Interview: Getting to Know Nocturnal Eternity

Symphonic metal band, Nocturnal Eternity are gearing up to release their second studio album in 2027. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

Hello, and thank you for having me!

My name is Mihaly Manache, and I’m the founder, guitarist, composer, songwriter and producer of Nocturnal Eternity, a symphonic metal band from Transylvania, Romania.

Music has always been an important part of my life. But I never wanted to simply play someone else’s music. I wanted to create something of my own, something that would tell stories, express emotions and hopefully leave a lasting impression on people.

I founded the band in 2020, initially under the name Nocturnal, and later we became Nocturnal Eternity.
From the beginning, my vision was to combine the power of metal with the emotional depth of orchestral music, creating something cinematic, powerful and meaningful.

It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I believe that every challenge has helped shape both the band and myself.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

I would describe our music as symphonic metal with cinematic, gothic and progressive influences.

We combine powerful guitar riffs, orchestral arrangements, female soprano vocals and aggressive growls, creating a contrast between beauty and darkness.

But for me, the most important element is storytelling.

Our music is not simply about heavy guitars or beautiful melodies. Every song has a meaning, an emotion and a story behind it.

Our debut album, Eternity, is a concept album that follows a symbolic journey through different stages of life, from birth and first love to disappointment, loss, inner struggles and finally finding the strength to move forward.

If I had to describe our music in one sentence, I would say: It’s a cinematic journey through human emotions, told through the power of symphonic metal.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

Right now, we are working on several exciting things.

Our biggest project is our second studio album, which we are planning to release in 2027. I am deeply involved in the composing and creative process, and my goal is to take our music to another level, both musically and emotionally.

At the same time, we are continuing to promote our debut album, Eternity, and our live performances and videos.

2026 has been an important year for us. We have performed internationally, including concerts in Italy and Bulgaria, and we had the opportunity to open for Anette Olzon in Rome and Milan.

We are also working on expanding our international presence, building new professional relationships and looking for opportunities to perform at festivals across Europe.

There is always something happening behind the scenes!

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

What excites me most is seeing something that started as a personal dream gradually becoming an international project.

A few years ago, we were simply working on our music and trying to build something from nothing. Today, our songs are reaching listeners in different countries, we are receiving international press coverage, and we have performed on stages outside Romania.

One particularly encouraging moment was receiving an 8/10 review in the British magazine Powerplay. We have also received positive coverage from publications such as Metal Hammer Italia.

These achievements may seem small compared to those of established international bands, but for an independent project like ours, they mean a great deal.

And with our next album planned for 2027, I feel that we are entering another important chapter in our journey.

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

People usually see a band performing on stage for 45 or 60 minutes, but they rarely see the hundreds of hours of work behind those moments.

In Nocturnal Eternity, my responsibilities go far beyond playing guitar.

I compose the music, write lyrics, develop arrangements, work on production, organize rehearsals, coordinate technical aspects and manage many of the band’s activities.

There is also an enormous amount of work involved in promotion, booking concerts, preparing equipment, travelling and keeping everything moving forward.

Because we are an independent band, much of this requires personal sacrifices, both financially and in terms of time.

Sometimes it feels like having several full-time jobs at once!

But when I stand on stage and hear the audience responding to music that I created, every difficult moment suddenly makes sense.

For me, Nocturnal Eternity is much more than a band. It represents years of dedication, determination and personal investment. It is something I have built with passion and something I hope will leave a lasting musical legacy.

6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?

Music has always been a way for me to express emotions that are sometimes difficult to put into words.
Life brings happiness, disappointment, stress, loss and countless challenges. When I compose, I can transform those experiences into something meaningful.

Sometimes music helps me escape everyday problems, while at other times it allows me to confront emotions I might otherwise ignore.

There is something incredibly powerful about creating a melody out of nothing and gradually turning it into a complete song.

Of course, being a musician also brings stress and pressure, especially when you are responsible for an entire project.

But despite everything, music gives me purpose, motivation and a reason to keep challenging myself. I believe that creativity can be a powerful way of finding balance in life.

7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges today is that making good music is no longer enough.

You also need to understand marketing, social media, promotion, booking, finances and the business side of the music industry.

For independent bands, this can be extremely demanding.

Another major challenge is finding musicians who share the same vision, commitment and willingness to make sacrifices.

Over the years, we have experienced lineup changes, disappointments and situations where things did not go according to plan.

But I have learned something important: you cannot control everything, and you cannot expect everyone to share your level of dedication.

What you can control is your own discipline, determination and attitude.

I have always believed that if you want to achieve something meaningful, you must be prepared to work for it, even when progress is slow and the results are not immediately visible.

My approach is simple: learn from your mistakes, adapt when necessary and never give up on something you genuinely believe in.

8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?

This is probably one of the most frustrating aspects of the modern music industry.

Today, musicians are often expected to become content creators, marketing specialists and social media managers as well.

Sometimes it feels as though the number of likes or followers has become more important than the actual quality of the music.

Personally, I don’t believe that artistic value can be measured by an algorithm.

Of course, social media is important, and we use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to connect with our audience, share our music and promote our concerts.

But I try not to let statistics determine how I feel about our achievements.

A genuine message from someone who has connected with our music can mean much more to me than thousands of views.

At the end of the day, I became a musician to create music, not to chase algorithms.

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

I try to focus on the human side of it.

One of the most rewarding things is receiving messages from listeners in countries where we have never performed, telling us that they discovered our music and enjoyed it.

I also enjoy sharing moments from our concerts, behind-the-scenes experiences and the journey of the band.
For me, social media becomes meaningful when it creates real connections between the artist and the audience.

I prefer building a smaller but genuinely interested community rather than chasing large numbers that don’t necessarily represent real fans.

And when someone travels to see us perform or buys our album because our music means something to them, that is an incredible feeling.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

First of all, thank you to everyone who has listened to our music, attended our concerts or supported us in any way.

For an independent band, even small gestures can make a huge difference.

Listen to our music on Spotify, watch our videos on YouTube, share our songs with friends and follow us on social media.

If you enjoy what we do, tell someone about us!

Come to our concerts whenever possible, and consider supporting us by purchasing our music or merchandise.
But most importantly, keep supporting independent music.

There are so many talented musicians around the world who work incredibly hard to create something special, often without major financial backing.

Your support gives us the motivation and opportunity to continue doing what we love.

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

I love motorcycles and the feeling of freedom that comes with riding.

There is something special about getting on a motorcycle, leaving everyday stress behind and simply enjoying the road.

I also enjoy travelling, discovering new places and experiencing different cultures.

Fortunately, music has given me many opportunities to travel, although touring is not always as relaxing as people might imagine!

I also enjoy working with technology and audio equipment, although I suppose that is still connected to music.

To be perfectly honest, switching my mind off completely is not something I am particularly good at. There is almost always a new musical idea or project running through my head.

12. Where can people find you?

You can find Nocturnal Eternity on our social media and streaming platforms.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nocturnal.Eternity.Symphonic.Metal
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nocturnal_eternity/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NOCTURNAL_ETERNITY_RO
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ZoC6HCTktSP3aYPKevy8n
• Bandcamp: https://nocturnal-eternity.bandcamp.com/album/eternity

You can listen to our debut album, Eternity, watch our music videos and live performances, and follow our journey as we prepare our next album for 2027.

And if you ever have the opportunity to see us live, come and say hello!

Thank you for the interview and for supporting independent metal music.

Never give up on your dreams. Music has no borders!
Nocturnal Eternity – Echoes Beyond Time.