She already knows how this will all end
The wounds of memory she tends
Ghost and strangers
She flees her own grief
Forever running
Haunted she sleeps
In shadows she lays all alone
Remembering her lover gone
Through forests she walks every day
Through winter storms, every day
She looks through dark eyes
Over her shoulder
She already knows when
When it will find her
I'm coming, keep running
Tormenting you!
Hastily do you flee
I'm coming! I'm coming!
My dear, I'm here
All shadow and sorrow
I have thee, finally
Embracing you!
Young lover, it's over
Together and never!
- My Dying Bride (2009)
I received For Lies I Sire, the latest album from England's My Dying Bride, just a couple of weeks ago from Amazon.com. I finally got to listen to it a few days later and instantly fell in love with it. Since I write reviews for albums, I listen to A LOT of new music. As such, there are few albums that make a lasting impression on me, but this is one of them. In fact, 2009 has already given me 2 albums that have made my heavy rotation. In the first 6 months of the year I would say that's a pretty good year for my musical taste.
To those unititiated, My Dying Bride plays a slow brand of metal often referred to as Doom Metal. Similar to early Black Sabbath, the songs move along at a slow pace. The tone set by these songs ranges from darkness to eerie to colossal sadness to what some would consider clinical depression. Add some violins and the songs become funeral dirges.
This is another song in 2 acts. What sets this song apart is the fact that Act I is in the third person where Act II is in the first person. Both points of view focus on a lady. In the Humanities often a concept of importance is referred to in the feminine. Given the vague nature of the lyrics, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to consider the lady in this song a metaphor for things that are happening today.
When I first listened to this song, for some reason it brought to mind historical women such as Ann Boleyn, St. Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, and even Ethel Rosenberg. Their crimes - treason (Boleyn), heresy (Joan of Arc), being married to King Louis XVI (Antoinette), and espionage (Rosenberg) - earned each of them a death sentence. Act I tells us that they know they are facing death and the torment that runs in their mind over the fact that they know their end is imminent. When the end finally comes, it announces its presence and leaves no question what is happening. The part of the young lover would be most applicable to Ann Boleyn, as she was the young lover of King Henry VIII.
That was the first thing that came to mind when I heard the song and read the lyrics. What is your first impression, Mardi?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Decrystallizing Reason
Reason
This demigod
Unto which you cluster
Sacrilege
You sacrifice the purity
Of the air beneath your wings
A slow and painful ritual
To burn the youth you lost
Demigod
Blasphemers walk among your flock
Despite your blindfold
Proudly you carry the stone on your back
Disillusioned
You plant your feet safely to the ground
Demigod
Blasphemers walk among your flock
As the stone
You have become
Not once did you cry
For the lost ones of your world
Your care is limited
To this demigod
Onto which you cluster
Reason
Decrystallize me
Demigod
I do blaspheme
The fallen you condemn
Your heart even free of hate
Yet, scared to death by their disbelief
To ordinary common sense
And with autumn closing in
Forcing life away
No mercy will impale your sin
Dead are your tears
- Emperor (1999)
Black metal represents the the most of extreme of a genre of music that is considered the most extreme. Over-the-top dark (and often Satanic) imagery, blast beats, and demonic vocals are all hallmarks of the genre. Hailing from Norway, Emperor built on the work of Venom in bringing forth this extreme subgenre of heavy metal and helped pave the way for many of today's younger black metal acts. Emperor is probably the only band I know that can boast of having a convicted murderer (Faust in an act of extreme homophobia) and a convicted arsonist (Samoth acting out his hatred for Christianity) as members.
There have always been those who cry that reason should be the basis of everything. Indeed, it is by reason that we advance and only reason will solve our troubles. Many, if not most, of the people calling for the triumph of reason are atheists. Atheism holds no belief beyond that of the human being.
It is also worthy to note that most subscribers to reason also believe that human nature can be overcome by the use of reason.
To those people reason becomes god. Just a quick glance through some blogs where atheists are known to congregate can almost make my theory into scientific law. The attacks on anyone who does not believe as they do are swift, vicious, very severe, and almost always ad hominem. I myself have been on the receiving end of some this venom. Let's just say that an acknowledgment of something beyond reason is the equivalent of blasphemy in Christianity.
Thus we have the profile of a follower of reason. Their lives seem hollow as they can't see anything beyond themselves. The follower of reason cares nothing for the lost, takes no risk, and lives in fear of those who believe in something beyond this universe. Their lives, in a nutshell, are empty and meaningless. The singer once lived among them but now has committed blasphemy against the demigod Reason. It's almost as if the singer has thrown down the gauntlet and wants to take on the followers of reason.
While I have had my questions, I have always believed there is something beyond this world that we do not yet have the ability to understand. Perhaps someday we can understand, perhaps humanity may never understand, but that should never deter us from the quest. Besides, reason, just like religion, has yet to answer the ultimate questions of existence.
What do you think, Mardi?
PS - St. Anselm postulated the following - God is that which nothing greater can be thought. If something can exist in the mind, then it also must exist in reality. If it does not exist in reality, then it is not which nothing greater can be thought. Since God exists in the mind, He exists in reality and nothing greater can God can be thought. St. Anselm wrote this argument as a believer seeking to understand his own faith, but then I wonder how the followers of reason can use reason to refute the argument.
This demigod
Unto which you cluster
Sacrilege
You sacrifice the purity
Of the air beneath your wings
A slow and painful ritual
To burn the youth you lost
Demigod
Blasphemers walk among your flock
Despite your blindfold
Proudly you carry the stone on your back
Disillusioned
You plant your feet safely to the ground
Demigod
Blasphemers walk among your flock
As the stone
You have become
Not once did you cry
For the lost ones of your world
Your care is limited
To this demigod
Onto which you cluster
Reason
Decrystallize me
Demigod
I do blaspheme
The fallen you condemn
Your heart even free of hate
Yet, scared to death by their disbelief
To ordinary common sense
And with autumn closing in
Forcing life away
No mercy will impale your sin
Dead are your tears
- Emperor (1999)
Black metal represents the the most of extreme of a genre of music that is considered the most extreme. Over-the-top dark (and often Satanic) imagery, blast beats, and demonic vocals are all hallmarks of the genre. Hailing from Norway, Emperor built on the work of Venom in bringing forth this extreme subgenre of heavy metal and helped pave the way for many of today's younger black metal acts. Emperor is probably the only band I know that can boast of having a convicted murderer (Faust in an act of extreme homophobia) and a convicted arsonist (Samoth acting out his hatred for Christianity) as members.
There have always been those who cry that reason should be the basis of everything. Indeed, it is by reason that we advance and only reason will solve our troubles. Many, if not most, of the people calling for the triumph of reason are atheists. Atheism holds no belief beyond that of the human being.
It is also worthy to note that most subscribers to reason also believe that human nature can be overcome by the use of reason.
To those people reason becomes god. Just a quick glance through some blogs where atheists are known to congregate can almost make my theory into scientific law. The attacks on anyone who does not believe as they do are swift, vicious, very severe, and almost always ad hominem. I myself have been on the receiving end of some this venom. Let's just say that an acknowledgment of something beyond reason is the equivalent of blasphemy in Christianity.
Thus we have the profile of a follower of reason. Their lives seem hollow as they can't see anything beyond themselves. The follower of reason cares nothing for the lost, takes no risk, and lives in fear of those who believe in something beyond this universe. Their lives, in a nutshell, are empty and meaningless. The singer once lived among them but now has committed blasphemy against the demigod Reason. It's almost as if the singer has thrown down the gauntlet and wants to take on the followers of reason.
While I have had my questions, I have always believed there is something beyond this world that we do not yet have the ability to understand. Perhaps someday we can understand, perhaps humanity may never understand, but that should never deter us from the quest. Besides, reason, just like religion, has yet to answer the ultimate questions of existence.
What do you think, Mardi?
PS - St. Anselm postulated the following - God is that which nothing greater can be thought. If something can exist in the mind, then it also must exist in reality. If it does not exist in reality, then it is not which nothing greater can be thought. Since God exists in the mind, He exists in reality and nothing greater can God can be thought. St. Anselm wrote this argument as a believer seeking to understand his own faith, but then I wonder how the followers of reason can use reason to refute the argument.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
A Touch of Evil
You mesmerize slowly
Till I can't believe my eyes
Ecstasy controls me
What you give just serves me right
Without warning you're here
Like magic you appear
I taste the fear
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
Aroused with desire
You put me in a trance
A vision of fire
I never had a chance
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
Arousing me now with a sense of desire
Possessing my soul till my body's on fire
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
You're possessing me
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
- Judas Priest (1990)
Painkiller marked the end of the classic era of Judas Priest. Following a nasty lawsuit over 2 teenage boys that committed suicide and rumors of homosexuality, Rob Halford and Judas Priest parted ways for over a decade, finally reuniting in 2004. During that time, we got treated to Rob Halford coming out of the closet, 2 bad bands (Fight and Two), a capable yet ill-fitting replacement for Rob in Judas Priest (Tim "Ripper" Owens), and a movie starring Mark Wahlberg that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Judas Priest saga.
Where "Love Bites" shows one hunting and taking his prey, here we have the prey offering theirself unto the hunter. This is the answer to the call of the demoness in "Scorpion Flower" (gender ambiguity of this song notwithstanding). There is no question that he is given over completely to the other.
Ostensibly this is a sex song, but the feelings of temptation for any 'evil' are often described in terms of sex. We don't really know where the singer is being taken in his quest for a touch of evil. His touch of evil could be the heroin that pulls him closer to the abyss with each push of the needle. This could be the political movement that will cause him to kill in the name of one who care nothing for his (the singer's) well being but only furthering their own cause.
Who would have thought a Judas Priest song would have meaning? I think next time I'm going down a much darker path. What do you think, Mardi?
Till I can't believe my eyes
Ecstasy controls me
What you give just serves me right
Without warning you're here
Like magic you appear
I taste the fear
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
Aroused with desire
You put me in a trance
A vision of fire
I never had a chance
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
I'm so afraid
But I still feed the flame
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
Arousing me now with a sense of desire
Possessing my soul till my body's on fire
A dark angel of sin
Preying deep from within
Come take me in
You're possessing me
In the night
Come to me
You know I want your touch of evil
In the night
Please set me free
I can't resist a touch of evil
- Judas Priest (1990)
Painkiller marked the end of the classic era of Judas Priest. Following a nasty lawsuit over 2 teenage boys that committed suicide and rumors of homosexuality, Rob Halford and Judas Priest parted ways for over a decade, finally reuniting in 2004. During that time, we got treated to Rob Halford coming out of the closet, 2 bad bands (Fight and Two), a capable yet ill-fitting replacement for Rob in Judas Priest (Tim "Ripper" Owens), and a movie starring Mark Wahlberg that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Judas Priest saga.
Where "Love Bites" shows one hunting and taking his prey, here we have the prey offering theirself unto the hunter. This is the answer to the call of the demoness in "Scorpion Flower" (gender ambiguity of this song notwithstanding). There is no question that he is given over completely to the other.
Ostensibly this is a sex song, but the feelings of temptation for any 'evil' are often described in terms of sex. We don't really know where the singer is being taken in his quest for a touch of evil. His touch of evil could be the heroin that pulls him closer to the abyss with each push of the needle. This could be the political movement that will cause him to kill in the name of one who care nothing for his (the singer's) well being but only furthering their own cause.
Who would have thought a Judas Priest song would have meaning? I think next time I'm going down a much darker path. What do you think, Mardi?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Love Bites
We make you feel safe
When you feel warm
That's when I rise, that's when I crawl.
Gliding on mist, hardly a sound
Bringing the kiss, evil's abound
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
Into your room, where in deep sleep
There you lie still, to you I creep.
Then I descend, close to your lips
Across you I bend, you smile as I sip
Now you are mine, in my control
The taste of your life, and I own your soul
Softly you stir, gently you moan
Lust's in the air, awake as I groan
In the dead of night, love bites you
Invites you to feast in the night
Excites you, delights you
It drains you to white
Love bites.
You knew at first sight, you'd enjoy my attack
That with my first bite, there'd be no turning back
So come in my arms, I strike any hour
I will return to trap and devour.
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
Love bites.
Love bites.
Love bites.
Nevermore 2000
Now we can state the obvious meaning of this song, it appears to be a vampire calling to his victim. But let's dig deeper.
The first line gives you a sense of trust, but you soon realize our singer is not intent on providing safety yet he isn't out to destroy you either. Our singer is bringing a sense of domination, The taste of your life, and I own your soul, softly you stir, gently you moan. This song speaks to me of two lovers, our hero so madly drawn by desire he is yearning to devour our heroine. A desire and need so great there is nothing that can stand in between.
When one gives themself completely to another person to do as they wish, devour them the loss of control can bring the ultimate excitement, when you push to the limits of being off the edge and drug back by your partner.
I could go into more detail here but I think I will leave that up to the minds of the readers.
To you Rick, I ask you, what do you think? Could you let yourself go?
When you feel warm
That's when I rise, that's when I crawl.
Gliding on mist, hardly a sound
Bringing the kiss, evil's abound
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
Into your room, where in deep sleep
There you lie still, to you I creep.
Then I descend, close to your lips
Across you I bend, you smile as I sip
Now you are mine, in my control
The taste of your life, and I own your soul
Softly you stir, gently you moan
Lust's in the air, awake as I groan
In the dead of night, love bites you
Invites you to feast in the night
Excites you, delights you
It drains you to white
Love bites.
You knew at first sight, you'd enjoy my attack
That with my first bite, there'd be no turning back
So come in my arms, I strike any hour
I will return to trap and devour.
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
In the dead of night, love bites.
Love bites.
Love bites.
Love bites.
Nevermore 2000
Now we can state the obvious meaning of this song, it appears to be a vampire calling to his victim. But let's dig deeper.
The first line gives you a sense of trust, but you soon realize our singer is not intent on providing safety yet he isn't out to destroy you either. Our singer is bringing a sense of domination, The taste of your life, and I own your soul, softly you stir, gently you moan. This song speaks to me of two lovers, our hero so madly drawn by desire he is yearning to devour our heroine. A desire and need so great there is nothing that can stand in between.
When one gives themself completely to another person to do as they wish, devour them the loss of control can bring the ultimate excitement, when you push to the limits of being off the edge and drug back by your partner.
I could go into more detail here but I think I will leave that up to the minds of the readers.
To you Rick, I ask you, what do you think? Could you let yourself go?
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Sonic Beatdown
Come with us
We're gonna make you feel alive
When the lights go down
Feel the fire burn inside
So you've had a rough year
Let's leave it in the dust
Tonight you're gonna shine
Tonight here with us
Don't ever let them make you feel small
Don't ever let them make you want to crawl
Don't let them make you feel incomplete
Don't let them make you feel obsolete
On our way
To devastate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
Ride with us
Cause you know we're gonna take the lead
Make hairpin turns
Once again at lightning speeds
No barricades
Can stop this brutal force
No hurricane winds
Will knock us off course
Don't ever let them make you feel small
Don't ever let them make you want to crawl
Don't let them make you feel incomplete
Don't let them make you feel obsolete
On our way
To devastate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
Ladies, and gentlemen
We need you to clear the area
Ladies, and gentlemen
We need you to clear the area
This is an unlawful gathering
This is an unlawful gathering
This is an unlawful gathering
Job well done
Now it's time to hit the road
Seek the next target
So again we can unload
From the deepest trench
To the highest mountain peak
United!
We'll never know defeat
On our way
To devastate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
On our way
To detonate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
- Death Angel (2008)
Death Angel was part of the late 80's San Francisco thrash scene led by the likes of Metallica, Exodus, and Testament. They released 3 albums in the last half of the 1980's and broke up in 1992. In 2001 the band reformed to play as part of a benefit show for Chuck Billy of Testament, who at the time was battling cancer (he lives and creates music to this very day). The show was originally planned as a one-time deal, but the strong reaction from the crowd provided the impetus to reform on a permanent basis. Death Angel released their 4th album in 2004, 12 years after they disbanded. Killing Season, from which this song is taken, was released in 2008 to much anticipation and critical acclaim.
I'm not really sure what to say to sum up the song other than it is a fun tune. It's part carpe diem, part fight song, and part war cry all at the same time. Ostensibly it's about how they're going to knock you out with their awesome show performance, but under the surface the song is all about being strong and walking into the room like you're the baddest mofo in the place. This is a song I like to listen to just for the fun of it. There is no serious message other than to just plain kick ass. Oftentimes you will find a song like this earlier in a band's catalog but I like the fact that it came along now. It shows that Death Angel doesn't take itself so seriously as to not have any fun while making music.
I was originally going to continue on the theme established by "Scorpion Flower." I'm still going to explore that theme, but right now I just decided to have a little fun. Please, Mardi, let us know your thoughts on "Sonic Beatdown."
We're gonna make you feel alive
When the lights go down
Feel the fire burn inside
So you've had a rough year
Let's leave it in the dust
Tonight you're gonna shine
Tonight here with us
Don't ever let them make you feel small
Don't ever let them make you want to crawl
Don't let them make you feel incomplete
Don't let them make you feel obsolete
On our way
To devastate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
Ride with us
Cause you know we're gonna take the lead
Make hairpin turns
Once again at lightning speeds
No barricades
Can stop this brutal force
No hurricane winds
Will knock us off course
Don't ever let them make you feel small
Don't ever let them make you want to crawl
Don't let them make you feel incomplete
Don't let them make you feel obsolete
On our way
To devastate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
Ladies, and gentlemen
We need you to clear the area
Ladies, and gentlemen
We need you to clear the area
This is an unlawful gathering
This is an unlawful gathering
This is an unlawful gathering
Job well done
Now it's time to hit the road
Seek the next target
So again we can unload
From the deepest trench
To the highest mountain peak
United!
We'll never know defeat
On our way
To devastate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
On our way
To detonate
Wall of sound
Sonic beatdown!
- Death Angel (2008)
Death Angel was part of the late 80's San Francisco thrash scene led by the likes of Metallica, Exodus, and Testament. They released 3 albums in the last half of the 1980's and broke up in 1992. In 2001 the band reformed to play as part of a benefit show for Chuck Billy of Testament, who at the time was battling cancer (he lives and creates music to this very day). The show was originally planned as a one-time deal, but the strong reaction from the crowd provided the impetus to reform on a permanent basis. Death Angel released their 4th album in 2004, 12 years after they disbanded. Killing Season, from which this song is taken, was released in 2008 to much anticipation and critical acclaim.
I'm not really sure what to say to sum up the song other than it is a fun tune. It's part carpe diem, part fight song, and part war cry all at the same time. Ostensibly it's about how they're going to knock you out with their awesome show performance, but under the surface the song is all about being strong and walking into the room like you're the baddest mofo in the place. This is a song I like to listen to just for the fun of it. There is no serious message other than to just plain kick ass. Oftentimes you will find a song like this earlier in a band's catalog but I like the fact that it came along now. It shows that Death Angel doesn't take itself so seriously as to not have any fun while making music.
I was originally going to continue on the theme established by "Scorpion Flower." I'm still going to explore that theme, but right now I just decided to have a little fun. Please, Mardi, let us know your thoughts on "Sonic Beatdown."
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I can't hold back
There's a story in my eyes
Turn the pages of desire
Now it's time to trade those dreams
For the rush of passion's fire
I can feel you tremble when we touch
And I feel the hand of fate
Reaching out to both of us
I've been holding back the night
I've been searching for a clue from you
I'm gonna try with all my might
To make this story line come true
Can ya feel me tremble when we touch
Can ya feel the hand of fate
Reaching out to both of us
This love affair can't wait
*I can't hold back, I'm on the edge
(I can't hold back)
Your voice explodes inside my head
I can't hold back, I won't back down
Girl it's too late to turn back now*
Another shooting star goes by
And in the night the silence speaks to you and I
And now the time has come at last
Don't let the moment run too fast
I can feel you tremble when we touch
And I feel the hand of fate reaching out to both of us
There's a story in my eyes, turn the pages of desire
Now it's time to trade those dreams
For the rush of passion's fire
( * Repeat)
Survivor 1984
Survivor is taking it back old school. The band came out in 1978 (yes I was 1 year old hehe). The band is best known for the song "Eye of the Tiger". Survivor has a kind of pop-rock sound going on.
This song is of pure desire. A song for lovers or would be lovers. When I listen to this song I hear a need, a want, a desire so intense. The longing for that special someone, the one who holds the key to your heart. The point in time when two people can become one.
The first four lines tell alot. It's the story behind the feelings. The story you see when you look at someone who loves you. The person you dream of night after night. I hope almost everyone can relate to this song. To have that one person you love more then anything else in life and to live for the moment of touch.
There really isn't a whole lot more deep meaning to go into with this song. I like the tune behind it and the meaning to me is one of intense passion, great love and the moment when the two can come together.
Well Rick, what do you think?
Turn the pages of desire
Now it's time to trade those dreams
For the rush of passion's fire
I can feel you tremble when we touch
And I feel the hand of fate
Reaching out to both of us
I've been holding back the night
I've been searching for a clue from you
I'm gonna try with all my might
To make this story line come true
Can ya feel me tremble when we touch
Can ya feel the hand of fate
Reaching out to both of us
This love affair can't wait
*I can't hold back, I'm on the edge
(I can't hold back)
Your voice explodes inside my head
I can't hold back, I won't back down
Girl it's too late to turn back now*
Another shooting star goes by
And in the night the silence speaks to you and I
And now the time has come at last
Don't let the moment run too fast
I can feel you tremble when we touch
And I feel the hand of fate reaching out to both of us
There's a story in my eyes, turn the pages of desire
Now it's time to trade those dreams
For the rush of passion's fire
( * Repeat)
Survivor 1984
Survivor is taking it back old school. The band came out in 1978 (yes I was 1 year old hehe). The band is best known for the song "Eye of the Tiger". Survivor has a kind of pop-rock sound going on.
This song is of pure desire. A song for lovers or would be lovers. When I listen to this song I hear a need, a want, a desire so intense. The longing for that special someone, the one who holds the key to your heart. The point in time when two people can become one.
The first four lines tell alot. It's the story behind the feelings. The story you see when you look at someone who loves you. The person you dream of night after night. I hope almost everyone can relate to this song. To have that one person you love more then anything else in life and to live for the moment of touch.
There really isn't a whole lot more deep meaning to go into with this song. I like the tune behind it and the meaning to me is one of intense passion, great love and the moment when the two can come together.
Well Rick, what do you think?
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