Metal Bands as Storytellers

[lizard]

Thin Lizzy did some great Irish songs!

Roisin Dubh (Black Rose) : A Rock Legend (Lynott, Moore)
----------------------------------------

Tell me the legends of long ago
When the kings and queens would dance in the realm of the Black Rose
Play me the melodies I want to know
So I can teach my children, oh

Pray tell me the story of young Cu Chulainn
How his eyes were dark his expression sullen
And how he'd fight and always won
And how they cried when he was fallen

Oh tell me the story of the Queen of this land
And how her sons died at her own hand
And how fools obey commands
Oh tell me the legends of long ago

Where the mountains of Mourne come down to the sea
Will she no come back to me
Will she no come back to me

Oh Tell me the legends of long ago
When the kings and queens would dance in the realms of the Black Rose
Play me the melodies so I might know
So I can tell my children, oh

My Roisin Dubh is my one and only true love
It was a joy that Joyce brought to me
While William Butler waits
And Oscar, he's going Wilde

Ah sure, Brendan where have you Behan?
Looking for a girl with green eyes
My dark Rosaleen is my only colleen
That Georgie knows Best

But Van is the man
Starvation once again
Drinking whiskey in the jar-o
Synge's Playboy of the Western World

As Shaw, Sean I was born and reared there
Where the Mountains of Mourne come down to the sea
Is such a long, long way from Tipperary

...................
Ireland completely rules. they recently issued a Phil Lynott postage stamp! And I got my Roisin Dubh tee in the mail yesterday.

 

[J.]

Ireland completely rules.

The traditional Irish song Spancill Hill is one of my favorite story-telling songs ever. It's a story of an old Irish man who migrated to California falling asleep and dreaming of his younger days back in Ireland. A truly phenomenal song that's has been covered by Cruachan (on Folklore) and Geasa (on Angel's Cry). Both versions are great, with Geasa's being better, but just a little too short.

Now Scald, Stand-Up Guy and Primordial need to cover the song.

 

[En Vind Av Sorg]

Best concept album- Nevermore- "Dreaming Neon Black"

 

[lizard]

Best concept album- Nevermore- "Dreaming Neon Black"

you are certainly not alone in that opinion.

 

[NAD]

The question is, now that I have Black Seeds and Darkened Shrines, will I ever buy another Nile album? Probably not. NAD can just burn me a CD-R.

You don't have Amongst the Catacombs of Nephren-ka? That shit is NUTS, it makes their other albums look tame by comparison. Well, sorta.

Shrines > Catacombs > Seeds

 

[J.]

I think Nile's early stuff is worth looking into, the In the Beginning CD. It's a much "slower" Nile and the vocals are really good on that one.

 

[NAD]

I should probably pick that one up someday.

Ulver - Themes From William Blake's the Marriage of Heaven and Hell is a good story. I think the person who wrote the lyrics wasn't in the band though.

 

[Krilons Resa]

I love a good concept album. It can make the music a lot more enjoyable at times. My favorite would have to be Pain of Salvation's Remedy Lane.

 

[Dev]

Monumension , El Cielo are concepts too . Ulver's trilogy etc..

Monolithe's albums are part of a big concept , each album being a chapter . By the way , has anyone finally heard their debut (the II is about to be released) ?

 

[J.]

yeah, I have the Monolithe debut. only listened to it twice though. it's a big investment listening-wise because it's a 52-minute song.

 

[speed]

Yes I suppose AMerican bands do think writing such songs is a bit gay. SInce I am on the subject, whoever is writing those awful powermetal ballads needs to be summarily executed.

 

[Dev]

yeah, I have the Monolithe debut. only listened to it twice though. it's a big investment listening-wise because it's a 52-minute song.

I'm repeating myself , but this is one of the best 'Melodic' Doom/Funeral Doom album I've ever heard (well at least compared to Shape Of Despair who personally I find a little too polished) . I'm having trouble getting into Skepticism and the very extreme side of the genre right now . I still enjoy some Farmakon & Lead and Eather songs but nothing has really grabbed my attention yet .

 

[Demonspell]

I appreciate concept albums, but I feel too many metal bands fail to grasp the idea that the story and the music have to complement each other as closely as possible, which at worst results in forced storytelling and a lack of any real connection with the subject matter. And very few concept albums are as engaging as getting lost in a book can be. But when they work, as in most of the examples mention in this thread, they can be incredibly engrossing.

 

[Krilons Resa]

I'm repeating myself , but this is one of the best 'Melodic' Doom/Funeral Doom album I've ever heard (well at least compared to Shape Of Despair who personally I find a little too polished) . I'm having trouble getting into Skepticism and the very extreme side of the genre right now . I still enjoy some Farmakon & Lead and Eather songs but nothing has really grabbed my attention yet .

Monolithe is awesome.

I recommend Until Death Overtakes Me, Funerary Dirge, Evoken, Unholy, Thergothon, and Nortt, to name a few.


Also, if you haven't already, RUN and get Mar De Grises - The Tatterdemalion Express.

 

[Krilons Resa]

and Tyranny - Bleak Vistae...and Bunkur.

 

[J.]

and Catacombs.

Until Death Overtakes Me moves me more than most of the others

 

[Krilons Resa]

and definitely one and only Skepticism - Stormcrowfleet!!!

 

[J.]

I still want some Nortt, and I'll be getting Mars de Grises when I have some money.

 

[JayKeeley]

That Nortt is fucking beautiful, but beware lots of synths. Still, they've managed to hold back from making it sound so overpolished like the Shape of Despair. It's still bleak sounding, and actually the melody is pretty sorrowful.

Mars de Grises is much more experimental' ish. Very intelligent stuff without sounding pompous.

 

[Dev]

K. Mar de Grises seems good . I'll check the rest soon