A Vicious Cycle is the Etheria’s first demo album. Comprised of songs composed from 2010 – 2014, A Vicious Cycle shows Etheria’s diverse range of influences. Lyrically, the album deals with Global Warming, Death, Politics, War, Addiction, and Love.

The album was home recorded in Justin’s house. The drums on the album are provided by the midi program superior drummer, and the guitar amps were simulated through the program Guitar Rig. The album faced setbacks once recording of vocals began. Plans to bring in a lead vocalist fell through, and Justin was forced to perform lead vocals.

A Vicious Cycle (Intro): The album begins with the title track, A Vicious Cycle. After an atmospheric intro, the song picks up to a maiden-inspired gallop. Setting the tone for the album, A Vicious Cycle introduces musical themes that are explored later in the album.

Rain: Next, Rain was a song composed in 2011. Performed multiple times in 2012 by Plague, the song was revamped for the recording of A Vicious Cycle. Starting off with a clean, melodic intro, Rain takes Etheria to a more commercial sound than what’s found traditionally on the album. Lyrically, the song deals with a dying mans last thoughts and words.

Minus Life: Minus Life is the oldest song on A Vicious Cycle. Clocking in at over 9 minutes long, Minus Life takes the listener on an aggressive rollercoaster, with the song taking on a primitive mixture of thrash metal aggression and power metal melody. The song deals with climate change, and the eventual demise of the planet due to the political elite.

The Clock: The Clock is the closest Etheria came to a ballad on the album. The song essentially features a gradual buildup to the bridge, in which the song breaks from it’s path and goes into a slightly bouncier riff.  The song talks of the passage of time, and the problems facing a younger generation

Andromeda (Interlude): Adremeda is the second instrumental on A Vicious Cycle. An Ambient track, a large amount of the guitars were recorded backwards. This track would later go on to inspire the style used in Justin’s solo album EP, Reflections.

Seasons Seasons is the final song on the album. Divided into 4 parts, and spanning over 15 minutes, the song encompasses the entire musical vision of the album. From an acoustic, upbeat intro, to thrash metal blitz, to droning riffs, and finally a melodic finally, Seasons shows the diversity of the band. Composed over 4 years, the song takes the listener on a journey not only through the lyrics, but shows a literal progression of how the band evolved musically.

Seasons deals with the fall and rise of a man. After being separated from a loved one, he returns to a life of addiction, something he thought he had conquered. His life continues into a tailspin, until he eventually crashes. After a psychotic episode, he finds strength in his love. The song ends on a cautionary note “and though in the Summer, we think we learn / autumn always will return,” alluding to his eventual fall, and continuing the vicious cycle of his life.