Colchester hard rock band Elysium Sky will be releasing their debut album this weekend.

The current five-piece was formed back in 2016 by guitarist Jean Paul Dehavilland who put out an advert for like-minded musicians to originally perform his material.

Having previously made a name for himself as part of local outfit Jack’s Family, Jean Paul had been writing new songs since 2012 before deciding to get together a new band.

Now with Matt Cottrell (vocals) and Graham Lemon (guitars), both from Southend, Luton-based bass player Paul Hinton and local drummer Alex Sandor Kis on board, according to Jean Paul Elysium Sky has evolved into a tight knit songwriting group where everyone has got involved in the making of the album.

He says: “It’s true I started writing the songs back in 2012, and 80 per cent of this album are those songs, however what’s been great about the current line up is obviously they have come in and put their own parts and influences on those songs, which has developed them into our songs. I couldn’t have done any of this without them.

“There have been quite a few line-ups of Elysium Sky but this one has been going since 2016 and I really think you can see how having a steady line-up has resulted in great sounding songs.

“It’s not easy with two of the band in Southend and Paul from Luton but we rehearse in Chelmsford and that’s worked pretty well for us so far.”

Now Elysium Sky are ready to start taking bookings to perform their original material live across the country. With influences from Guns n Roses, Alice in Chains, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Rammstien, Jean Paul describes their sound as gritty, hard rock with progressive elements thrown in.

Gig-goers catching the album launch this weekend are also in for an extra treat.

“We want to put on a real event for this gig,” Jean Paul adds, “so we will be having a special light show with visual imagery behind us on stage. The kind of thing you would expect to see at a large venue with a famous act.”

But Jean Paul assures the spectacle won’t detract from the songs themselves.

“It’s all going to add to the atmosphere,” he says.

“The album is called Echoes From Nowhere, because that’s where a lot of my feelings come from and that’s what the songs are about.

“It took about a year to record and get the whole thing sorted, mainly at home but also at Pioneer Studios here in Colchester.

“We’re really pleased with it and now it’s just a case of getting out on the road to promote the thing.”

That starts this Saturday, March 24, at the Soundhouse at the Bull pub in Crouch Street, Colchester.

The show will start around 8pm through until closing time, with support from two bands, Lost Revelation from Ipswich and fellow Colchester rock group, Denial Twist. Entry is free.

Then later in the year, the five-piece are heading to Southend where they will be playing Chinnerys on May 5.

For more information on the band go to elysiumsky.org