Behind The Scenes: ILLUMINA A.D. - Crystal Grave (Official Video)

The music video for Crystal Grave marks a pivotal moment for Illumina A.D., a gothic prog-power metal band fronted by Nepthisis. Illumina A.D. has been carving out a name for itself at the crossroads of storytelling and sound. Born in the shadows, their music explores the hidden realms of beauty, violence, and transformation. But with Crystal Grave, this journey took on an even deeper, more personal significance for rhythm guitarist and visionary Alexander Bane.

Filmed deep in the heart of New Mexico at the Eaves Movie Ranch, the shoot was an emotional odyssey, bringing to life the band’s darkest and most intimate chapter yet.

A Storm of Emotion: The Story Behind the Video

The weather was unforgiving as the band and crew ventured to Eaves Movie Ranch to film Crystal Grave. It poured, hailed, stormed, and lightning cracked the sky. In a way, the tempest felt like the universe reflecting the emotional landscape that Alexander Bane was working through. “There was something about that storm, the chaos of it all, that felt like it was a result of what we were doing. It was uncanny how the weather mirrored the story we were telling,” says Alex. “This video is an artistic representation of how I feel about the passing of my daughter’s birth-mother, Eah Herrera.”

Eah passed away unexpectedly in August 2019 due to a drug overdose, under mysterious circumstances that still haunt Alex to this day. Eah and Alex had been separated for over three years at the time of her passing and were co-parenting their daughter on that very same fateful day. Eah had picked up their daughter from daycare just six hours before she was found dead in the bathroom of her and her husband’s apartment near Old Town Albuquerque. Although the Albuquerque Police Department ruled that there was “no foul play,” Alex is still bothered by the lack of concern he says the APD showed toward the circumstances surrounding Eah’s death and is still searching for answers—he channeled that grief and frustration into the creation of Crystal Grave.

“I feel like my daughter, her son, and the people who truly cared about her never got the truth,” Alex continues. “I saw her within hours after her passing, and I still have so many unanswered questions. The video is dedicated to her memory.”

The Video: A Cinematic Journey of Darkness and Rebirth

The video itself is a cinematic journey, exploring themes of darkness, seduction, and transformation. Nepthisis, as the siren, embodies a figure of irresistible allure that draws both the main characters and the audience into a world of temptation and emotional conflict. Her role mirrors the emotional struggles Eah may have experienced at the end of her life—a tension between desire, chaos, and destruction. The portrayal captures the intensity of those final moments, reflecting the complex emotions surrounding Eah's passing without overshadowing the core narrative of loss and unresolved grief. Her haunting presence in the video adds a powerful layer to the journey, complementing the themes of descent and rebirth.

Three Days of Filming and a Night That Never Ended

The shoot was no easy feat. The team spent three days filming, pushing through wind, rain, lightning, and other obstacles to capture the raw emotion that the song demanded. On the first night of filming, the crew worked until 4 a.m., creating the chilling and haunting bathtub scenes that will stay with viewers long after the video ends. These moments were deeply personal for Alex, and you can feel the weight of the emotion on screen. The actors playing the central couple, Kris Lea and Jesse Ryder, are a real-life pair, adding a layer of authenticity to their portrayal of a relationship teetering on the edge of obsession and destruction. As Alex explains, “There’s an undeniable tension when you work with people who truly know each other. They brought something unique to the table—raw vulnerability.”

It wasn’t just the actors who brought the vision to life—Nepthisis’ performance as the siren lured the characters—and the audience—into a seductive spiral, drawing out the emotional intensity that defined the video. Also noteworthy is Madison Bane’s enigmatic portrayal of death in the bathtub scene, which foreshadowed the impending doom and inescapable fate that awaits us all.

The entire team that filmed at Eaves Movie Ranch—including director Alex, camera crew Corey Weintraub and Allen Hrynick, and the production team—also played crucial roles in shaping Crystal Grave into what it is today. “This video was a massive creative journey,” says Alex. “It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s dedication. I’m so thankful for the unwavering commitment from my bandmates Justin Cavis, Justin Ennis, Nepthisis, Austin Von Hentschel; my wife Madison, Corey, Allen, Kris, Jesse, and all our friends and family who volunteered and participated as extras to help bring this vision to life. I also want to thank one of my closest friends, Ken, who is the father of Eah’s oldest child, for accepting this artistic work for what it is—I know this is tough for him.”

A New Beginning: The Legacy of Illumina A.D.

Crystal Grave is more than just a music video. It’s the first chapter in Illumina A.D.’s evolving narrative. With a sound that is cinematic, emotional, and unapologetically dark, the band is building a world haunted by beauty, violence, and the ghosts of the American Southwest. Crystal Grave is just the beginning.

The video and others are now available on YouTube and all streaming platforms, and the band’s highly anticipated full-length LP, Days of Blood and Fire, drops on June 20, 2025. They will be releasing much-anticipated music videos and singles every 4-6 weeks. Alex shares, “This album, this video, it’s a rebirth for me personally. There’s beauty in destruction, and sometimes, transformation comes from the darkest places.”

For Illumina A.D., every note, every shot, every lyric is a reflection of their journey—a journey that’s just beginning, but one that promises to be as haunting and transformative as the land that inspired them.

A Final Word

The process of creating Crystal Grave was more than just a musical endeavor—it was an emotional, artistic collaboration. “I’m deeply thankful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life,” Alex reflects. “This video, this song—it’s my way of making sense of a tragedy that I still don’t understand. It’s my way of honoring Eah’s memory.”

If there’s one thing that defines Illumina A.D., it’s their unwavering commitment to telling stories that are as raw and real as the storms that inspire them. Crystal Grave is a haunting reflection of loss, but it’s also a declaration of strength and resilience.

As Alexander Bane says, “The storm doesn’t last forever. After the chaos, there’s always something new that emerges from the ashes.”