{"version":"https:\/\/jsonfeed.org\/version\/1","title":"WELCOME ETERNITY ","home_page_url":"https:\/\/www.937wvlz.com\/blogs\/welcome-eternity\/","feed_url":"https:\/\/www.937wvlz.com\/blogs\/welcome-eternity\/json","description":"LOCAL MUSIC KNOXVILLE","items":[{"id":"o186-2056-69ada14f20fc9","url":"https:\/\/www.937wvlz.com\/blogs\/welcome-eternity\/post\/welcome-eternity-secret-city-metal-meltdownfest\/","title":"WELCOME ETERNITY- SECRET CITY METAL MELTDOWNFEST","date_published":"2026-03-08T16:18:00+00:00","summary":"Over the last couple of weeks, I\u2019ve been diving deep into the catalog of Welcome\r\nEternity. Their sound hits with a powerful blend of heavy grooves, thundering drums,\r\nmelodic vocals, and razor\u2011sharp guitar solos. The band pulls from classic thrash and\r\nearly\u20112000s metal, all while carrying a clear nod to the haunting harmonies of Alice in\r\nChains.\r\nWelcome Eternity are clearly a band in motion \u2014 sharpening their sound, pushing their\r\ncreativity, and carving out their own lane in the modern metal landscape. With\r\n\u201cKatharsis\u201d set to drop and a high\u2011energy set lined up for the Secret City Metal\r\nMeltdown Fest (Oak Ridge, TN March 21 st ), they\u2019re stepping into a moment that feels\r\nbigger than just another release cycle. It\u2019s the kind of momentum you can feel building,riff by riff","content_html":"

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been diving deep into the catalog of Welcome
\nEternity. Their sound hits with a powerful blend of heavy grooves, thundering drums,
\nmelodic vocals, and razor\u2011sharp guitar solos. The band pulls from classic thrash and
\nearly\u20112000s metal, all while carrying a clear nod to the haunting harmonies of Alice in
\nChains.<\/p>\n\n


\nWelcome Eternity are clearly a band in motion — sharpening their sound, pushing their
\ncreativity, and carving out their own lane in the modern metal landscape. With
\n“Katharsis” set to drop and a high\u2011energy set lined up for the Secret City Metal
\nMeltdown Fest (Oak Ridge, TN March 21 st ), they’re stepping into a moment that feels
\nbigger than just another release cycle. It’s the kind of momentum you can feel building,
\nriff by riff<\/p>\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n

Who is the best band or artist you have seen live?<\/strong>
\nMike - Best performance: Diamond Rio 1991 – they sounded exactly like the album,
\nwith some great improv jams.
\nMost memorable: Gwar. I was front row; my arm was stained green for a week.
\nBest overall: One Minute Silence. UK band opened for Sevendust. Ridiculous energy.
\nDave - Really hard to say, but Miss May I is definitely one of the most impressive.
\nJacob - The legendary Metallica, of course!
\nPhil - Born of Osiris is the best band I’ve seen live.<\/p>\n\n

You guys have some solid beards in the band. In your opinion, who has the best<\/strong>
\nbeard in the history of Heavy Metal?
\nMike - Zak Wylde&#39;s beard is pretty epic.
\nDave - I agree with Mike
\nJacob - Dave Vananda! Haha
\nPhil- I think John Petrucci probably has the best metal beard, and whenever I have
\ngrown my beard out, it takes a lot influence from his beard.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n

How long has Welcome Eternity been together, and what’s the story behind how it
\nall started?<\/strong>
\nDave - Jacob and I started W.E. as a studio project around mid-2021 and we eventually
\ngot the itch to bring it to the stage. We’ve been in the same band together since 2014-
\n2015 in a band called VanKale. After VK folded, we took a little time off, and then
\ndecided we love writing with each other and have always had great chemistry. So we
\nrecruited Mike on Bass - who was also a previous member of VK - and Phil on guitar,
\nwho was in a band called Divided We Stand, who we played with quite often.<\/p>\n\n

What is your favorite thing about playing in the Knoxville metal scene?<\/strong>
\nDave - I was always taught if you have nothing nice to say then don’t say anything. I
\nalso never listened. I’m not a fan of the Knox metal scene which is one of many reasons we are branching out. It’s not necessarily bands. There are some amazing bands and artists
\nhere! It’s more “promoters” and “cliques” that are my issues. I won’t speak for my band
\nmates.<\/p>\n\n


\nMike - Just playing live in general. But for the most part a lot of knox scene is like
\nfamily... you love some....want to slap some.
\nJacob - I like turtles…
\nPhil - Lots of great people and musicians. Most of them offer support and
\nencouragement to be more creative and prolific. Only some are bad influences.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/p>\n\n

Which artists do you listen to, and how does that influence shape the music you
\nwrite?<\/strong>
\nDave - Alice in Chains is and always will be my favorite band. I wanted to pay homage
\nto them but also make it much heavier. I think some of our stuff reflects that. Also…
\nBryan Adams (no shame)
\nMike - My influences are all over the place - from blues\/jazz to tech-death &amp; everything
\nin between. For the most part, we all listen to similar bands.
\nJacob - Metallica and Trivium. Love that thrash! And Wham!<\/p>\n\n

Phil- My influences are Veil of Maya, Alter Bridge, Unprocessed, Killswitch Engage,
\nPeriphery, Born of Osiris, Erra, All That Remains, Stevie Wonder, Lamb of God, Protest
\nthe Hero, Avenged Sevenfold, Breaking Benjamin, and Bruno Mars
\nI saw the video for “Alive Inside” on Capital Underground Television. When it
\ncomes to making videos, is that an effort from the whole band, or does one
\nperson take the lead on it? WE - That video was filmed by our good friend Carson Hunt. We let him have fun with it and gave him full control. We filmed that and our video for comfortably numb at a fest gig called WallyPalooza (Shout out to our brother Wally Miles) Our video for the upcoming single “Katharsis”, Dave took over on that one wanting to tryhis hand at filming a more complex video than our first one “Slave To The Crown.”
\nDave - And I’m a horror fan, so there’s a couple of little Easter eggs paying homage to some classics<\/p>\n\n

As a horror fan, I am excited for the video release for Katharsis on March 18 th .
\nWhat else does Welcome Eternity have in the works as spring rolls on?
\nWE – On March 21st in Oak Ridge, TN, we’re playing the Secret City Metal Meltdown
\nFest. We’re currently finishing up mixing our 2nd album titled “Ashes” as well as trying
\nbook some gigs getting ready for summer.<\/p>\n\n