sites!
The Eternal Winter Bandcamp site is now live! You can order our music and merchandise through Bandcamp's portal. Click here to check it out. You can also preview "Within the Castle Shadowgate" using the player below.
Also, there is now a Haunted Abbey Mythos Bandcamp site. Click here for the full site or preview the "Beast of Averoigne" album with the player below.
Within the Castle Shadowgate CASSETTE EDITION!
Click here to learn more and order a copy from Majestic Metal Records.
The Beast of Averoigne
Matthew Knight has a new side project entitled Haunted Abbey Mythos. The first release consists of a dramatic narration read by Matthew Knight, set to a backdrop of eerie soundscapes scored by avant garde electronic musician, Jon Zaremba, and contains 5 unique interlude pieces by Knight, which range from ambient synth-driven, to darkly Romantic.
You can read more and order a copy from the Majestic Metal Records site here.
Click below to hear a preview of the album:
New Interview with Matthew Knight! (April 2017) Questions by Jon Zaremba
I recently came across your music as a recommendation from a friend. I had heard the name Eternal Winter throughout the scene for a while, but always assumed you guys would sound like a black metal band. Being more a fan of epic power metal, I was surprised at how much I liked WITHIN THE CASTLE SHADOWGATE. How did you choose the name Eternal Winter?
In the very early days of the band when we had just formed and were very young, I wrote a chaotic heavy metal song that was about a dark winter world condemned by an evil sorcerer. It was one of the first songs I had written for the band and contained the first vaguely conceptual lyrics I ever penned. That track ended up being called, 'Eternal Winter'. I wanted a title cold and grim to suit the vibe of the song. When I moved on to write the next piece, I ended up continuing with the concept from the first one. This trend continued with the next couple of works and it became apparent that most of the songs would be themed around some sort of original concept story...It was then that Gordon and I sat down and wrote out the first few chapters, to organize these ideas and come up with new deep and complex literary material for me to use as lyrical concepts...We needed a name for the saga and the band. We thought that the title of our first song, Eternal Winter seemed to suit, as it tells of the main struggle in the story, and it provided the type of atmosphere we were after in a name at that time.
I can maybe understand why people who haven't heard us might expect our music to be black metal because of the band name...In truth; the music did have a black metal influence in the early days. But our style changed over time as usually happens with most creative bands that don't stay the same year after year. As I pushed the boundaries, grew and experimented, our music slowly progressed into what it is today...To be honest, I don't really like genres or sub-genres. To me Eternal Winter is not power metal or black metal or thrash metal or whatever...but some form of metal music that covers all the spectrums in one way or another...something different and totally unique...and that's how it always will be.
What are some of the bands that first inspired you to approach metal from the heroic fantasy angle?
Too many to name! And of many genres as well...In the early days we were inspired by all sorts of bands, books, games, movies...The Heroic Fantasy thing was something we'd seen other bands attempt, but wanted to do our own take on since we had a love for it. So far, I think we've done it in a fresh and different way, which is probably due to the stylistic boundaries we continue to explore...I don't think you'll find funky, Fusion-like solo sections or dark and Gothic, dungeonesque piano interludes, or dramatic character voices over crushing thrash riffs on many run-of-the mil power metal bands' albums...
What are the last three albums you bought?
I'm not sure the order of when I bought them, but three I recently got that have been in heavy rotation lately are:
BRYAN FERRY - Taxi
THE SISTERS OF MERCY - Vision Thing
PHILLIP GLASS AND THE KRONOS QUARTET - Dracula
That's fantastic. There seems to be a stigma in metal, in that metal musicians should only be listening to metal. Do you consciously bring non-metal influences into your song writing or does it happen unknowingly?
I really just listen to whatever suits my mood or whatever I find inspiring in that very moment, whether it is metal, classical, new age, goth rock... I don't think about it...As for composing, I suppose I do get inspiration from a lot of non-metal music. Again, it just happens. I think it's important to branch out and be open-minded. There's too much great music out there to just limit yourself to one particular genre.
Did you always aspire to be a musician? When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I got into music at a pretty young age. I remember being in Elementary school and wanting to start a band when other kids my age were still playing with GI-Joes. I used to get in trouble for drawing pictures of my imaginary band's album cover in class. I was infatuated with the idea. So yes, being a musician has always been my main goal ever since childhood.
Do you remember what that album cover drawing looked like?
Ha! Indeed I do! It was a cartoonish drawing of a grotesque rabbit-creature's head lying in a pool of green slime! The thing had four eyes and a gaping mouth with sharp teeth like a dragon. I think it might've been inspired by the weird cartoonish imagery of bands like Primus or White Zombie, as those were my favorite bands in 5th grade...I still have a clay sculpture of that same creature, which I made around that same time.
Your music is complex and rich in composition. Did you take lessons when growing up? And how did you bridge the gap from being proficient with voice and guitar to composing thematic musical passages?
As I said, I was obsessed with music as a kid. Eventually, when I was about 9 or 10 I persuaded my parents to buy me a guitar and started taking lessons. The lessons didn't last long and aside from some beginning techniques, I really didn't learn much from them. It wasn't until I convinced some of my friends that it would be cool if they got instruments as well and we started a band, that my real inner creativity burst out. I played music all through Middle and High School, playing in various bands as guitarist and sometimes vocalist (most of which I started and led). I loved it and it was all I lived for...
Eventually, after leaving school, I furthered my musical education at a local college studying Music Theory, Choral Composition, Classical Guitar and Ear Training. This was a vital step to increasing my harmonic vocabulary and furthering my knowledge of chordal composition that I would later utilize in my writing with Eternal Winter. It also got me familiar with composing on the piano and using my voice properly...This of course was an integral part of my growth as a musician, but taking this knowledge and utilizing it in my own creative works was where the real magic happened and where I was able to hone these skills, becoming familiar with how to use them...Sitting many nights composing choirs for epic songs like 'Leviathan's Wrath', or creating keyboard and guitar harmonies for melodic pieces such as 'Hymn to Ereyth'...Being able to smoothly modulate from one key to another in 'Under the Spell' and doing it in a musical and theoretical way that makes sense...That's what I'm talking about...So to answer your question - Education has certainly helped me over the years, but it is practice, exploration, and perseverance that really have been the keys to being able to do these kinds of things, for me.
Do you find greater satisfaction in compositions that require excessive planning or revisions (like 'Leviathan's Wrath')...or in those that come together quickly and spontaneously?
It depends really. There is definitely a level of satisfaction from completing a large-scale work that takes a lot of time and dedication, especially when it turns out well...but there's also some magic about spontaneous ideas that just come from an inspired moment as well. Both are extremely rewarding in their own way.
What can we expect from the next Eternal Winter album?
You can soon expect another full-length Epic in a similar vein to the first album but with a somewhat darker, more Gothic and Romantic kind of vibe...The songs are really all over the place. Some are straight-forward Metal, while others are a little more experimental. We have elements of Goth Rock going on, as well as weird Funk aspects...progressive vibes, thrash, eerie guitar and keyboard effects, acoustic sounds, dramatic moments...all of this presented in a dark and epic fashion along with the usual over-the-top Metal madness that we are known for.
You're also an accomplished writer. How do you decide what stories will end up as the backbone of an Eternal Winter album, and which ones will be kept to paper?
So far, most of our material has been based on tales from the Eternal Winter Saga, however it is definitely my plan to cover all of my writings musically on these next albums, as most of the stories are intertwined with that Mythos to begin with. This upcoming album I just spoke of in fact, will have songs based on two of my pieces from the Barbarian Crowns anthology that coincide with the Saga...Also, I have big plans for a separate future album based on various literary works by other authors, which may come sooner rather than later. All of the material is already written and some is already recorded...The song we released on Youtube early last year, 'The Curse of Baron Sengir' is a preview of things to come from that particular song cycle...
Which author has inspired you the most? And which virtue of their work have you been most eager to incorporate into your own writings?
That's a hard question! There are so many authors that influence my music and writings in different ways and none of them do I measure up to...I would love to somehow incorporate the originality and creativity of Michael Moorcock with the strangeness and vast vocabulary of Clark Ashton Smith and the dark, Romantic melancholy of Edgar Allan Poe. That would certainly be something else.
What's your next published work going to be and what is the story about?
I have two upcoming works about to be published in a Sword & Sorcery anthology called 'Dreams of Fire and Steel'...One is a collaboration story between me, Byron Roberts of Bal-Sagoth and Howie Bentley of Cauldron Born/Briton Rites called 'Karnov: Phantom-Clad Rider of the Cosmic Ice'. It is actually a novella written by the three of us about a vampire-slaying cosmic knight on a quest for vengeance. It has a Gothic, 'Sword & Sorcery meets Hammer Films' kind of vibe to it. I'm really excited about that one...Also in the same book will appear my own original story, 'Servants of Destiny' which is a tale from the Eternal Winter Mythos that features Elric of Melnibone fighting alongside our very own hero, Gallius Varinor. I actually wrote that one some years ago as my own tribute to Michael Moorcock and just recently revamped it for the anthology.
Regarding 'Karnov...', can you describe the process that the three of you followed to pen that? Did each of you take specific chapters? Or did you work by layering revisions over each other's parts? And was the basic plot outlined ahead of time, or did each of you improvise the story based on what the previous person what written thus far?
The story is divided up into three 'Books', each containing a few chapters - I wrote Book I, Howie wrote Book II and Byron, Book III. None of us had any idea what the others were going to write about. It was all a surprise and that made it really fun and interesting. We passed it around until it was complete, each doing our own thing, without any revisions by the other authors. We are all like-minded guys and fans of each other's music and writings, so it was natural that we would approve of the ideas that everyone came up with. It was really cool because we all have slightly different writing styles and that is apparent in the story and makes it quite colorful. I am really proud of Karnov and think it turned out to be a creative masterpiece! I think people will really enjoy it and I'm looking forward to the release!
What are some of your artistic struggles? Being prolific in music and literature would give the impression that you've had an easy road at these things...but that's never the case. Where have you failed and what is difficult for you today?
I don't believe that I have ever failed necessarily. I've had many setbacks and struggles throughout this journey but have always managed to overcome any obstacles I come across. I suppose the thing that is the most difficult for me is finding time to do everything I want to do as quickly as I'd like to. I always have so much on my plate as far as songs to record, works to complete, as well as other projects I have in mind and it all takes time. Most people don't realize just how much time and energy goes into works of this magnitude. I may get really excited about a specific project or piece, but then come to the realization that there are several other unfinished things that must be completed before I can get to it. It just takes patience and dedication.
This stuff really does take a lot of time to complete. Regarding compromises, what have you cut out...or what sacrifices have been made...in your life overall, to accommodate this much output?
I really don't think of it as a compromise or a sacrifice simply because it's what I want to be doing. The key is managing your time and not becoming lazy. I have a very busy schedule but I still make a point every day to set aside time for my music and artistic endeavors. Sure, there are times I get tired and run-down, but one must persevere to accomplish their goals. I've always had that mindset and will continue to forge ahead and conquer anything that stands in my way...No matter what obstacles the future may bring...Eternal Winter will never give up or go away...and will always remain the True Knights of Metal, Winter Triumphant and Forever Victorious!
Catching up in 2017!!!
Hail!!! This site has been in-active over the last year or so, as the band has been hard at work in the studio recording for the next few epic releases. We are just now catching up on posting some updates of various events that have happened over the last year or so...We now have a new web-master, so you can expect this site to be updated more regularly, and with more updates in the near future... Here are a few things that have been going on while we've been away...
Jon Zaremba - PROMONTORY
Matthew Knight will be featured as a guest narrator and vocalist on the latest album by avant garde musical mastermind, Jon Zaremba. PROMONTORY is a concept album featuring Jon's own horror/weird fiction masterpiece narrated over an ambient backdrop of Jon's signature brand of strange and unique electonic wizardry. Here's what Matthew has to say about the album:
I had a great time contributing to PROMONTORY and am honored to be a part of it! I think that Jon's music is pure genius. Any open-minded individuals who are deep enough to give it the time of day will be truly delighted with this dark masterpiece he has created. Jon has become a great friend and musical partner, and you can expect more collaborations between him and I in the near future!
ETERNAL WINTER has released a preview of a new song from their upcoming ARCHAIC LORE ENSHRINED album entitled, THE CURSE OF BARON SENGIR... Matthew Knight reports:
This track is a Gothic, thrashy piece from an upcoming song-cycle we're doing that is based on literary topics outside of our Eternal Winter Saga. The song is about some old vampire lore from an early Magic: The Gathering story. The dark tale behind Baron Sengir, his sinister family and the Homelands had always left an impression on me, and when it came time to come up with conceptual ideas for this album, I thought it would be a great idea to incorporate it in along with the other literary material we are covering. I am quite pleased with how it turned out! This is a raw, early mix...
ETERNAL WINTER to be featured on the METAL MUSIC GLOBALLIANCE VOL. 1 Compilation
This new compilation CD will be available at various festivals this Summer and features Metal bands of all genres from all over the world...It will contain an alternate mix of the ETERNAL WINTER Classic, MAJESTY OF STARLIGHT...Below is a promotional video by Matthew Knight:
BY THE GODS: A NOBLE TRIBUTE TO VIRGIN STEELE
ETERNAL WINTER will be featured on the first ever VIRGIN STEELE Tribute Album entitled, BY THE GODS: A NOBLE TRIBUTE TO VIRGIN STEELE. An ode to the Barbaric-Romantic Masters featuring: IRON FIRE, WIZARD, CRYSTAL VIPER, ARMORY, ETERNAL WINTER, TIMELORD and more...The first ever official VIRGIN STEELE Tribute Album, this compilation has been in the works for several years and finally sees the light of day through Majestic Metal Records. It features a 12-page full-color booklet with exclusive liner notes by David DeFeis. An essential collection for any VS fan!
ETERNAL WINTER covers the VIRGIN STEELE Classic, CROWN OF GLORY (UNSCARRED).
BLOODMIST AT DAWN: A Heavy Metal Companion To The BARBARIAN CROWNS Anthology
An epic compilation of Sword & Sorcery Metal Madness! This CD features bands of authors that contributed to the BARBARIAN CROWNS anthology- CAULDRON BORN, ETERNAL WINTER, BAL-SAGOTH, SOLITARY SABRED and BATTLEROAR. No other compilation slays like BLOODMIST AT DAWN!
Available now through Horrified Press and Majestic Metal Records, BARBARIAN CROWNS, a Sword & Sorcery anthology featuring stories by various authors including Matthew Knight of ETERNAL WINTER Byron A. Roberts of BAL-SAGOTH, Howie K. Bentley of CAULDRON BORN, among other well-established authors.
This book contains 3 stories by Matthew Knight, directly linked to the Eternal WINTER Mythos- THE CULT OF AEVANAH, THE CHAMBER OF LUSTS and GAZRAELLE IN THE SHADOWGATE.
INTERVIEW PT. 1: "WINTRY STEEL UNLEASHED"
Questions by John Daker
Greetings, Matthew. The new album is finally released and we are all very excited
about it. Are you satisfied with the final product?
Greetings and thanks for your kind words! Yes, I have to say I am quite happy and
satisfied with the album. It was a long, bloody road getting it recorded and
complete but all the hard work was well worth it in the end. I think it turned out
to be a solid release and it definitely represents Eternal Winter, the roots of
where we have come from, and the "vision" of what we have always wished to
achieve...
Just as you had promised in other interviews, I think the album turned out to be
very colorful. The music is quite varied and there are no songs that really sound
the same. Do you go out of your way to do this?
Thank you! I take that as a big compliment...Actually, I believe it is something
that happens quite naturally for me. I am always inspired by different things when
writing songs, whether it be a certain piece of music I am into at the time, a book
I'm reading or a movie I watched, even just my mood on a dark and stormy evening?All
these kinds things can inspire different ideas for me when composing.
I usually do tend to write songs with a vision in mind. I'll think to myself "OK,
what is this song going to be about and how do I want the listener to feel when
experiencing it?" Then after I make that decision I will begin coming up with ideas
that I think represent what I am going for in a good way.
However, a lot of stuff comes out spontaneous as well...For instance; Keith and I
were in the studio late one evening a few weeks ago. There were bats flying around
outside and a huge, eerie full moon in the sky (one of those giant orange colored
ones they call a "harvest" moon). Feeling inspired, I just began messing around on
the keyboard, experimenting with a few progressions I'd been working on. Keith said
"Hey, that sounds really good. We should record that". So we did! Then I had ideas
for more layers, harmonies, etc. and before we knew it, I had a great Gothic-style
piano nocturne written that we will probably use as an interlude on the next album... It was one of those magickal things that just happened spontaneously.
I think that Eternal Winter has a sort of "crossover" between genres; do you feel that this makes it a tougher sell to some audiences?
In some ways I do feel that way and in others I don't. Often times we will get these
diehard "True" or "Traditional" Metal fans who like our music but don't care for the
keyboards or the layered choir vocals...then on the other side there are these "Epic
Power" Metal guys who love the keys and the choirs, but will complain that they
don't want to hear ripping high notes every 2 minutes or 80's-inspired guitar riffs
that sound like they came from a Dokken or Ratt album...So it really takes someone
who is opened minded to this kind of thing to really appreciate it. Personally, I am
a fan of all the (True) metal genres as well as many other musical styles, so I
incorporate many different elements into the music (some that one might not expect).
I have come across some individuals who have taken notice of the band simply because
of the fact that we are different, so it can be a positive thing.
Most of the reviews of your new album that I've read seem pretty positive. Have you seen any negative reviews yet?
For the most part they have all been pretty good. There will always be some negative
critiques though. After all, a lot of these "reviews" are just people's opinions
anyway, and many of these critics like to be overly- picky and aggressive when
reviewing new releases...I don't let negative reviews get me down. I know what I
wish to accomplish and that's all that matters to me. I am a musician for myself
first, and foremost. If I can bring joy and happiness to someone else's life with my
music in the process, then that makes it even better, but I will never pay attention
to any kind of bad critiques because for the most part, I do this because it's who I
am, not because I am worried about what others think.
Do you have a favorite song on the new album?
That's a tough one... They vary greatly for me and I have different experiences and
memories that are attached to each one..."Shadowgate" for instance, was written
during the birth of the band back in 2002, so I have many, many fond memories of
writing the story with Gordon as well as rehearsing the song with all the various
lineups of the band..."An Oath Of Vengeance" I wrote more recently when I was going
through somewhat of a dark time, and sometimes when I listen to it, I feel that the
vibe of that song reflects that (to me, anyway)...Again, it's hard to say. It
changes all the time...If I had to pick a song from the album that was my favorite
for today, I suppose I would say "Leviathan's Wrath".
Can you give us a conceptual breakdown of each song on the album? Tell us what
exactly each song is about?
Sure, I will give it a shot...here goes...
TRUE KNIGHT'S OVERTURE (PRELUDE TO DARK ENCOUNTERS) - This short intro piece begins
the quest! Gallius Varinor realizes that he is the chosen one to venture forth
against the forces of Voraxia, but doesn't yet quite realize the significance of his
role...
MAJESTY OF STARLIGHT - The verses here tell of the dark sorcerer, Avoryean who is
bound by a spell and being held captive in castle dungeons of Bazrith. These lyrics
introduce him to the listener, as he will become an important character later in the
Saga...
UNDER THE SPELL - Most of this song is about the overall journey and the dark times
that will be faced ahead. The 2nd verse tells of when Umaritus, The Falcon Wiseman
casts a spell on Varinor during battle, increasing his strength and putting him in a
rage of savage fury!
RUMBLE WITH THE TYRANT - One of my favorite conceptually! The Tyrant is the leader
of a gang of reptilian bandits who terrorize the township of Rossindor. In this
particular instance, they barge into the Dragonsong Inn where Varinor and his
companions are taking rest for the evening. A fight quickly ensues and there is soon
chaos, magic and violence galore!
AN OATH OF VENGEANCE - We now return to the dungeons of Bazrith. Avoryean is
brooding, conjuring magical spells and preparing his escape. He is extremely pissed
and vows vengeance against his father, Lord Norian Darsmir for his betrayal.
RIDE OF THE CRIMSON PEGASUS (FLIGHT TO THE ISLAND OF DREAMS) - The Knight learns
that he must travel to the Sky Kingdom on the Island Of Dreams. The reptilian
alchemist, Alderahn informs him that only a certain magical beast can take him
there...
WITHIN THE CASTLE SHADOWGATE - There is really no explanation needed here if you've
heard the song, as the lyrics are very, very narrative and descriptive...In the
Rivers Of Twilight Gallius Varinor is tricked by evil faeries into entering the
Shadowgate. There he faces all kinds of horrors before meeting Majigormis, The Great
Shadowmage. Majigormis grants him divine knowledge about his quest and informs him
that the Shadowgate is the dimensional gateway between worlds.
THE SPIRIT - Jordis, Princess of the Sky Kingdom must be freed from the shackles of
the G?skar Dominus, Lord of the Dreamshades. This song deals with that subject.
MOONLIGHT OVER THE CRYSTAL VALLEYS - This is basically Varinor reflecting on his
quest- what has happened already and what lies ahead...a lot of "glorious" type of
lyrics here which suit the ballad-like qualities of this song.
FORBODING SHORES - As the fleet of Edlundiver approaches the blackened shores of
Zoratherax, they behold the beast! Leviathan has risen!
LEVIATHAN'S WRATH - Another very narrative track. The Leviathan has risen from the
darkened seas. The kingdom of Edlundiver has allied with the elves of Willowthorn to
destroy the beast. In the end all are slain except the Knight, who destroys the
serpent king with a magical talisman.
HYMN TO EREYTH - In the olden days, the world was divided and the Great God and
Goddess were separated by dark sorcery. Ereyth is the God of the Land of Eternal
Winter and the Goddess (his lost love), Sarna rules over The Unknown Lands...This
piece is a melodic and triumphant hymn to the betrayed deity.
Can you give an explanation as to why the songs on the album do not go
chronologically in order with the concept story? This is a concept album right? Why
the strange order of events?
That's a very good question and I'm glad you asked! I felt the need to arrange the
songs on the album so that they would flow in a good way musically. This didn't
always work when trying to put them in order conceptually, so I figured it best to
just arrange the tracklisting so that the album goes through all the various moods
and textures in the most ear-pleasing way possible...
I once read an interview with Robert E. Howard where he was asked a similar
question- about why his Conan stories weren't written in a chronological order when
they were originally published in Weird Tales magazine back in the 1930s...Why one
minute Conan is a barbarian thief, then in the next story he is the king of
Aquilonia, with no real explanation in between...Howard's answer was that he wanted
them to seem like life stories, so that if you were sitting with Conan hearing him
tell tales around a campfire, he would relate them in the order in which they
occurred to him, not necessarily in the order that they happened?I always thought
this was a great answer and I think our songs should be viewed in the same way-
individual tales told in no particular order, that when analyzed and pieced
together, make up the whole of a great saga.
INTERVIEW PT. 2: "MAGICK STORMS ON THE HORIZON"
Questions By Mark Mitchell
Now that the album has been out for a while now, what has the reception been?
It's been good, thanks, Mark! There are a lot of people who have been waiting a long
time for it to be released and everyone I have talked to seems to have really
enjoyed it. I've been a bit surprised actually because even some people who are more
into other metal genres are really digging it, so it's a good thing! We've had a
couple reviews as well that were quite positive.
You've had a second album written for a while now and said you were collaborating
more with your your keyboardist, Keith Moye for this material. Can you go deeper
into what differences this might bring to future material? Elements of the band that
you've expanded on, or maybe even some that will see less focus?
That is correct! There is a 2nd album in the works that is another full-scale, epic
work entitled, "In The Nightside Of The Forest Black". Keith worked with me on a lot
of the songs and we have had the material completed for quite some time now...
This album will have a bit of a darker and somewhat more "Gothic" approach than the
first. There are a lot of songs dealing with more sinister themes such as witches,
vampires, haunted forests, etc. as well as the usual "epic" ideas we are known
for...Working with Keith on some of the songs has been great and together we have
composed some our best works to date, I think. He often comes up with some really
cool ideas that I would never think of, plus he can do a lot of things on the
keyboard that I can't. He likes working in strange time signatures, which I rarely
do. When we put our heads together for these tracks, we came up with some really
cool and unique ideas that I think are really going to kick ass once recorded!
I don't want to give away too much, as we are still in the very beginning stages of
recording, but I can say that the new album will be a bit more "focused" than the
last. These new songs were written as "song cycles" with a particular theme and flow
in mind, whereas the songs from our first album were just a handful of what I
thought to be our best material recorded and compiled in the best way
possible...Also, I can say there is bigger use of heavy, dark-sounding piano on this
album, which is a big reason for this "Gothic" sound mentioned before... There will be
some new sounds, but overall, it will be 100% Eternal Winter - True Epic Heavy
Metal, as always!
You mentioned a re-release of your Winter Triumphant EP. Will this be a straight
reissue, or will you go Virgin Steele and add another album worth of material?
(Please?)
Yes, we will be doing a re-release of our 2004 Winter Triumphant EP later this year.
That was our first real official release and a lot of fans love it. It was recorded
in only a few days in quite a chaotic fashion. It is raw, unpolished and somewhat
juvenile sounding (especially my vocals) but just has a certain energy and charm to
it that I have always loved. The original pressing was very, very limited, so I
thought we'd reissue it so that fans new to the band could experience the "roots" of
where we came from.
There will be many bonus tracks included on the re-issue. Fortunately, I have tons of very raw live recordings from that era (mostly taken from old VHS tapes), so these will definitely be included. A few of these are songs that were never recorded or released in any way and should be new to anyone who wasn't at our live shows in the early days. Also, I am playing around with the idea of doing a narrative kind of piece that would be me narrating the beginning of the concept story overtop of some
keyboard themes?
Originally, I had thought about recording new versions of The WT
songs, but I think people should hear them in their original form and experience
this unique kind of rawness and "magic" that I'm talking about.
Finally, Matt Brookins of Odin's Court is a friend of yours, helping with the production of Within the Castle Shadowgate as well as performing some of the drums.
Tell us, when comes the full-fledged Matthew Knight/Matt Brookins side project?
Yes, Matt is a very good friend of mine. We both support one another's bands 100% and help each other out whenever we can. He was a big part of the recording process for this album and did a fantastic job? Ha! Sure, a "Matt & Matt" side-project would be great. We are both so busy with all we have going on with own projects that I doubt we'd ever have time (though we have talked about doing a sleazy glam rock EP)...There will however be some upcoming, Odin's Court/Eternal Winter live shows coming up in the near future. I'm really looking forward to that!
New Album "Within the Castle Shadowgate" Available Now!
The long awaited album by Eternal Winter, "Within the Castle Shadowgate" is available now through Majestic Metal Records! Visit our store for more details.
Sword And Sorcery In Heavy Metal!
Matthew Knight has recently contributed 2 articles to Echoes Of Crom Records' Sword And Sorcery In Heavy Metal section. Be sure to check out Matt's articles about Michael Moorcock's Sojan The Swordsman and the Norse Sagas of Poul Anderson, as well as a great article on Robert E. Howard, written by Howie Bentley (Cauldron Born, Briton Rites). These should prove to be very interesting for all fans of the genre. Here's what Matt has to say about it:
I am a huge fan of Sword & Sorcery and Heroic Fantasy. When not busy with musical endeavors, I spend large amounts of time getting lost in the strange and fantastic worlds of Robert E. Howard, Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock and many other grand masters of the genre. These works have influenced me and my music tremendously over the years; so naturally, I was very intrigued when asked by EOC if I'd be interested in contributing to the project. This is a very cool and happening thing that Howie is doing and I am proud, honored and excited to be a part of it!
Posted May 30, 2012
New! Studio Report and Interview
Eternal Winter is hard at work in the studio recording their upcoming, debut album, "Within The Castle Shadowgate". The band has finalized several tracks already and is now continuing to make steady progress. Below is an interview in which Matthew Knight sheds some light on the recordings and the new album.
What can people expect from the new Eternal Winter album?
The album will be quite colorful. There are songs that range from epic and majestic to in-your-face thrashing. There will be plenty of heavy, rocking guitar riffs, wailing vocals, monstrous choruses, symphonic elements, dark moments with dramatic narrations, as well as a few unexpected surprises. Some songs will be well known classics that fans have come to love from our demos and live shows over the years, but have never been properly released, and others will be new to all. Overall, people can expect an album of 100% true, original, epic heavy metal with no compromises!
Is there an expected release date yet? You have been working on this project for quite some time now. Why so long?
We're shooting for a 2012 release. I think a lot of people donⴠunderstand how long it takes to record an album like this. There is so much that goes into it and it really does take a lot of time and energy. I know plenty of bands that have taken years to write and record albums. We have had a few setbacks since we began the recordings (most of them due to forces beyond our control), but are now moving at a nice, steady pace.
I read somewhere that you have been recording at D2C studios, ran by Matt Brookins of Odin's Court, as well as your own studio. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Yes, the tracks for the album are being recorded between my own Castle Shadowgate Studio and Matt Brookins' D2C Studio. We normally do the vocals, keyboards, guitars and bass at my place and then he helps us out with some of the more involved stuff such as drum recordings, re-amping, mixing, etc. It's been great working with Matt! He's a good friend of mine and really knows his stuff when it comes to recording and music in general. Most importantly, he has a lot of experience with this kind of music we are doing. Matt has helped us a great deal with the project and will also be lending us some of his musical talents on several tracks as well as mixing the album once all is complete.
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I also remember you saying that you have an entire 2nd album already written and on the back-burner. Are there many differences between the music from the upcoming album and the new stuff you have recently been coming up with?
I've had a second album done for quite some time now. We have been experimenting with some new sounds for the newer material and it will be a bit of a darker album than this first one. For the upcoming album, all the songs were written and composed by me alone, but a lot of the new stuff that will appear on the second album will be a collaboration between myself and our keyboardist, Keith Moye. Keith and I have written a mountain of music over the past year . We have made some major breakthroughs with our songwriting as of late and the tunes we have recently come up with are some of our best material yet, in my opinion.
I also have songs for 2 Eps that I want to release before and after the second album but let's not get ahead of ourselves!
2012 marks the 10 Year Anniversary of Eternal Winter. Any special plans for that?
That's right, 10 years! Where does the time go?! Yes, we hope to do some special shows to celebrate the anniversary later on in the year...We have came such a long way since 2002 and are looking forward to going back and performing some of the songs from the old days!
What kind of music have you been listening to these days? Been to any good shows lately?
I am always listening to a large variety of music. Lately I have really been enjoying the latest albums from the retro-sounding, Occult-rock band, BLOOD CEREMONY. Also, I've been listening to the old NITRO stuff a lot as well as JIM GILLETTE's solo album...Been into some CAULDRON BORN and MANILLA ROAD as of late and also have been enjoying some early HIM and the first OLD MAN'S CHILD demo...Outside of metal I've been digging some albums by the Gothic symphonic group, NOX ARCANA and also I've been listening to the old film-score soundtracks of THE HAUNTED PALACE and THE PREMATURE BURIAL, both composed by RONALD STEIN.
As for shows, I've been to a few lately actually...I just went with a friend of mine to see GHOST and BLOOD CEREMONY in Washington D.C. It was a killer show! Ghost was extremely entertaining and Alia from Blood Ceremony blew my mind with her vocal, keyboard and flute skills! Also, I went up to Long Island a few weeks ago to see VIRGIN STEELE, who were amazing as always...Back in the fall time, Gordon and I had the privilege of seeing the legendary, BRYAN FERRY on his recent tour, which was absolutely fantastic...Seeing all these great shows really makes me look forward to getting back out there and performing again soon!
Thanks for your time and the interview. We are all looking forward to the new album!
No problem! Cheers and Thanks for all your kind support!
Posted May 8, 2012
New EP available through Echoes Of Crom Records
Eternal Winter "True Knights Of Metal" EP is now available through Echoes Of Crom Records...Click Here to order your copy now! A Huge Special Thanks to Howie Bentley of EOC for all his kind support!
New Full-Length Album coming soon!
Posted February 25, 2011
New EP Released
Eternal Winter has released the True Knights Of Metal EP. The Disc is a compilation of older material Re-Mixed and Re-Mastered. A Must-Have for all fans of the band!
To order a copy, contact the band or you can purchase the EP directly through the Pure Steel Records Online ShopAlso available through Pure Steel is Tribute To Steel: A Tribute To Warlock in which the band is also featured on.
The band hopes everyone enjoys this new offering, and looks forward to bringing New music to friends and fans, worldwide, in the releasing of the upcoming, debut album in 2011!
Posted October 5, 2010
The True Knights Return From Swordbrothers
Eternal Winter has returned from The Swordbrothers Festival in Andernach, Germany.
Matthew Knight reports:
The concert was a success! For the first time, we got to perform for European metal-heads, which was a fantastic experience. We made several new fans, and sold quite a few CDs. In addition to that, the accommodations were killer and we enjoyed hanging backstage with the guys from WIDOW, ASKA and all the other bands. Another one of the highlights was that we got to meet the guys from our new record label, Pure Steel Records. Andreas and Volker are very nice individuals, and we look forward to working with them to release our album!
A Big Special Thanks to Matt Aub of TIMELORD for his dedication and amazing performance as 2nd lead guitarist for us at the festival. He has been a great addition to the band. We look forward to having him on the album and doing more shows in the future!
Now that we are back home, it is time to hit the studio full-force! Next year, fans can expect an epic, full-length album of pure, majestic metal that wonⴠdisappoint!
We look forward to returning to Germany once the album is released...Until then cheers and Let the Wine Flow!!
By the Severed Head of the Black Witch,
Matthew Knight
Sept. 2010
Click Here to view some great high quality pics of the performance!
Posted September 18, 2010
Eternal Winter signs with Pure Steel Records!
Eternal Winter has just signed a world-wide deal with the underground German heavy metal label Pure Steel Records!
Frontman, Matthew Knight states:
In the past, we have always released independent demos and EPs...When we decided to record our first full-length, it became apparent that we would need the support of a strong, honest record label in order to release the best album possible...Many of the labels I had spoken with in the past, had wanted us to compromise our sound by taking out keyboard parts, changing my vocal style, etc...Pure Steel Records is the first label who has always supported us and our music from the very beginning, and truly believes in what we do!
We began dealing with Pure Steel in 2008 when we contributed to the Warlock Tribute Album they released that year...While at the time, we weren't as big and professional as many of the other bands on the Tribute, they admired us and gave us a chance to appear on the album. After working with them to release our tribute song, we saw how professional and easy to work with these guys were. They loved our True Metal sound and we soon developed a strong mutual friendship.
Now, my band mates in Eternal Winter and I are happy and honored to be a part of the Pure Steel Family...We know we have found a good home for us, and look forward to a bright future ahead!
Cheers to them and HAIL to the Immortal Spirit and Valorous Might of Heavy Metal!!
Pure Steel Records product manager Andreas Lorenz adds:
The US band plays perfect 80ies influenced US Metal in style of old VIRGIN STEELE and some CRIMSON GLORY influences.
Volker and me were fascinated of this voice, which got a lot of feeling for great melodies in the guise of 80ies US-Metal scene. We heard some demotracks in 2008 and were both enthusiastic about it. We canⴠwait to hear the debut album, but our expectations are very high. A more than worth PURE STEEL band.
ETERNAL WINTER will play on this year's SWORDBROTHERS-festival and they will show their qualities without any doubt.
The band is currently hard at work in the studio recording their long-awaited debut album. We will keep you updated on the progress. Stay tuned for more exciting news!
Posted August 10, 2010
Eternal Winter appearing at Swordbrothers Festival
Eternal Winter is confirmed to appear at the 9th annual Swordbrothers Festival in Andernach, Germany on September 11th 2010. The band will be performing alongside other True Metal acts such as CLOVEN HOOF, CAGE, ASKA, WIDOW and many others. This will be Eternal Winter's first ever European performance! Don't miss it! For more information, visit: www.swordbrothers.de
Posted January 26, 2010
Virgin Steele Tribute Album
Eternal Winter shall be appearing on the first ever, Virgin Steele Tribute Album entitled: By The Gods: A Noble Tribute To Virgin Steele. They will be covering the epic classic Crown Of Glory (Unscarred)from the Marriage Of Heaven And Hell: Part II album. This project is being organized by Eternal Winter front-man, Matthew Knight in conjunction with Virgin Steele mastermind, David DeFeis. The band is looking forward to paying tribute to one of their biggest influences! For more information, go to: http://www.myspace.com/classicvirginsteelefanpage
Eternal Winter is hard at work in the studio, recording their debut album that will be out in 2010. The band wishes to thank all the fans for their kind patience in awaiting the completion of the album, and promises it will be well worth the wait!
More news coming soon!
Posted January 11, 2010
Upcoming Full-Length Album!
Due to an overwhelming response to Eternal Winter's 2009 Demo, the band has decided to begin recording their first ever, professional quality, full-length album. Instead of releasing another demo-EP, they will waste no time and start recording the album immediately. The album will be approximately 12 songs and will be recorded between 3 different studios. This will be Eternal Winter's most epic production to date!
Click Here to read a new interview, in which Eternal Winter front man Matthew Knight talks about the upcoming album, as well as many other interesting topics related to the band.
Posted June 30, 2009
Concept Story Posted
After a long wait, the new revised version of the Eternal Winter Saga has been posted in the Concept Story section. Check out the story and let us know what you think!
Posted June 29, 2009
Demo Reviews
Eternal Winter's new 2009 Demo has just been reviewed by the Belgian underground webzine METAL TO INFINITY. We thank our friend Stefan for taking time to listen to our demo! You can check out the review here.
Also, watch out for a review in next moth's issue of HARD ROCKER Magazine. Hail to Bart Gabriel of HARD ROCKER Management for submitting it!
More exciting news on the horizon...
By The Ice Dagger Of Gallius Varinor!!
Posted May 17, 2009
New Demo Release
Eternal Winter has just released a new 2-song demo, as a preview to the upcoming EP. The track listing for the demo is:
1. Majesty Of Starlight (4:52) 2. Under The Spell (6:14)
"Under The Spell" features a guest solo by our good friend and amazing guitar virtuoso, Bill Hudson (PowerQuest, Circle II Circle, Ex-Cellador). To order a copy of the new demo please send us an email or contact us through myspace...More news coming soon!
By The Sword Of Valorous Light!!
Posted March 10, 2009
Studio Update
Eternal Winter is currently in the studio and very busy recording our new "Epic" EP. The tentative release date will be some time Early 2009. The songs we have recorded sound great, and we are really happy with the results so far. Fans who have been waiting all this time, will not be dissapointed!
The confirmed track listing for the EP will be:
1. Majesty of Starlight (4:52)
2. Under The Spell (6:14)
3. The Spirit (8:04)
4. Defenders of Valorous Light (9:11)
We've posted a roughly mixed clip of our epic power metal rocker "Majesty Of Starlight" on the myspace site, as well as two recently recorded tribute songs:
"Touch of Evil" (Warlock cover) and "Lady of Winter" (Crimson Glory cover).
Posted December 20, 2008
Tribute Albums
"Tribute to Steel: A Tribute to Warlock" will be released on 12/05/08 on PURE STEEL RECORDS (Germany). Eternal Winter is featured covering the song "Touch of Evil".
The Crimson Glory tribute album "The Revenge of Azrael: A True Metal Tribute to Crimson Glory" will be released sometime in 2009 on METALLIC ARCHANGEL RECORDS (USA). Eternal Winter covers the true metal classic "Lady of Winter".
Clips of both songs have been posted on the Eternal Winter myspace. Eternal Winter has also been confirmed to appear on more tribute albums which will be announced soon.
Posted December 10, 2008
Check back soon for more news and upcoming show dates!
HAIL to the True Power and Immortal Spirit of HEAVY METAL!!
