Multi-instrumentalist Sofia Frasz of Exiled Hope has partnered with UK melo-death artist Steel Forge to reveal their new EP, Realm Of The Exiled, available on 20 December. The first single, "The Calling", is out now.
Sofia comments: "Story-wise, the EP is a 'midquel' in the Exiled Hope universe, taking place after the events of Exiled Hope (2020) and during the events of Angel Of Greytown (2021) and Apocrypha (2025). It follows Hope's journey through the underworld after she is executed for inciting a rebellion in her city at the end of Exiled Hope (2020). On the musical side, this EP was cathartic and challenging at the same time. I love melodeath as a genre, but I don't make much of it in Exiled Hope, even though I've wanted to for a long time. Realm Of The Exiled became my way of exploring new songwriting and playing styles while trying to keep the sound consistent with what listeners can expect from both Steel Forge and Exiled Hope".
Danny adds: "Sofia wrote the music to the EP, which surprised me as she managed to capture not just the Exiled Hope sound but also, my band, Steel Forge's sound as well for an amazing blend of both bands while maintaining consistency throughout. I had the dream job of creating and visualizing the world in my head of what we would create whilst staying true to Sofia's character/mascot I.E. Hope and mine, The Forger, which led to me writing the majority of the lyrics, apart from a verse in 'The Calling' and the song 'Beyond The Veil'".
Multi-instrumentalist Sofia Frasz established Exiled Hope in 2019, drawing musical inspiration from Avantasia, Nightwish, Kamelot and Cradle Of Filth, to name a few. Exiled Hope's releases all occur in the same fictional universe and combine to form a dark fantasy metal opera. Each album centres on a character dealing with an internal and external conflict in this world, and the lyrics explore how they navigate those conflicts - intended to provide some kind of escapism through the lyrical world-building while still keeping the songs grounded in real, relatable emotions despite their fantastical setup.
Exiled Hope is working towards the next album, Apocrypha, scheduled for release on 11 April 2025. Through Exiled Hope, Sofia has also composed music for two short films, Hallowed Paths and What Happens After Midnight. Link
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"Within this darkness, where there's no light at all, the golden raven still shines. It's not like a perfectly cut statue of Michelangelo..." - Val Perun
"Goth people want to have fun sometimes too. I guess if your listening time is 99% dark, sad songs or evil black metal songs, sometimes you want 1% joy, and here I come." - Franck Hueso
"There were already bands doing small illustrations of symphonic metal, and I was thinking, why doesn't someone do this all the time?" - Christofer Johnsson
"I'm sort of asking questions - where are the heroes? Where's the defiance? Where are the people who oppose this?" - Alan "Nemtheanga" Averill
