A few weeks back I chose Eternal Voyager as my State of the Art: Minnesota spotlight band. Killer, old school Heavy Power Metal band that has a very long history in the music business. I was contacted by Online Metal Promo and was offered an interview with founder/vocalist/guitarist Brian Blake. So, without further ado, here is what this Metal Master has to say…
Eternal Voyager is:
Brian Blake – Vocals and Guitar
Mike Durenberger – Drums
Jeff Igelsrud – Bass
Micah Devereaux – Keyboards and Vocals
Kurt Johnson – Lead Guitar
Intro: Hey Brian! Glad to have you on board with us, especially after spotlighting Eternal Voyager on my recent State of the Art: Minnesota article. I really appreciate you taking the time to allow our readers a deeper insight on what makes you tick! Always appreciated and never taken for granted!
The Interview:
Odyssey: I really like your Metal roots approach to your sound. What has been the biggest motivation to bring European Style Metal to the United States?
Brian: I started listening to European Metal in the mid 90s , bands like Hammerfall , Nocturnal Rites, Primal Fear, Gamma Ray, etc. Kinda opened my eyes to the whole sound and structure of the styles, and that really opened my eyes to the sound. It seemed very different from US Metal, and it quickly became a big influence on my direction.
Odyssey: In that line of thinking, what do you think modern music is doing right? Wrong? Any modern bands influencing you?
Brian: Yeah some. I’m an old school guy but I like a lot of stuff that’s come out today as well. I listen to all styles of Metal that don’t suck. I like everything a lot of Folk and Viking Metal, but its the true Power Metal where my heart is. Don’t get me wrong, I love great metal from all eras. As far as right or wrong goes, I think the true bands have made some great new albums, but the bands that try to sound like they are from the 70s and 80s try too hard in my opinion. I think you have to just be yourself and do what you love.
Odyssey: I know old Metalheadz like me are loving you guys! What has been the response from the more jaded, younger crowd?
Brian: I’ve noticed a lot of older people have a lot of things they like about us, but actually the younger crowd likes us as well. I’m very surprised that all ages seem to like us equally. Its the crowd that just may not understand why we sound the way we do.
Odyssey: I know LIVE is where it is at for Eternal Voyager. What are some of your favorite haunts? How would you describe one of your shows?
Brian: We really like to play the MN Music Cafe, in St. Paul, MN. It’s got a really big stage, so we can really put all our strange stuff up. But there’s been a few good venues. It’s always a bit different everywhere we go. But yeah, playing live is always something we love to do.
Odyssey: You have had many members over the course of your career. What does the current line up bring to the table that we have not heard from Eternal Voyager before?
Brian: It’s been the first time that we have had a strong group, that really cares about what we are doing, and where the band is going, the talent is amazing. All the members in the past have brought certain things to the table, but this line up has the level I was always looking for. It’s about the level of how hard they work and the talent combined.
Odyssey: Line up changes are inevitable in the time frame you guys have been around. How do you go about choosing members as they come and go?
Brian: It’s not always about having a choice, its who’s out there, that wants to do this kinda music and who’s available. This time around it was pure luck of meeting the right guys. But I tend to search outside the metal scene, where people are not so involved with the politics, and know everyone, and have 4 bands they may be in. Its good to have fresh people that come out of the wood work, that you didn’t know were around. There’s a lot of talented people who want to be in a band that never had the chance, and that what made this particular line up the best.
Odyssey: I really dig bands that have the long history you have. Take us through EV’s progression of sound, direction and style over the last eighteen years? (Completely my mistake. I included the time that the band’s name was Eternal Requiem)
Brian: Well to correct you, it’s been since 04 that we were an actual band, and called Eternal Voyager. So it’s more about 15 years but it’s been a journey, part of the reason the album took so long to come out was we finally had the right guys place. Now things function much more properly.
Odyssey: What is the next stage in the progression?
Brian: We are in the studio as you probably know by now, and it’s finally gaining more momentum most of my rhythm tracks have been recorded and we should have it out sometime early this winter. We also plan to record a video for one of the songs as well. The next few shows are going to be with Alestorm October 12th and Udo Dirkschnider Jan 14th, so we have a lot to do in the next few months. We also are up grading our stage look, with new outfits and new banners.
Odyssey: What has been the your highest, best, and/or defining moment to this point?
Brian: When the first album came out it was a great moment to finally release it. But now I’d say its the fact that our band is functional and we are actually operating professionally. I think the best moments are yet to come.
Odyssey: This is a very, very tough industry. What has kept the fire alive for so long?
Brian: Yes that’s for sure. I’ve felt like giving up because its so hard to do this but I guess I just can’t come this far and atop after having worked so hard. Also, I believe in what I’m doing, so it’s too important to not keep going. Metal is life and I couldn’t live without making music.
Odyssey: You are obviously not afraid to slow things down or stray outside musical boundaries. What does this stem from? Influences? What are some of the bands that are not necessarily Metal that you enjoy?
Brian: I grew up with 60s and 70s folk music, and as well as other things. But I actually draw most of it from just the variety of Metal that I’ve listened to over the years. I don’t think that what i do is that different from what a lot bands do, just like Iced Earth does it and it makes them very well rounded. It’s good to do some things different as long as it fits the context of Eternal Voyager. I just write what i feel fits the music, but of course the influences could come from some other sources as well.
Odyssey: You have been on just about every festival and show in and around your home. What bands have you played with that we need to watch out for we probably have not heard before?
Brian: We play with a big variety of bands in the scene here in the Minneapolis area. All types of genres but I’d say Malice, is been a good band around here as well as a few other Power Metal bands, like Hollowstone, Unity and Lords of the Trident. But yeah we are starting to cover a lot of ground live.
Odyssey: Any bigger acts been particularly helpful and/or encouraging? How so?
Brian: We are in touch with a few good people, like Stu Marshall from Death Dealer who is mastering our next album. And the bands we have been playing with that are already out there and signed have been very supportive. I think because of how much we are playing live and because of our online presence. The awareness has grown with other bigger acts that hear about us.
Odyssey: Any bands you have not played with yet that you really want to perform with? How tough/easy is it to play with bands you deeply respect?
Brian: It’s all about opportunity, and we have a pretty good promoter who’s is putting us on some very high profile shows. And of course any of my heroes would be great to play with, too many to name all of them. Nowadays you have to pay to play more than anything , and you have to buy into tours which, I think is extremely hard for most bands cause it costs thousands, so it can be very tough. But we have a had a few lucky opportunities and I think we will have more in the near future.
Odyssey: How goes the progress on Darkened Times due out later this year? Any set release date yet?
Brian: As I’d said before, it’s coming along now finally, we had tried to do it ourselves and we ran into some so snags, so we went to a trusted studio that I’d heard a lot about and are very professional. So we had a few setbacks, but we plan to have it out by early winter. Its a process of waiting on studio time and members getting their parts ready, but I think it won’t be too long. We will announce a date in the near future.
Odyssey: What have you done on this album that you have not done before?
Brian: The sound on this album is much more dynamic in terms of songwriting. But I don’t think we are doing anything that is too out of the ordinary. It will be a very different album than the first because of the new members that are on it. They all bring something unique to the table, that wasn’t there before in the playing, and professionalism.
Odyssey: Has the songwriting style changed with additional members, especially with the addition of keyboardist Micah Devereaux on board now? What is your process of writing an album (musically, lyrically, collaborative, etc.)?
Brian: The members are a big key now, because they are involved personally in the music, than before. I still write the lyrics and the bulk of the songs and lyrics. But yes, there is a wealth of arrangement and things being written around the songs that are making a big impact, on the sound, and in a good way.
Odyssey: How has Stu “The Hammer” Marshall helped in the production of the new album? How did you guys meet? What has he brought that may not have been there in the past?
Brian: He’s going to be doing the mastering, and I had heard of him, through out our PR guy. The first album could have been mastered a lot better which at some point we will remaster. But I believe Stu is gonna bring a great professional sound to our next cd.
Odyssey: Any news on the “Winds of Fire” video?
Brian: It’s gonna have to be released before or right around the time of the album, but we have the concept and video planning, we want to starting filming asap now that fall is here and it’s cooler out. We are just looking for the right location. But yes that’s the song we have chosen and I think it’s gonna make and incredible video.
Odyssey: What are your thoughts on the modern music industry (streaming, distribution, the industry in general, etc.)?
Brian: It’s a good question, as I think social media is a great tool for bands today, as you can do so much, with it, and pretty much all things the internet provides I think help the awareness of new bands that wouldn’t otherwise have any voice. But I personally am not into NOT having physical copies of albums, but most metal heads want the actual copies. So there are problems, with things that some view has hurt metal like not having CD shops and shops not having enough sales to stay open. I personally hate online downloading that has killed CD sales, especially for small shops. But over all I think the modern age has made it more easier to hear about bands.
Odyssey: Any suggestions how to fix things you view as detrimental and/or frustrating?
Brian: I’m not sure exactly, but i think people have to support physical copies of albums more, at least whenever possible. If people bought more and support physical copies in stores more they wouldn’t be out of business. Of course you can still order but I miss the whole ritual of the shops and going in to find the new albums, and merchandise. It’s tough I’m not sure. I wish the music industry cared more about bands and not just money.
Odyssey: How has industry change specifically affected you over the course of the last eighteen years?
Brian: it’s much harder to get a record deal these days, because labels don’t want to take a chance on bands as much. It’s tough no matter how you slice it, but I try to remain optimistic about having a chance to be out there on a much bigger platform.
Odyssey: Any tours or news you would like to share on the immediate horizon?
Brian: There’s talk about a mini tour in the mid west with Cage, but no confirmation or details yet. We have the shows with Alestorm and Udo Dirkschnider. But that’s about it, beside a festival in November. So for now we are focusing on the album.
Odyssey: As is the case with all Metal Nexus, the floor is open to you for whatever you would like to share, something I forgot, parting shots or whatever…
Brian: Thank you, I’d like to thank you for your time, and it was a great interview with some very good questions. I’d also like to say to any fans that you can count on us to carry the metal flag always, and that we are true metal to the core. Eternal Voyager will be around for some time to come, and we will continue to make great records and strive to challenge ourselves to be the best we can be. Out web site is Eternal Voyager, where you can get all cds and merchandise in our store and of course we are on Facebook and YouTube as well. So stay Metal, voyager, and thanks again!
