Ok, I've got to ask this and see if anyone else has had this "revelation"
This is probably a long post, because I'm long winded. (which is undoubtedly a side effect of the need for concise information in engineering :B )
For all of you out there who aren't into or haven't heard Manticora, SHAME ON YOU!
And then those who know them know they kick ass. I first heard Roots of Eternity and was instantly intrigued. And though I like Roots better than Darkness... they were both great albums, and of course, being a major Lovecraft fan, the themes of a lot of the songs went very well with me
They seem to capture the perfect essence of Lovecraft in their general yet oddly unique style. They sound to me like a fast power metal, but with a darker energy (NOT like Black/Death) and the vocals, though keeping in pace with the music, make it seem more melancholic and slow. (keep in mind I am only a metalhead and critic, and have no musical education whatsoever, so all you musicians bear with me if I butcher the lingo)
That is very similar to how I see Lovecraft. He is a very excellent storyteller, and he writes just very typically as if he were telling any ol' story. But rather than trying to create an atmosphere from emotion, he simply lays on the details and facts, and lets the macabre tales arise from that.
So, moving along then. When Hyperion came out I snatched that up really quick-like and though it took me a few runs to get fully into it, I really enjoy the more passionate energy this album produces. But shortly after I got it I was at Barnes & Noble and saw a book with that title as well, by Dan Simmons. I wasn't sure if the album was based on the book, or the book and album based on some other mythology or history, or just some strange coincidence. After reading the synopsis I figured the album had to be based on the book, so I bought it (along with it's sequel), making him only the 3rd FICTION author I read (after Lovecraft and Arthur C Clarke). I did find out that the album was based on the book, but the book then sat around on my shelf as I had many other books queued up first.
Well, shortly after getting home from PPV I started reading Hyperion. It has been heralded as "one of the greatest modern sci-fis" and other eye catching phrases that I never really put much stock into until I read it anyway. I believe some of them even compared him with Clarke. The book consists of 7 pilgrims on a journey to save humanity (but in an obscure way). and prior to making this journey, each of them tells a tale of why they are involved in it. I am just starting the 3rd tale.
I am so involved in this book it is amazing! I can already vouch for many of the appraisals it has been given. Though I don't know if I would go so far as comparing him to Clarke (although Simmons is rather detailed in his description of technology and its evolution, it is still not quite the speculative awe that Clarke puts into it).
As I finish tales/landmarks of the book that coincide with the album, I listen to that song to see what I can reflect on. (I am refraining from listening to any further in the album just because I don't want to spoil any more of it... I have choruses and such echoing in my head that already have me guessing at whom and what they refer to).
The Intro and Intermission songs do a great bridge gapping of the tales as it pertains to the book, though I'm not really sure how to feel about the moods (of the songs or passages int he book). But the two tales I've finished so far relating to the priest and the marine and their respective songs is just OUTfrigginSTANDING. Filaments of Armageddon capture a perfect image of the priests trek and I had to laugh at the mention of the "retard people" The Marine's tale was also very well portrayed. His confusion and change of reason was nicely exemplified by the fluctuation in pace of the melody, however, I did think that the verse correlating to the visions of war should have been a little more chaotic.
I'm waiting to see how my favorite songs (Cantos and A Long Farewell) stand up. Cantos is based on my thus far least favorite character (but maybe I'll find out why after I read his story)... and I have an idea about A Long Farewell, but the use of female vocals has me confused on it yet.
Anyway, I'd like to hear anybody else's thoughts on this if they have read the book... or hopefully encourage any/all of you to read this book and pick up the album!!
This is probably a long post, because I'm long winded. (which is undoubtedly a side effect of the need for concise information in engineering :B )
For all of you out there who aren't into or haven't heard Manticora, SHAME ON YOU!
And then those who know them know they kick ass. I first heard Roots of Eternity and was instantly intrigued. And though I like Roots better than Darkness... they were both great albums, and of course, being a major Lovecraft fan, the themes of a lot of the songs went very well with me They seem to capture the perfect essence of Lovecraft in their general yet oddly unique style. They sound to me like a fast power metal, but with a darker energy (NOT like Black/Death) and the vocals, though keeping in pace with the music, make it seem more melancholic and slow. (keep in mind I am only a metalhead and critic, and have no musical education whatsoever, so all you musicians bear with me if I butcher the lingo)
That is very similar to how I see Lovecraft. He is a very excellent storyteller, and he writes just very typically as if he were telling any ol' story. But rather than trying to create an atmosphere from emotion, he simply lays on the details and facts, and lets the macabre tales arise from that.
So, moving along then. When Hyperion came out I snatched that up really quick-like and though it took me a few runs to get fully into it, I really enjoy the more passionate energy this album produces. But shortly after I got it I was at Barnes & Noble and saw a book with that title as well, by Dan Simmons. I wasn't sure if the album was based on the book, or the book and album based on some other mythology or history, or just some strange coincidence. After reading the synopsis I figured the album had to be based on the book, so I bought it (along with it's sequel), making him only the 3rd FICTION author I read (after Lovecraft and Arthur C Clarke). I did find out that the album was based on the book, but the book then sat around on my shelf as I had many other books queued up first.
Well, shortly after getting home from PPV I started reading Hyperion. It has been heralded as "one of the greatest modern sci-fis" and other eye catching phrases that I never really put much stock into until I read it anyway. I believe some of them even compared him with Clarke. The book consists of 7 pilgrims on a journey to save humanity (but in an obscure way). and prior to making this journey, each of them tells a tale of why they are involved in it. I am just starting the 3rd tale.
I am so involved in this book it is amazing! I can already vouch for many of the appraisals it has been given. Though I don't know if I would go so far as comparing him to Clarke (although Simmons is rather detailed in his description of technology and its evolution, it is still not quite the speculative awe that Clarke puts into it).
As I finish tales/landmarks of the book that coincide with the album, I listen to that song to see what I can reflect on. (I am refraining from listening to any further in the album just because I don't want to spoil any more of it... I have choruses and such echoing in my head that already have me guessing at whom and what they refer to).
The Intro and Intermission songs do a great bridge gapping of the tales as it pertains to the book, though I'm not really sure how to feel about the moods (of the songs or passages int he book). But the two tales I've finished so far relating to the priest and the marine and their respective songs is just OUTfrigginSTANDING. Filaments of Armageddon capture a perfect image of the priests trek and I had to laugh at the mention of the "retard people" The Marine's tale was also very well portrayed. His confusion and change of reason was nicely exemplified by the fluctuation in pace of the melody, however, I did think that the verse correlating to the visions of war should have been a little more chaotic.
I'm waiting to see how my favorite songs (Cantos and A Long Farewell) stand up. Cantos is based on my thus far least favorite character (but maybe I'll find out why after I read his story)... and I have an idea about A Long Farewell, but the use of female vocals has me confused on it yet.
Anyway, I'd like to hear anybody else's thoughts on this if they have read the book... or hopefully encourage any/all of you to read this book and pick up the album!!
So we may see them on our shores someday.... someday....
