Within Silence returns with their most epic and uplifting album, The Eclipse of Worlds. We discuss spiritual warfare, musical evolution, and their powerful new single, "Battle Hymn."
1. "The
Eclipse of Worlds" is described as your most epic and uplifting album to
date. What inspired the themes and musical direction for this new release?
The
inspiration for our new album stems from the theme of spiritual warfare,
influencing both its lyrical and musical direction. The main idea is rooted in
the Bible’s depiction of the battle between good and evil, but we’ve also
infused it with our own imaginative elements. To better illustrate this, we
explore two worlds: the real world we inhabit on Earth and a “fantasy” or
“spiritual” world where our decisions manifest as actions.
During the
writing process, we envisioned each of us as a Medieval Knight or warrior,
battling demons and dark creatures for eternal life. However, this is not a
concept album. Since each of us lives a unique life and story, we didn’t want
to confine our listeners with a fixed storyline. This is why we feature the
Knight on our album cover—he represents any one of us. Listeners can identify
with him, imagining themselves as real warriors in another world, fighting for
their eternal lives.
2. Your
new single "Battle Hymn" is the first from the album. Can you tell us
about the message behind this track and how it sets the tone for the rest of
the album?
As
described above, from the very beginning of our writing sessions, we
established the main idea and tone for the new album. Consequently, all the
songs touch on this theme to varying degrees. The song “Battle Hymn” is one of
the strongest representations of the album’s core concept, exploring it from
different perspectives.
Firstly, it
emphasizes the need to always rise again when we fall in our battles, to follow
God, and to seek His strength in the fight for our souls. Secondly, it reminds
us to keep our ultimate goal—eternal life—foremost in our minds and hearts.
Thirdly, it discusses the necessity of spiritual training, growing in faith,
and using prayers and the Bible as weapons to combat our enemies with God’s
help.
“Battle
Hymn” serves as a motivational anthem for us during difficult times, when we
feel lost or off track on our journey toward the light. Although the songs are
primarily based on Christian faith, I believe they can resonate with anyone, as
many of us believe in a higher power and some form of continuity after this
life ends.
3. You've
collaborated with Matt Smith from Theocracy for mixing and Jacob Hansen for
mastering. How did their involvement influence the final sound of "The
Eclipse of Worlds"?
We believe
that Matt Smith’s contribution to mixing and Jacob Hansen’s mastering has
resulted in the best-sounding Within Silence album to date! We are extremely
satisfied with our collaboration with Matt during the mixing stage. It truly
felt like we finally achieved the sound we had been striving for. Jacob’s final
touch in mastering was the cherry on top.
4. The
closing track "When Worlds Collide" is an epic 12-minute song. What
was the creative process like for composing such a monumental piece, and what
does it represent in the context of the album?
I’ve
written quite long songs on previous albums, and to be honest, there’s not a
big difference compared to writing shorter songs for me. I just let my
creativity flow and put this song together very naturally until I was fully
satisfied with the entire structure. All the main melodies came together
smoothly, and there wasn’t any part of the song that required extra effort to
finish. The song is very melodic, with interesting vocal and instrumental
parts, and I love the guitar solos in this track!
There are
also changes in pace and mood that perfectly fit the lyrics. As the closing
track on the album, it tells the story of the most important battle at the end
of our lives, where we are strongly tempted by evil forces to capitulate and
lose our faith in God. When the “spiritual” and “real” worlds collide and unite
into one eternal life, our soul can step into eternity.
5. Within
Silence has been steadily growing its fanbase since your debut in 2015. How do
you feel the band has evolved musically and personally from "Gallery of
Life" to "The Eclipse of Worlds"?
Of course,
each member of the band is growing on a personal level, which naturally
reflects in our music. I think we are all more confident now and fully believe
in what we are doing. Importantly, we have recognized our mistakes and learned
valuable lessons from our previous two albums. I believe our new album is more
mature, stronger, and balanced compared to our previous ones.
Additionally,
the impact of our new members has brought fresh energy to the band. Their
playing abilities have opened up new levels and options during the writing
process.
6. You’ve
performed in various European countries, including festivals in Germany,
Norway, and Switzerland. How have these live experiences shaped your approach
to writing and performing music?
Playing
live has a huge impact on your stage presence and confidence during the band’s
performance. While it’s important to rehearse with the band as much as
possible, nothing can substitute for playing regular shows. Therefore, we
always try to play as many shows as possible. Only through live performances
can you gain experience with the crowd, interactions, and exchanges with fans,
which are essential for your future growth.
7. The
album features a mix of fast, melodic hymns and atmospheric ballads. How do you
balance these different elements to create a cohesive power metal experience
for your listeners?
Before
every album, we grapple with an overflow of new ideas and songs. This time, I
believe we selected a more balanced combination of ideas that formed the
foundation for the new tracks. During the demo recording sessions, we ended up
with 16 songs, from which we ultimately chose 11 for the final recording. After
the mixing stage, we selected 9 songs that made it onto the album. This process
resulted in a perfect mix of songs with varying tempos, atmospheres, and an
epic feel.
8. The
power metal genre is known for its uplifting and grandiose themes. What
personal or universal messages do you hope to convey through "The Eclipse
of Worlds"?
As I’ve
mentioned before, I believe this album is relevant to everyone, regardless of
their beliefs. From a general perspective, everyone wants to live a meaningful
life and seeks the true reason for our existence. “The Eclipse of Worlds”
explores profound themes of good versus evil, inner struggles, and the quest
for redemption and light. It delves into the human condition and the spiritual
battles we face, portraying a world in turmoil and the search for peace and
harmony. The album emphasizes the importance of faith, courage, and resilience
in overcoming darkness and adversity.
9. You've
supported bands like Theocracy and Sleeping Romance on European tours. How have
these experiences impacted Within Silence's performance style and stage
presence?
It is
always good to work on and improve your skills on your own. However, it is
essential to have the chance to learn from others and better bands if you want
to truly grow. I think we achieved this on the mentioned tours. Both Theocracy
and Sleeping Romance were very open to us, allowing us to talk and exchange
ideas on various topics. Of course, we took this opportunity to gather useful
advice and lessons.
I believe
it’s the same with writing music—you should trust yourself and be natural in
what you are doing. If you do things just for the sake of it and not naturally,
people will recognize it and won’t believe in your performance.
10. With
"The Eclipse of Worlds" being released on CD, vinyl, and digital
platforms, what do you think is the future of physical media in the music
industry, and how important is it to you to offer these formats to your fans?
I think the future of music lies primarily in its distribution via various online platforms. However, I still believe there will always be a certain number of people who prefer to own physical media, whether it’s CDs or vinyl. It’s similar to the situation with books—many people still prefer reading physical books over digital forms because it simply has a different atmosphere. The same goes for vinyl; enjoying music this way offers a totally different feeling compared to listening on a streaming platform.
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