Building upon their rapid momentum, the band soon caught the attention of Kolony Records, a deal was signed and the band began work on their debut full length. New Dawn was released June 2016 and was praised "as an effortless display of bravado and musicianship in ways that I can't soundly describe," by USA's New Noise Magazine and an impressive debut from the UK's Metal Hammer. "Countless Skies have what it takes to really blossom in to something original and beautiful... a band with great skill and even greater potential," stated Zero Tolerance Magazine.
With applause the world over following the release of New Dawn, the band embarked on a UK tour with Finland's 'Whispered'. Several shorter tours followed including their first stints abroad, appearing at multiple European festivals such as Dark Troll Festival, Skaldenfest, and MetalDays.
In August 2020 the band announced they had joined forces with Willowtip Records for the release of their second album, Glow. The follow-up to 2016's full-length debut New Dawn, Glow takes the band's progressive brand of melodeth to new heights with richly-layered instrumentation, superb musicianship and raw emotion. Thematically, Glow is based on the album's epic title track, a 20-minute opus split into three parts.
Ethereal
Countless Skies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her faint voice calls
From beneath the depths below
Far in to the distance
Lights beam out across
The vast abyss
Lost
I feel that I have suffered far too long, I've given all I can
I was told that there was something more
But now I'm filled with doubt, drifting from the shore
Cold and still I gaze
Up far above
Where all I know is gone
Senses fade as time stops
I give up I
Can't hold on forever
Spiralling, dragging deeper down
Into the undertow
Crushed by its cold embrace
In numbing silence, I drift away
Tenacious and Majestic
Infinite and Absolute
Enduring and Composing
Constant and Unrelenting
Stubborn and Obstinate
Beckoning and Beguiling
As the storm subsides
I feel the sun
It seems so far away
I strain to stay awake
As consciousness
Fades I know my time has come
The lyrics of Ethereal by Countless Skies depict a person's struggle with their own doubts and fears as they face the unknown depths of the ocean. The song portrays a sense of loss and despair as the person feels that they have suffered for too long and given all that they possibly can. The opening lines of the song describe the crashing waves against the strand while a faint voice calls out from beneath the depths of the ocean. This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the song as the person feels lost and unsure of what is to come.
Throughout the song, the person grapples with their own mortality as they feel themselves spiraling and being dragged down into the undertow of the ocean. As they are crushed by the cold embrace of the water, they feel a sense of numbness and loneliness as they drift away from all that they know. However, even in the face of despair and darkness, the song highlights the majestic and enduring nature of the ocean and the unrelenting force it exerts on all those who come into contact with it.
In the final lines of the song, the person feels the warmth of the sun as the storm subsides and consciousness fades. The lyrics suggest a sense of acceptance and peace as the person's time comes to an end. Overall, Ethereal is a hauntingly beautiful song that explores themes of mortality, despair, and the infinite nature of the ocean.
Line by Line Meaning
Waves crash against the strand
The sound of the waves crashing against the shore is present, setting a backdrop for the story that is yet to unfold.
Her faint voice calls
An ethereal voice softly beckons from the depths.
From beneath the depths below
A voice calling from the darkness below is heard.
Far in to the distance
The voice is coming from afar, barely audible and difficult to locate.
Lights beam out across
Faint lights are visible across the vast darkness.
The vast abyss
The vast emptiness of the abyss can be felt.
Lost
The singer is confused and unsure of their path.
I fear that I will never find the strength again
I am unsure if I can handle what is to come.
I feel that I have suffered far too long, I've given all I can
I feel exhausted, having given my all - with nothing left to give.
I was told that there was something more
Someone assured me that there is something greater than what I am experiencing.
But now I'm filled with doubt, drifting from the shore
Now I am less sure, becoming increasingly disconnected from everything around me.
Cold and still I gaze
The artist's eyes have been drawn to the darkness before them.
Up far above
The mind is drawn upwards, above the darkness.
Where all I know is gone
Everything familiar and comfortable to me is in the past.
Senses fade as time stops
Time seems to be coming to a standstill as the senses become numb.
I give up I
The artist is letting go and surrendering.
Can't hold on forever
Everything has a beginning and an end.
Spiralling, dragging deeper down
The descent into the darkness intensifies.
Into the undertow
Being sucked down into the depths of despair.
Crushed by its cold embrace
Trapped and suffocated by the unforgiving and unyielding grasp of sadness.
In numbing silence, I drift away
Succumbing to the inescapable pull of the abyss, the mind slowly fades away.
Tenacious and Majestic
The elements of earth and sky are powerful and mighty.
Infinite and Absolute
Immeasurable and unwavering in its scope and influence.
Enduring and Composing
Steadfast, strong and capable of creating innumerable wonders.
Constant and Unrelenting
Always there, always present and will never give up.
Stubborn and Obstinate
Persistent and unwilling to yield or relinquish control.
Beckoning and Beguiling
Calling out and seducing, inviting those who are drawn to it into its mysteries.
As the storm subsides
With the passing of a difficult period, things begin to look brighter and clearer.
I feel the sun
The warmth and energy of the light provides a sense of hope and strength to the mind.
It seems so far away
Despite the renewed sense of hope, the goal still seems distant and out of reach.
I strain to stay awake
Trying to fight off the inevitable end that is approaching.
As consciousness
The mind is slowly slipping away, losing its grasp on reality.
Fades I know my time has come
The end is here and the mind is prepared to depart from this world.
Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Countlessskies
Hear the rerecorded version from our debut album 'New Dawn': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ghzet-rR0Q
Listen to a track from our second album 'Glow': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TnEkTYDzrc
@tomhall8687
Be'Lakor, Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum and now Countless Skies. You guys have made my top five favourite bands, your sound is P much exactly what I'm looking for. Looking forward to hearing more
@Walsh2571
+Tom Hall You should listen to In Mourning, and Agathodaimon. They're both a bit different, but I hope you like them.
@pyrotoxic66
That clean voice is mesmerizing... almost like Vortex's voice, absolutely love it and the whole album!
@forThe_7
Yes it’s the best example that Melodic Death has a reason for falling in love with😍
@bartlabuz3535
This stuff is so good it must be fattening. I just ordered your EP. TY so much for creating this sound.
@Countlessskies
Cheers dude, we'll get it out to you asap!
@samueltriggs
Nice one James and guys, looking forward to the rest of the tracks!
@_jamesbro_
These guys are amazing. Can't wait for the EP!
@MrStealYourSoul69
This is some good stuff. Vibes like insomnium \m/ keep up the good work.