Eternal Champion are an almighty force that blend fantasy with their distinctive take on heavy metal and have conquered stages around the world. Ever since they formed, they have built up a large fan base of loyal fans who have helped them to become one of standout bands in epic heavy metal.

Fronted by Jason Tarpey who’s one of a kind vocals bring a unique element to the bands music, takes us into the world of Eternal Champion and gives an insight into some of the bands history!

THE NWOTHM: Hey Eternal Champion it is a privilege to be interviewing you guys! First up can you introduce us to the members of the band and where you are from?

Jason E.C: Hey there, the privilege is ours. I’ll be the one doing the interview for the band, my name is Jason and I sing. I’m from a town in the Texas Hill Country called Boerne, still residing in the Hill Country in a town called Wimberley. Arthur Rizk is our guitarist and producer among a dozen other roles in the band and he hails from Easton, PA. John Powers also plays guitar and synth and is from Delco, PA. Brad Raub is our bassist and is from Allentown, PA. And our drummer, Connor Donegan is from a few different places but now resides in Washington, DC and is a big Celtics fan. They all say hi.

THE NWOTHM: The name Eternal Champion is pretty epic! How did you choose the bands name?

Jason E.C: The name comes from the mind of the author Michael Moorcock, who wrote a series of books around this character, the Eternal Champion, who is incarnated in different times, dimensions, and people as a servant or pawn (or rebel) of the gods of Law and Chaos. The guy I started the band with, Gregg Higgins, chose the name because I kept telling him about the books and he said we’re just gonna call the band EC, and I said well alrighty.

THE NWOTHM: As a band who would you say your biggest musical influences have been?

Jason E.C: I can’t answer for the band, everyone’s answer would be different, but it’s safe to say we all love the great M bands, Manilla Road, Manowar, Mercyful Fate, Morgana Lefay, Mystic Force, Momento Mori, the Memory Garden “Forever” EP.

THE NWOTHM: What did you listen to growing up? Have your musical tastes changed?

Jason E.C: As a teenager I mostly liked heavy metal, alt rock, and hardcore music. There were no taboos because there was no one to guide me so I was just discovering music on my own, taking chances with my lawn mowing money on cassette tapes at the record store that caught my eye. First was Metallica, Megadeth, Guns ‘N Roses around 90-’91. And then I got into bands like Catherine Wheel, Swervedriver, Fretblanket, The Sundays, Afghan Whigs in the mid 90’s. My first band was an alternative band that covered “What Jail is Like’ for our eighth grade talent show. Way too grown-up of a song in retrospect.

Then I got into hardcore after seeing Into Another at Sunken Garden Theatre in San Antonio. That led to me dropping out of high school and starting/joining hardcore bands and touring the country until about 2004. Iron Age started that year as I got further into epic metal and I discovered Manilla Road, then everything changed. I still listen to 90’s alternative bands a lot, mostly the smaller ones, hardcore and heavy metal always. I also love Reggae, Morrissey, a lot of synth music.

THE NWOTHM: Do you have any highlights from your musical career up until now?

Jason E.C: Everything that’s happened has been beyond my expectations and if you would’ve told 16 yr old me that I’d be doing this I would’ve shit myself.

THE NWOTHM: In your music collections what records would you say are your most prized possessions/favourites?

Jason E.C: Again I can only speak for myself but my most prized are my Manilla Road albums, with a select few signed by Mark. My two favourites would have to be my og “Mystification” LP and “Crystal Logic” on Roadster.

THE NWOTHM: For those who do not know, can you tell us about the book ‘The Godblade’ and how that is a part of the Eternal Champion universe?

Jason E.C: I wrote “The Godblade” as we were writing “Ravening Iron“. I honestly don’t know why I did that to myself but I set the goal and stuck to it. My intention was to write a very fast-paced story that moved like an action movie. I referenced the story in some of the songs on the album to give the listener more context and to create an atmosphere around the songs.

THE NWOTHM: The Eternal Champion range of artworks are phenomenal. You have such an extensive collection across your musical releases and merchandise. Can you tell us about the artist(s) behind the artworks and if you have and particular favourites?

Jason E.C: We’re incredibly lucky to have worked with so many excellent artists and we put a lot into our album covers and merchandise because to us those are very important, and even a T-shirt deserves to be a work of art that the band and the artist and the fan can be proud of. We’ve worked with painters like Ken Kelly, Burney, Adam Burke, Nils Mosimann, Brian Leblanc, and others to create custom works that depict lore from our songs and lyrics. Basically, we’ll spend $1,000 or more for a good T-shirt design, if that’s what it takes.

THE NWOTHM: Guards of Lourn is one of the biggest Eternal Champion communities on Facebook! Can you tell us more about this community and the name Guards of Lourn?

Jason E.C: Blown away by the whole thing. Can’t tell ya how much we appreciate The Guards for forming and even getting together for meet-ups before EC gigs, just incredibly honoured and flattered by the groups existence. I don’t know what goes on in the group since none of us are members, I think it would be fairly weird of us to keep tabs on it and its goings-on, but from meeting some of the members in person I’ve only had positive interactions and now count some of them as friends, so there ya go! The name comes from my book The Godblade and references Aelbrond’s standing army.

Visit the Guards of Lourn Facebook group

THE NWOTHM: Touring is a massive part of life for any band or artist! Do you have any interesting stories from being on the road?

Jason E.C: It’s always interesting when Arthur is behind the wheel, it’s like being in a car with Steve McQueen.

THE NWOTHM: When you play live, chainmail becomes a part of the performances! Where did that idea come from?

Jason E.C: A lil’ Big Poppa Pump and a lil’ medieval bank robber.

THE NWOTHM: Can you tell us a bit of background info about the ‘Armor of Ire’ album and how the songs came together?

Jason E.C: “Armor..” was the culmination of all of the bands ideas from 2012 to 2015, put through Arthur’s filter. He’s the reason it all makes sense and sounds like a cohesive effort because the songs weren’t in final form when we went into the studio. Most of the work was done by him in those sessions with me smoking weed on the couch watching and listening to the album take shape. It was a special feeling because as he progressed with it the more confident I became in the songs.

THE NWOTHM: ‘Ravening Iron’ is the most recent release from Eternal Champion! Can you tell us a bit more about this album and how it progressed musically from previous releases?

Jason E.C: Yeah we tried to be more intentional with “Ravening…” writing the songs with proportion and balance in mind instead of just slapping all our stored-up ideas together. It’s a bit harder, maybe moodier, and lyrically I tried my best to tell a story while still making the songs relatable to anyone whether you’re familiar with my book or the works of any other writer I draw influence from.

THE NWOTHM: What are your tour plans for 2023? Do you have any big shows lined up?

Jason E.C: Not a lot of shows this year. We’re doing Beyond the Gates in Norway in August. A couple shows in Canada, Toronto and Montreal, and a couple more in the States that we can’t announce yet.

THE NWOTHM: The big question! Will we be seeing a new album or any music from you in 2023?

Jason E.C: Recording a new album this year along with a split release with the mighty DOOMSWORD!

THE NWOTHM: Where can people check you out on social media and buy your music/merch?

Jason E.C:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eternalchampion

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eternalchampion

Bandcamp: https://eternalchampion.bandcamp.com/

Massacre Merch: https://massacremerch.com/collections/eternal-champion

No Remorse Records: https://bit.ly/3xV4kHb

Amazon: https://amzn.to/44x12Z2

THE NWOTHM: is there anything else you would like to mention?

Jason E.C: That’ll do ‘er thanks my man!