They are melodic and epic, they have talent and vision, and in just a few days they are releasing their second record. We’re talking about Valiant Sentinel, who in January will release “Neverealm”, an album of proud, dramatic power metal, ready to shake the genre’s fans to their core! Myth of Rock, psyched out with this great release, spoke with the leader of Valiant Sentinel, guitarist Dimitris Skodras, who was more than enlightening with his very interesting and informative answers!
by Dimitris Zacharopoulos
live photo by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
Your new, second album (“Neverealm”) will be out soon. Which are your feelings now about this new release?
I honestly feel proud of it because the songs sound really close to how I envisioned them back when I started composing them. I think that the result is really representative of what Valiant Sentinel is today.
Where would you trace the differences between your debut and “Neverealm”?
There are various differences. Our debut album was more like a collection of songs I had composed over the years and included them all in one album. Neverealm is a more focused attempt. All songs are connected to each other in terms of style and sound more cohesive as a whole. The sound is also quite different.
What was the first song written for “Neverealm”? Did it set the tone for the rest of the album? Who was the main composer of the “Neverealm” songs? How were the new songs composed?
I am the one and only composer in Valiant Sentinel. The first song written was the opening song , ‘’War in Heaven’’ and yes, it did set the tone for the rest of the album. The people who have listened to both of our albums must have surely noticed more complex compositions compared to the first album. That came out naturally because when I started writing ‘’War In Heaven’’, it was clear that the song demanded a more complicated structure and that’s how I composed this as well as the rest of the songs as well. Furthermore, I want to evolve musically from one album to another, so these changes felt necessary.
Your lyrics are inspired by fantasy novels, games, movies etc. How difficult is it to be genuine/interesting and not cliched, since these topics are a commonplace for metal bands?
Well , it’s very difficult because like you said a lot of bands have already written lyrics about all kinds of fantasy novels and movies , so writing lyrics about videogames was my way of trying to set my lyrics apart thematically from the common epic metal band. Also , the same titled track’s lyrics have some horror elements, something that I really enjoyed as it was a refreshing experience to write.
Give us all the details about the mixing and mastering of “Neverealm”.
The mixing and mastering were both done by George Nerantzis who except from the producer and sound engineer of the album is also a friend of mine. George has worked with famous bands like Pain of Salvation and Rotting Christ and is a metalhead himself so he knows how to handle a metal record in order to make it sound great. We experimented with various sounds , different guitar tones , different drum snares etch. before finally deciding to go with the one we went with.
Frederik Ehmke’s drumming adds immense weight. How did this collaboration with him come about?
I am a massive Blind Guardian fan so I thought about approaching Frederik and sent him a message on Facebook. For some reason although he is not active on Facebook , that day he was and he replied and a bit later on he accepted to play on the record. Since he’s a great guy , we quickly became friends.
Laura Guldemond and Zak Stevens both deliver standout guest appearances. How did these collaborations develop?
I contacted both on Facebook as well. I was familiar with Laura’s voice both from her YouTube channel and her band , Burning Witches, and I thought that her voice was amazing. When I composed the track ‘’Neverealm’’ I thought that it would be a great idea and very fitting to invite Laura to sing in a duet with my main singer , Veandok in that song and the result turned out fantastic. She really gave it her all. As for Zak Stevens , the man needs no introduction but what surprised me and flattered me is that he said that the song on which he sang is unlike anything he’s ever done , so it was kinda of a new territory for him and that he thanked me for allowing him to be part of such a great song.
The album features both bright, uplifting melodies and darker, atmospheric moments. How do you balance these two elements?
You need both shadow and light for a world to feel real. Our uplifting songs show the heroic and triumphant side of our music while the darker ones depict the pain and struggle the heroes go through. When you put them together the album feels more alive and emotionally complete.
In my review, I compared your sound to a more melodic, Greek version of Iced Earth. Do you feel that’s accurate?
Iced Earth are one of the bands that I have really listened to a lot as a kid and as a teenager. Especially albums like ‘’The Dark Saga’’ or ‘’Horror Show’’ have left their mark on me. However , I think that this album feels more like a mix of Blind Guardian and Demons & Wizards. After listening to it several times , I also notice some Rhapsody of Fire influences too.
Which track from “Neverealm” challenged you the most during the writing or recording phase?
The same titled track challenged me both during the writing and recording phase. The writing phase was challenging because I had to combine power and speed with a darker tone and I really had to spend some time experimenting until I came up with what I was looking for. The recording phase was not a walk in the park either because of the non-stop fast palm-muting throughout the whole song.
Remedy Art Design created the album artwork. How involved were you in shaping the visual concept?
Giannis is a great visionary and artist. I told him that I want an album cover that differentiates itself from typical epic/power album covers with knights and dragons and that I wanted it to have a darker tone while keeping the mythical and epic vibes. Although I asked him for an environment during night-time , he felt that day-time would be more appropriate so I had to trust the artist on that one and after months since I first saw it , I really think all the elements of the album cover blend well with each other. To answer your question , I was involved but I let Giannis express himself without too many limitations by me.
The album will be released by Theogonia Records. How did the signing with this label come up?
George Nerantzis suggested that I should send an e-mail to Theogonia and ask if they were interested in the album. I did send them an e-mail and I’m glad I’m did because not only they accepted but they also believe in my music and treat me with respect.
How do you translate such an epic, layered album into a live setting?
We focus on capturing the energy and emotion of the songs rather than recreate every studio layer. Live shows are about intensity, connection and atmosphere. The songs take a rawer and more powerful character on stage and that’s part of what makes the experience special.
Power metal often relies on emotional highs and dramatic storytelling. What emotions did you want listeners to feel here?
Epic grandeur is what I’m usually going for. This triumphant and mythical feeling that adds to the escapism that epic tales either as music or novel offer. However, as previously mentioned, some songs are more intense and dramatic and even melancholic at times but the overall feeling is always epicness.
What do you consider the defining characteristics of Valiant Sentinel’s sound in 2025?
Valiant Sentinel are a combination of speed, intensity, melody, aggressive riffage, powerful vocals and epic choruses. These are the defining characteristics of the band in this record and dare I say, moving on from here.
How do European and American power metal influences blend in your songwriting style?
To me , American power metal is more riff-centered and with less double-bass frenzy while European power metal has a lot of double-bass,keys and more melody. I feel that all these characteristics co-exist in harmony within our sound.
How do you see Valiant Sentinel’s role within the Greek metal scene today?
I think that Valiant Sentinel add a fresh voice to the Greek scene. There’s so much talent here and we are proud to contribute our own blend of power metal,story-telling and musicianship. We are still growing but we feel we are a part of a new wave that keeps the scene alive and moving forward.
If Valiant Sentinel were a movie, what kind of movie would they be?
Without hesitation and with no second thought , “The Lord Of The Rings”.
What can fans expect next—live shows, videos or perhaps even early ideas for album number three?
Live shows and videos are a given. We are looking for chances to play our music live both within Greece and abroad. A new video from ‘’Neverealm’’ is coming soon. I have finished composing our third album but the recordings are not finished yet so I think a sample from the third album could take some time before we can share it publicly.
Send your message to our readers!
Hello. I am Dimitris from Valiant Sentinel. I hope you will like our music and I invite you on a journey to mythical lands via our new album called ‘’Neverealm’’ which will be released on January 16, 2026. Thank you very much.
