Doomed Confessionary: Joan Esmel (Evadne)
Photo credits: Ruth Dupiereux
Evadne is a melodic doom/death metal band from Valencia, Spain. Formed in 2003, Evadne was influenced by classic death/doom metal bands of the 90’s. Their sound is based in melancholy, a desperate and devoted attempt to set a proper soundtrack to the human beings deepest and saddest feelings.
The band has constantly evolved, fusing darkness with melodic beauty. With a career marked by groundbreaking albums like »The Shortest Way« (2012), Evadne has transcended genres, taking listeners on a deep emotional journey. Its introspective lyrics explore themes of desolation, loss and redemption, while its meticulously crafted arrangements create an enveloping atmosphere.
With the release of »A Mother Named Death« (2017) and the subsequent »The Pale Light Of Fireflies« (2021) the band continues captivating audiences with a more mature and evocative sound. With Evadne, metal is not just a genre, it is a transcendental experience that leaves a permanent mark on the soul.
In 2023, the band released a live album to commemorate their 20th anniversary, accompanied by a string quartet (Kaunis String Quartet) and the captivating voice of Natalie Koskinen (Shape Of Despair) making tribute to their entire discography.
Evadne return with »The Fragile Light Of Fireflies«, an acoustic album where melancholy and beauty intertwine in an intimate sonic journey. Through minimalist arrangements and ethereal atmospheres, the band reinterprets and culminates their previous work, »The Pale Light Of Fireflies«, with a raw and evocative sensitivity. Due out on June 13th, 2025 via Meuse Music Records.
Evadne consists of Albert Conejero (vocals), Joan Esmel (drums, Vocals), Josan Martín (guitar) and Jose Quilis (bass).
Can you please say a few words about your band?
We are a melancholic metal band from Valencia (Spain). Our sound is based on giving shape to the most visceral feelings of the human race.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
It was, is and will be staying afloat and visible in the music scene. There are many bands and a lot of quality. The overstimulation of information on the Internet can be a double edged sword.
What can you be most proud of so far?
All the art we have created has always been done with sincerity and intimacy. We are proud to keep that essence and take our time in each artistic project.
What was your biggest regret?
Passivity. Sometimes you are overwhelmed and busy, caught up in the routine of a sick society. This sometimes causes us to take a comfortable position of passivity. Then you remember that the only way to stay alive is to run towards the things you really love.
Sometimes you have lost a lot of time on the road, and time never comes back to you.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
I always remember with great affection our first European tour called “Procession Of The Plague”, accompanying Evoken & Ophis.
It was a nice experience in which we toured the European continent sharing the stage with many high-level bands. Many nights of friendships, fun and kilometers that will remain in our hearts forever.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It’s a bad one and a good one.
The bad thing was discovering that the metal scene is not made of a different stuff, it works in the same way as the rest of the things in the world (I’m not going to go into details but this explains the large number of good bands that will never be remembered).
We are all in an ocean of uncertainty waiting for a moment of relevance and prominence.
The good thing is that knowing this we can get a ticket and enjoy the trip in the best possible way 😉
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Too many bands….. lately I’ve been listening to the latest albums by Baest, Unto Others, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Ulver, Leprous, Borknagar, Mastodon, Susanne Sundfør, Chelsea Wolfe…for example
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Work without rush. Also, the formula “less is more” has helped us give clarity to our projects, synthesizing the music to convey what is most important.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Guilty? I don’t feel guilty about any pleasure, they make me very happy. I know I’ll go to hell for it.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Valencia?
Although there are many high quality bands and really important festivals, I feel that all extreme metal needs more support.
Everything is very centralized in the big cities and even there it is difficult to find space for concerts.
I also think this is because metal in general is not at its best and the music industry is forcing artists to adopt roles that make their survival difficult.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Latin American leg of our “20 Years Behind The Veil Of Melancholy” tour kicks off next month:
May 22 – Guadalajara, Mexico
May 23 – San Luis Potosí, Mexico
May 24 – Ciudad de México, Mexico
May 25 – Torreón, Mexico
May 29 – São Paulo, Brazil
May 30 – Providencia, Chile
May 31 – Medellín, Colombia
Jun 1 – Bogotá, Colombia
Aug 28-30 Gothoom Open Air Fest 2025, Žarnovica, Slovakia.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Improve creating an album that we are proud of and being able to share it with our old and new fans at live shows.
Our new acoustic album »The Fragile Light Of Fireflies« is coming June 13th, 2025 on Meuse Music Records.
How can people best support your band?
We invest everything we earn in the band, so the best support we can receive is to buy our products in our official store and come to our shows.
Support on social networks is also very important. We know that popularity is just numbers but it is the only tool we have to make ourselves visible to more people.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
We are very grateful that you are joining us on this journey, we love you.
Links:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well