Eternal Descent

Eternal Descent
	; Volume 1 Issue 1 of Eternal Descent
Publication information
Publisher	IDW Publishing
Schedule	Various
Format	Print; PDF
Genre	Music; Fantasy; Adventure
Publication date	March 2010 Onwards
Main character(s)	Sirian; Lyra Constance; Loki; Joe Satriani
Creative team
Writer(s)	Llexi Leon
Artist(s)	Jason Metcalf (Covers); Gabriel Guzman

Eternal Descent
Eternal Descent
Background information
Origin	London, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Cinematic metal, Gothic Rock, Rock, Heavy Metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Incendium Records
Associated acts	Eddie Kramer
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
	Guitar

For other uses of the word Succubus, see Succubus (disambiguation).

Eternal Descent is a virtual band created in 2004 by multi instrumentalist and writer of the Eternal Descent comic book Llexi Leon. Whilst the music is partly played by fictional characters represented in visual media, additional orchestral and industrial elements act as a soundtrack to the ongoing plot.

The band's music is a collaboration between various musicians; Llexi Leon being the only permanent musical contributor. Their style is broadly Heavy Metal, but with a large number of other influences including: Industrial, Goth, and Romantic.

One of the band characters, named Lyra Constance, is described as being a Succubus.

History

In 2009, producer Eddie Kramer (Led Zeppelin, Kiss, The Rolling Stones) signed a deal with Eternal Descent to produce their second album to be released in 2011.^[1]

ESP Guitars became affiliated with Eternal Descent in 2008, granting the property rights to use ESP Guitars likeness and logos in their publications and visual media. As such, Eternal Descent feature ESP Electric guitars exclusively, and many ESP endorsed musicians have collaborated with Eternal Descent, such as God Forbid, Firewind, Atreyu, and Static X.^[2]

Other Eternal Descent/Llexi Leon equipment endorsements include Kahler Tremolo System, Coffin Case, DiMarzio, DigiTech, Ovation Guitar Company and Ernie Ball. In 2011, Digitech released a guitar effects pedal, Lyra, inspired by the comic series.

Discography

Losing Faith (CD) (2007)
The Phantom of the Opera (EP) (2008)

Comic Book Series

IDW Publishing inked a deal with Eternal Descent to publish the comic book series. The first issue of the Eternal Descent comic book was published in March 2010 with subsequent issues following.^[3]

Llexi Leon appeared at the UK's sister version of San Diego Comic Con, KAPOW! Comic Con April 2011, created by Mark Miller.

Series Outline

The demon Loki wants Lyra for his own. Through her music, he will bring his message to the masses, twisting an entire generation and growing new legions of followers. Only one being stands in his way. Sirian the fallen travels between Heaven and Hell, ensuring that no one oversteps the boundaries of this world. Becoming aware of Loki's plot, he sets out to save Lyra and the world, from Loki and the hordes of the Damned.

After a late-night rescue goes awry, Lyra awakens after death, with Loki's taint sweeping through her. Sirian decides to help Lyra, by assisting her to shape her afterlife and control her abilities.

With Sirian, Lyra travels through the many planes between Heaven and Hell, learning to harness her new power. It becomes apparent that Lyra is a pawn in a far greater scheme. Loki has already provided dark inspiration to countless rock and metal icons, bringing his message to the masses. Unknowingly, their collective imagination will grant Loki access to forgotten relics and powerful gateways, enabling him to unleash his armies of the Damned against all those who would oppose him.

Characters

Name	Character History and Description
Sirian	Sirian was once one of Heaven's great guardians. Now fallen from grace, he keeps an uncertain and fraught vigil over a city and a people it is his bitter duty to safeguard. His weapon of choice was once a large double-edged axe, but in modern society, he has opted to have the blades take the form of an electric guitar, one that can cut through enemies with searing energy.
Lyra Constance	A rock star who has attracted some most unwanted fans: The Damned. She is beautiful, talented, quick-witted and has attitude to spare. As lead vocalist and guitarist in the popular band, Constellation 9, Lyra comes face to face with her demons, both internal and external. Her discontent with a life of vice and fame at any cost has offered Loki the chance to use her for his own ends, and so Lyra awakens from death, with a demonic taint taking hold. In many ways Lyra's new persona has some Succubus-like characteristics.
Loki	This demon wants Lyra for his own. Through her music he will bring his message to the masses, twisting an entire generation into new legions of followers. Cold and calculating, he is a powerful sorcerer, constantly hatching elaborate schemes. He can also call on the souls of the Damned to rise and do his bidding. A formidable warrior, he wields a long handled hammer with two hands. Only one stands in Loki’s way: Sirian
Joe Satriani	The Extremist. The Wormhole Wizard. Joe Satriani is known by many names. Heralded by strange beautiful music which echoes throughout the cosmos, he seeks to guide the lost and bring harmony to dissonance. As a cosmic entity of unknown origin, Joe holds vast knowledge and wields incredible power, the limits of which remain unknown characteristics.

Publishing History

The series was issued in two separate volumes. The first, running six issues, was published from March 2010 through January 2011. This first series was then released as a collected volume in April 2011.

The series was the issued in a second volume beginning October 2011 and continuing until August 2012. The second series was then then released as a collected volume.

Issues

Volume One

Issue #	Release Date	Summary
1	March 1, 2010	Welcome to a city where lost souls lurk in every shadow and darkness veils sinister designs, where heavy metal could be the key to salvation...or the gateway to destruction. A fallen hero, a twisted demon, one gorgeous succubus, and an army of chart-topping guitar heroes: the pieces are in place. The Descent begins.
2	May 1, 2010	Chaos descends upon the stage, as the city crumbles into a ravaged wasteland. Loki has bested the fallen angel Sirian and seized Lyra Constance for his own. Or has he? As the curtains lift - and the sounds surge - Loki may have grabbed hold of more than he bargained for.
3	July 1, 2010	In a city where the music never stops, the show must go on… even when the frontman has been driven insane. Loki has turned his fell designs to new prey. With the help of guitar hero Gus G, Lyra and Sirian must race against time to save Apollo - and the rest of the band - from the dissonant call of the Damned.
4	September 1, 2010	A dark chapter unravels. As Lyra Constance attempts to unlock the secrets of her past and present, a rupture in time expands. A mysterious figure appears to warn Sirian of greater dangers ahead, and Wayne Static takes to the skies, hell-bent on raining down his own brand of heavy-metal thunder.
5	November 24, 2010	The battle with Wayne Static has left the city in smoldering ruins... and Lyra Constance burning with a new determination: Find Loki and bring his reign of madness to an end once and for all. But in Loki’s lair, nothing is ever as it seems. What looks like a way in could be a perilous trap, lying in wait.
6	January 1, 2011	Trapped in the amber, Lyra and Sirian must fight for survival. Loki revels in his victory, as a sinister agent of the Damned leads Father Mattias on a dire mission. Meanwhile, a new presence threatens to turn the tune around one more time.

Volume Two

Issue #	Release Date	Summary
1	October 2011	The saga continues as a fallen Sirian is consigned to his fate and Lyra is consumed by her inner demons. Lokis designs draw near their terrible conclusion, but Gus G returns to Eternal Descent, offering a glimmer of hope for our heroes. Can Gus and his unlikely guide rescue Sirian in time to halt the dire machinations of the Damned?
2	December 2011	The battle rages on at the center of the universe! As Loki schemes to pull the plug on the Music of the Spheres, Sirian and his friends, including Gus G., make a final, desperate bid to save our reality. Can Loki be stopped, and at what cost?
3	February 2012	With the amber in ruins and a key to the spheres in wavering hands, the delicate balance of universal order is threatened. Upon making the ultimate sacrifice, Sirian finds himself caught amidst time and space while strange beautiful music resonates throughout the cosmos, heralding the arrival of Joe Satriani, the extremist himself seeking to guide the lost and bring harmony to dissonance. Lyra is confronted by words of warning from a familiar face, as Richard struggles to reconcile his guilty conscience.
4	April 2012	Chosen by an unearthly intellect, a champion is born in Misha Mansoor! With technology beyond our comprehension, his destiny lies at the heart of the time stream, and the fate of humanity may rest on his shoulders. Determined to find Sirian, Lyra turns to Richard for answers, but when her questions awaken a long dormant power, the duo form a reluctant alliance. Unaware of its true purpose, they activate the spheres key, bringing down the full wrath of the association. A narrow escape finds Lyra in a tainted world of familiar foes, where the supernatural succubus and a high-tech hero must fight for their future.
5	June 2012	Caught in an apocalyptic future ravaged by khaos, Lyra finds herself mistaken for the enemy, facing off against Angela Gossow and her mercenary force of human resistance fighters. Metal master Michael Amott lies at the heart of this dark reality, empowered by a mysterious guitar carved from solid amber. Obsessed with the instrument and the amber, Michael exhibits strange and unearthly powers beyond his comprehension. Can Lyra and Angela reconcile their past and confront Michael before he loses control?
6	August 2012	In a grim future, Lyra Constance and Angela Gossow challenge the khaos legions, determined to confront their friend-turned-nemesis Michael Amott. Estranged and empowered by Loki's maniacal grasp, Michael grows stronger every minute. Outnumbered and outgunned, Lyra and Angela journey deep into the demonic wasteland, only to find salvation in a familiar face. With a final showdown inevitable, casualties are felt by friends and foes alike. With lives lost, heroes reborn, and darkness rising, don't miss the climactic resolution to Eternal Descent Volume 2!

Collected Volumes

Issue #	Cover Image	Release Date	Summary
Volume 1		April 13, 2011	In a city where lost souls lurk in every shadow and darkness veils sinister designs, heavy metal could be the key to salvation... or the gateway to destruction. A fallen hero, a twisted demon, one gorgeous succubus, and an army of chart-topping guitar heroes: The pieces are in place. The Descent begins. Featuring guest appearances from Atreyu, Firewind, God Forbid, Static-X, and Shadows Fall, Eternal Descent offers a radical new take on the metal genre, presenting iconic guitarists: Gus G, Wayne Static, Dan Jacobs, and many more. This collected edition features over 30 pages of bonus material including interviews, cover galleries, production artwork and exclusive fact files.
Volume 2		February 2013	The saga continues as a fallen Sirian is consigned to his fate and Lyra is consumed by her inner demons. Loki’s designs draw near their terrible conclusion, but Gus G returns to Eternal Descent, offering a glimmer of hope for our heroes. Can Gus and his unlikely guide rescue Sirian in time to halt the dire machinations of the Damned? Written by Llexi Leon, Shaun McLaughlin and Justin Peniston, with art by Ivan Fernandez and Sergio Fernandez, cover artwork by Gabriel Guzman.