In the year of 1997, Ethereal is assembled in Setubal (Portugal), by the vocalist/lyricist Hugo Soares. At that time, the first musical ideas start to shape and form, as the definitive line-up is gathered in 1998.
During 1999, the band performs a vast number of gigs, at Music Contests, bars and other venues. In of those contests, Ethereal is prized the best band among fifteen other, and Hugo S. the best vocalist.
By the end of 99, the band records the "Shades of Sadness EP" at the well-known TchaTchaTcha Studios. The EP features 3 tracks: "Mistress", "Shades of Sadness" and "A Dead Remembrance".
In 2000, yet another busy tour calendar for Ethereal. The EP is press-promoted and reviewed at national scale radio shows, mags and fanzines, and even got to be interviewed live at a TV show, along with Moonspell. In 2001, entwined with occasional live performances, Ethereal starts to prepare the tracklist that will feature their debut, and signs with the recently created label Progress Music for the releasing of two albums. In December, the band goes studio again for the recordings of "The Dreams of Yearning", a conceptual album with 11 tracks, with the length of 61 minutes.
The release of "The Dreams of Yearning" was originally scheduled for October 2002 via Progress Music, but the usual delays pushed the band to cancel the deal with the label and to postpone the release date to the following year. In the beginning of 2003, Ethereal signed up for Recital Records (Edition & Distribution) and Utopia Productions (Agency & Promotion). The ultimate release date is firmed in March '03.
