VALIANT SENTINEL (Symphonic Power Metal – Greece 🇬🇷) – Interview for KAF contributed by Angels PR Worldwide Music Promotion #ValiantSentinel #symphonicpowermetal #heavymetal
Special thanks to Angels PR Worldwide Music Promotion for providing this interview!!!!
“Neverealm” expands your storytelling into a grander fantasy realm. What was the initial spark that shaped the concept and world behind the album?
The first spark for “Neverealm” came from a single image in my mind which was a world caught between myth and reality, where ancient forces and heroic struggles shape everything. I didn’t start with a full story. It began with a feeling. The early riffs and melodies had this epic, cinematic energy, and they naturally pulled me toward building a larger narrative around them. As the music evolved, so did the world behind it.
Your debut featured major guests like Fabio Lione and Tim “Ripper” Owens. How did those early collaborations influence your approach going into the new record?
Working with such big names of the metal world showed me how my music sounds when performed to the highest level. It pushed me to compose better songs and make sure that the music would feel worthy of the new guests.
The addition of Frederik Ehmke on drums adds a new dynamic. How did his performance shape the rhythmic identity of “Neverealm”?
Frederik is an amazing drummer and the way he interpreted the original drum tracks added feeling and massive energy to the songs. He helped make the rhythmic section sound both tighter and more versatile breathing life into the songs.
Veandok delivers some powerful and dramatic vocal lines on this album. How did you work together to match vocal expression with the album’s cinematic narrative?
When I finished recording the demos of the album , I sent them to Veandok so that he could study them. The very essence of how each song was supposed to be sang was present even in the demos with my rough-sounding voice , so what Veandok did was take these vocal guides and sing them in a higher octave while adding musicality and theatrical elements and that was how he elevated them to become the best version. Of course , slight changes still had to be made here and there.
The songwriting on “Neverealm” feels both modern and rooted in classic power metal traditions. How do you balance innovation with genre homage?
I listen to various metal genres but also various kinds of music. With that being said , my influences do not only lie in power metal , so elements from more modern metal genres blended naturally into my music. As a songwriter , I know that there is a ‘’circle’’ around every composition with the core being the center of it. Adding non-stereotypical elements pushes you further from the core but as long as you stay within the circle it’s fine. That is how I balance innovation while staying faithful to the original 90s power metal pattern. In other words , no matter what you add , if the song still gives dramatic,dynamic and epic vibes , you are doing it right.
Can you walk us through the creative workflow between guitars, keyboards and orchestration, which are core elements of your sound?
Our creative process always starts with the guitars, since they’re the backbone of our sound. I usually begin by writing the main leads or melodic ideas, and once those are strong, I program the drums around them to test the energy and flow of the parts. If the idea still feels powerful with drums behind it, that’s when I lock in the rhythm guitars to give the track its foundation.
From there, I build the bass to support and shape the low end. The orchestration always comes last. Not as decoration, but as a way to elevate the riffs and themes that are already working. By leaving it for the final stage, I can make sure every orchestral or atmospheric layer serves the song instead of overwhelming it.
Zak Stevens and Laura Guldemond appear as guest vocalists. What made them the right choices for the particular songs they were involved in?
When I composed ‘’Arch Nemesis’’ , I knew that this song was meant for Zak. The choir intro of the song felt similar to choirs that Zak sang in Savatage’s song , ‘’One Child’’ and the way he beautifully built the choir in my song justified my choice. Also his impactful and dramatic style of singing really blended well with the tone of Arch Nemesis. As for Laura , since ‘’Neverealm’’ tells the tale of a group of adventurers experiencing a supernatural incident , I thought that adding the voice of another adventurer except from Veandok would be interesting. I also loved the fact that I could have such a powerful female voice in the song.
Lyrically, the album seems full of battles, kingdoms and mysticism. What themes or messages do you hope listeners will take away?
Even though the lyrics are filled with battles, kingdoms and mysticism, the themes underneath are very human. The stories speak about resilience, courage, loyalty and the struggle to rise above fear. I want listeners to feel that sense of triumph , that even in the darkest or most overwhelming moments, there’s always a way forward if you keep fighting.
Power metal fans are particularly attentive to production quality. What were your priorities in mixing and mastering “Neverealm”?
The very first concept was to give the listener a mix where everything would sound crystal clear but also vibrant and huge. What felt essential for such a record were razor-sharp guitars, pounding drums and also the use of reverberation in lead guitars. A lot of emphasis was also given to making the drum snare sound punchy and massive.
Your official video for “War in Heaven” visually complements the epic nature of your music. How important is the visual aspect for Valiant Sentinel?
It’s crucial. Visuals are extremely important for us because Valiant Sentinel isn’t just about the music. It’s about world-building. Our songs often deal with myth, fantasy, and grand storytelling, so we want the imagery to reflect that same sense of scale. With “War in Heaven,” the goal was to capture the atmosphere and emotion behind the song, to give listeners another way to enter the universe we’re creating.
We treat visuals as an extension of our sound. Whether it’s album art, stage backdrops, or music videos, everything has to contribute to the story we’re telling. Power metal has always been a genre that thrives on imagination, and we want our visual identity to be as powerful and immersive as our music.
Since “Neverealm” is coming out through Theogonia Records — a label that received very positive remarks in early reviews of the album — how has this partnership supported your vision, and what do those first critical reactions mean to you?
They are very important since it’s a foreshadowing of what we can expect from reviews that are going to come later on. We finally get to witness what other people think of the album and we are really flattered by the overwhelmingly positive reviews so far. Theogonia are god-sent. No pun intended. They are very supportive and understand what we wish to achieve as a band. We feel like we can achieve great things together.
VALIANT SENTINEL Lineup:
Veandok – Vocals
Dimitris Skodras – Guitars, Keys
Panos Manikas – Bass
Frederik Ehmke – Drums
Band Links:
https://www.facebook.com/theogoniarecords
https://www.facebook.com/AngelsPRmusicPromotion
https://www.instagram.com/angelsprmusicpromotion
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