† The Sound Of Perseverance †

Monolithe " Monolithe I "

2011-10-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

MONOLITHE " MONOLITHE I "

The Wider Is Connected To The Smaller
All Is One And One Is All

Maelstrom Of Connecting Elements
Embracing Absolute Nothingness
Melting Into Useless Stripes,
Moving To Nowhere With Purposeless Destination

Through Time And Space

In Brotherhood With An Abstract Presence
In A Sphere Of Absurd Vacuum

It Has Always Been A Deep Black Hole
Without Meaning For The Ones Who Were Once Put There
Trying To Find An Aim To All This
In Presence Of An Alien Reflection They Progressed
Unconscious Of A Cosmic Plan
Distant From Uncountable Centuries Away
And The Time Had Come...

There Was Just Nothing And Then It Was There
Then Darkness Disappeared...

Far From The Random Shapes Of Nature
Beyond The Bounded Knowledge Of Men

Shining In A Morning Sun,
It Was Standing, Beautiful

An Artefact Raised At The Horizon Of Earth

A Sense And A Purpose To The Being
From Beyond The Infinite And Further

A Non Understandable Communication
Messenger Of What Was Once,
Still Is And Will Ever Be

Past And Future At The Lowest Point Of The Scale
A Sign Of The Watchers, Kindly Looking To Their Herds

Waiting To Be Reached, A Clue From Above,
A Mean Of Colonisation Through The Aeons

Through The Aeons...

Self Confident Intelligent Species,
Used Like Flock, Raised To Thoughts And Civilization
For An Unreachable And Inexorable Goal
Nothing Was Random, A Beast Known As Mankind
Evolution Through Ageless Times

A Monolith As Message
For The Sake Of What ?

ARTISTA : MONOLITHE
ALBUM : MONOLITHE I
ANNO : 2003
DURATA BRANO : 51:58
FORMAZIONE : Richard Loudin - Vocals
                      Sylvain Begot - Guitars, Programming
                      Benoit Blin - Guitars
                      Nicolas Chevrollier - Guitars
                      Marc Canlers - Bass

Che botta ! Non c'è che dire, davvero un belissimo viaggio quello creato dai Monolithe. Funereo, apocalittico e asfittico, intrigante e pesante quanto lo può essere un monolite nero di quasi un'ora di musica. Opera avvolgente e oscura, da maneggiare con grande cura. Non per tutti in quanto il genere proposto dai francesi, quel funeral doom metal quì rappresentato alla grande, è lungi dall'essere di facile ascolto ma chi si addentra in questi oscuri e funerei meandri, ne riesce con un qualcosa in più. Superlativi

Anata " Better Grieved Than Fooled "

2011-10-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

ANATA " BETTER GRIEVED THAN FOOLED "

Tempted To Believe ?
Even I, In My Solitude
Cried For Help And Wished For
That Someone Would Be There For Me
Better Grieved Than Fooled
And I’m Prepared To Accept My Suffering
To Live With Pain
In The Price For A Life In Truth

Me Being The Only Lord
I’m The Only One Who Can Forgive
And The Only One To Create
A Future Worth Believing In
But I Live A Bitter Life In Truth
And Curse Its Powerless God

[Lead : Schalin]
[Lead : Allenmark, Schalin]

I Can Deeply Regret
My Clarity Of Vision
Life Had Been Much Easier
To Live, Getting High On Faith
Get A Reason To Live
Have A Blind Faith In The Future
Forever Stoned
Forever Blessed In Cowardice

Me Being The Only Lord
I’m The Only One Who Can Forgive

Better Grieved Than Fooled
So I Live A Bitter Life In Truth
And Curse Its Powerless God

ARTISTA : ANATA
ALBUM : THE CONDUCTOR'S DEPARTURE
ANNO : 2006
DURATA BRANO : 05:58
FORMAZIONE : Fredrik Schalin - Vocals, Guitars
                      Andreas Allenamrk - Guitars
                    Henrik Drake - Bass
                      Conny Pettersson - Drums

Che canzone ! Piccolo capolavoro di tecnica, melodia e brutalità di questo grandissimo gruppo svedese. Il lavoro armonico creato su tutta la durata della canzone è a dir poco sublime. Da brividi la sezione centrale dove si rallenta il ritmo e prende maggiormene piede la qualità dei due chitarristi. Il tutto supportato da una sezione ritmica devastante. Anche dopo svariati ascolti, ci sono dei passaggi magari sfuggiti in un primo momento. Meravigliosa davvero.
Per quel che mi riguarda, una delle migliori creazioni in ambito technical death metal.

Meshuggah " Bleed "

2010-05-11T12:23:00.000-07:00

MESHUGGAH " BLEED "

Beams Of Fire Sweep Through My Head
Thrusts Of Pain Increasingly Engaged
Sensory Receptors Succumb
I Am No One Now Only Agony

My Crimson Liquid So Frantically Spilled
- The Ruby Fluid Of Life Unleashed

Ripples Ascend To The Surface Of My Eyes
Their Red Pens Drawing At Random, At Will
A Myriad Pains Begotten In Their Wake
- The Bastard Spawn Of A Mutinous Self

The Regurgitation Of My Micro Nemesis
- Salivating Red At The Prospect Of My Ruin, My Doom

Malfunction The Means For Its Ascent
Bloodletting The Stringent Voice To Beckon My Soul
So Futile Any Resisting Tension
As Death-Induced Mechanics Propel Its Growth

The Implement, The Device Of My Extinction
- The Terminating Clockwork Of My Gleeful Nane
The Definitive Scourge Of Its Mockery
- The End-Art Instruments Lethality Attained

Heed - It Commands, Heed My Will
Bleed - It Says, Bleed You Will

Falling Into The Clarity Of Undoing
Scornful Gods Haggle For My Soul
Minds Eye Flickers And Vellicates As I Let Go
Taunting Whispers Accompany My Deletion

A Sneering Grin, The Voice Of My Reaper
- Chanting Softly The Song Of Depletion

ARTISTA : MESHUGGAH
ALBUM : OBZEN
ANNO : 2008
DURATA BRANO : 07:19
FORMAZIONE : Jens Kidman – Vocals
            Fredrik Thordendal – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
                Mårten Hagström – Rhythm Guitars
                   Dick Lövgren - Bass
           Tomas Haake – Drums, Spoken Vocals

La prima volta che ho ascoltato questa canzone sono rimasto a bocca aperta. Ho amato alla follia fin da subito il suo ritmo all'apparenza semplice, ossessivo e dannatamente efficace. La sua semplice follia è geniale. E in generale tutto "ObZen", a cominciare dalla meravigliosa copertina, è stupendo. Forse, per certi versi, il capolavoro dei Meshuggah e per chi scrive leggermente superiore a "Destroy Erase Improve", geniale lavoro del 1995 che ha fatto conoscere i Meshuggah al mondo intero. "ObZen" : intenso, folle, disturbante, coinvolgente.

Rhapsody " Gargoyles, Angels Of Darkness "

2010-05-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

RHAPSODY " GARGOYLES, ANGELS OF DARKNESS "

[I - ANGELI DI PIETRA MISTICA]

The Prophet Told Of Loud Thunders Quaking The Surface Of Earth
When The Black Raven Would Have Turned Victim Of Wonderful Spells
He Would Have Become A White Swan Born From The Darklands Of Sin
Neither Would Aresius Have Believed What Was Now Changing In Him
Swan... Prince Of The Magic Lake... Dargor's Your Name...

Gargoyles, Fly
Gargoyles, Rise
Gargoyles, Fly High... !
Angeli Di Pietra Mistica
Ladri D'Anime Fieri Volano

Another Mess Of Vampires, Masquerade Of Sadistic Pride
He Could Not Endure These Cruel Games
Against Him Who Once Spared Its Life
He Realized So Not Too Late To Be Really Far From His King
Far From His Infinite Blood Thirst, Too Far To Call Them Right For Him
Rise... Fly High And Steal His Soul... Angels Of Stone...

Gargoyles, Fly
Gargoyles, Rise
Gargoyles, Fly High... !
Angeli Di Pietra Mistica
Ladri D'Anime Fieri Volano

Ti Invoco O Terra... Colora Il Mio Nero
Con Fiera Lealtà Io Giuro Sincero...
Tra Anime Morte E Caos Immenso
A Gaia Sovrana L'Amore più Intenso... Io Dargor A Te...

Gargoyles, oh my brother gargoyles
Rise now, rise for his soul

[II - EXOTIC INTERLUDE (Instrumental)]

[III - ...AND THE LEGEND ENDS...]

Dargor, dO iT... It Must Be Done...
Free Your Rage And Light Your Soul...
It's Gaia's Call...

...The Powerful Energies Of The Furthest Secret Cosmos Heard
So The Prayer of Our Mother Gaia, The Supreme Spirit
Who Gave Us The Miracle Of Life... And Her Dark Son Breathed New Life...
The Power of The Dragonflame Was Realizing What Had Seemed To Be Impossbile...

And This Is Then The Epic End
Of The Legendary Tale
Of The One Who Found The Light
And The Dragonflame Inside
Of The Tragic Rain Of A Thousand Flames
Of The Town's Defenders Who Faced Pain
Of Symphonies Of Enchanted Lands
Of Whispers Of Love And Hate

The Dawn Of Victory Can Breathe In The Wind
And This Would Mean The Great Rebirth
Reborm, The One Who's Giving His Life
...The Towns Lying On The Ground
Be One (Be One !) Of Us (Of Us !) And
Act As All The Prophecies Want...
To Mountains And Valleys, To Fire And Snow,
To Sun, Moon And Wisdom Rise Your Soul...
It's The Call... !

Oh No, Oh God, Oh God No
What Is Happening !

Angeli Di Pietra Mistica
Ladri D'Anime Fieri Volano
Angeli Di Pietra Mistica
Ladri D'Anime Fieri Volano

Oh, God, My God...
It Happened... It Happened !

Dargor mortally struck the queen of the dead and called the mighty gargoyles against
the legions of darkness... He pushed Akron into the hands of the nordic warrior,
now a dying victim of terrible tortures... the chosen one let himself fall into the deep
marshes constraining the black king, with the emerald sword again in his hands,
not to move... they became food for the snakes of the abyss...
But this sacrifice had a terrific and great effect and Akron's death meant the victory
on the evil forces of abyss... once... forever...
Remember, proud brothers... everything is possible... when you let the mystic power of
the dragonflame burn in your heart... believe it... ...it's the dragonflame!

Tenebra, Tenebra... Domina !
Tenebra, Tenebra... Danna Me !
Let Me See His Face...
Furia Cieca, Caos In Me...
Demoni...
Lead Me To Your Horned Beast Named King...
I Will Call My Fire, Air, Earth,
The Oceans' Waters... To Stop Inferno's Breath !
Tenebra, Tenebra... Domina !
Tenebra, Tenebra... Danna Me !
Tenebra... Libera Me !

ARTISTA : RHAPSODY
ALBUM : POWER OF THE DRAGONFLAME
ANNO : 2002
DURATA BRANO : 19:03
FORMAZIONE : Fabio Lione - Vocals
               Luca Turilli - Guitars
              Sascha Paeth - Bass, Classical Guitar
              Alex Staropoli - Keyboards
            Jay Landsford - Narration
            Dana Lurie - Violin
            Bridget Fogle - Female Baroque Voice
            Manuel Staropoli - Baroque Recorders
                   Thunderfoce - Drums

Canzone epica, suggestiva e dannatamente coinvolgente. Avrei potuto scegliere un 'altra canzone, magari più rappresentativa, ma ho sempre amato l'epicità di "Gargoyles, Angels Of Darkness".Si possono dire molte cose sui Rhapsody (adesso Rhapsody Of Fire). Inanzitutto è indubbia la loro importanza nel panorama metal mondiale e che piacciano o meno, grazie a loro (e non solo a loro) possiamo vantarci anche noi italiani di avere gruppi metal con le palle che non hanno nulla da invidiare ai gruppi stranieri. Per chi scrive sono grandissimi !

Queensryche " I Don't Believe In Love "

2009-12-14T14:00:00.000-08:00

QUEENSRYCHE " I DON'T BELIEVE IN LOVE "

I Awoke On Impact
Under Surveillance From The Camera Eye
Searching High And Low
The Criminal Mind Found At The Scene Of The Crime
Handcuffed And Blind, I Didn't Do It
She Said She Loved Me
I Guess I Never Knew
But Do We Ever, Ever Really Know ?
She Said She'd Meet Me On The Other Side
But I Knew Right Then, I'd Never Find Her

I Don't Believe In Love
I Never Have, I Never Will
I Don't Believe In Love
It's Never Worth The Pain That You Feel

No More Nightmares, I've Seen Them All
From The Day I Was Born
They've Haunted My Every Move
Every Open Hand's There To Push And Shove
No Time For Love It Doesn't Matter
She Made A Difference
I Guess She Had A Way
Of Making Every Night Seem Bright As Day
Now I Walk In Shadows, Never See The Light
She Must Have Lied 'Cause She Never Said Goodbye

I Don't Believe In Love
I Never Have, I Never Will
I Don't Believe In Love
I'll Just Pretend She Never Was Real
I Don't Believe In Love
I Need To Forget Her Face, I See It Still
I Don't Believe In Love
It's Never Worth The Pain That You Feel

No Chance For Contact
There's No Raison D'Etre
My Only Hope Is One Day I'll Forget
The Pain Of Knowing What Can Never Be
With Or Without Love It's All The Same To Me

I Don't Believe In Love
I Never Have, I Never Will
I Don't Believe In Love
I'll Just Pretend She Never Was Real
I Don't Believe In Love
I Need To Forget Her Face, I See It Still
I Don't Believe In Love
It's Never Worth The Pain That You Feel

ARTISTA : QUEENSRYCHE
ALBUM : OPERATION: MINDCRIME
ANNO : 1988
DURATA BRANO : 4:23
FORMAZIONE : Geoff Tate - Vocals
           Chris DeGarmo - Guitars, Backing Vocals
               Michael Wilton - Guitars, Backing Vocals
          Eddie Jackson - Bass, Backing Vocals
             Scott Rockenfield - Drums, Percussions, Keyboards

Amo questa canzone. Adoro la sua melodia, il suo testo e poi è contenuta in uno dei dischi più perfetti che esistano. perchè "Operation: Mindcrime" è una disco pressochè perfetto, dall'inizio alla fine. Sia dal punto di vista lirico (il concept dietro al disco è originale e dannatamente intrigante) che dal punto di vista musicale (ogni singola nota si incastra alla perfezione come in un eccezionale puzzle). Che dire poi dei Queensryche ? Immensi e fondamentali per i primi 5 dischi (fino a "Promised Land") poi, purtroppo, un calo terribile, dove soltanto in qualche breve istante si sentono i veri Queensryche. Ma questo disco... è immenso e splendido.

Alice Cooper " Only Women Bleed "

2009-11-23T13:47:00.000-08:00

ALICE COOPER “ ONLY WOMEN BLEED “

Man Got His Woman To Take His Seed
He Got The Power Oh She Got The Need
She Spends Her Life Through Pleasing Up Her Man
She Feeds Him Dinner Or Anything She Can

She Cries Alone At Night Too Often
He Smokes And Drinks and Don't Come Home At All
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed

Man Makes Your Hair Grey He's Your Lifes Mistake
All You're Really Looking Fors An Even Break
He Lies Right At You, You Now Hate This Game
He Slaps You Once In A While And You Live And Love In Pain

She Cries Alone At Night Too Often
He Smokes And Drinks and Don't Come Home At All Ooh
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed

Man Got His Woman To Take His Seed
He Got The Power Oh She Got The Need
She Spends Her Life Through Pleasing Up Her Man
She Feeds Him Dinner Or Anything She Can

She Cries Alone At Night Too Often
He Smokes And Drinks and Don't Come Home At All
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed

Black Eyes All Of The Time
Dont Spend A Dime Clean Up This Grime
And You There Down On Your Knees
Begging Me Please Come Watch Me Bleed

Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed
Only Women Bleed

ARTISTA : ALICE COOPER
ALBUM : WELCOME TO MY NIGTHMARE
ANNO : 1975
DURATA BRANO : 5:49

Non penso ci sia molto da dire su di una vera e propria leggenda del rock come Alice Cooper. Ho scelto questa canzone perché penso sia meravigliosa, da ogni punto di vista. E poi l'album da cui è presa, nonostante ormai abbia 34 anni, è ancora attuale e stupendo. Canzoni come “The Devil's Food” , “Black Widow” e “Cold Ethyl” sono entrare di diritto nella storia del rock. Alice Cooper ? Immenso.

Savatage " Chance "

2008-06-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

SAVATAGE " CHANCE "

He Was Standing All Alone
Trying To Find The Words To Say
When Every Prayer He Ever Prayed
Was Gone
And The Dreams He's Never Owned
Are Still Safely Tucked Away
Until Tomorrow He Just
Carries On
Carries On
Carries On
Carries On...

See The Devil In The Streets At Night
See Him Running In The Pouring Rain
See Him Grinning 'Neath A Twisted Light
I'll Be Back Again
See The People Standing In A Row
See Them Nodding Like A Field Of Grain
No One Sees The Sickle Though
Coming 'Cross The Plain

And This He Knows If Nothing More
That Waiting In The Dark Like Destiny
Are Those Who Kissed The Dogs Of War
And There Is No Tomorrow
No Tomorrow
Take A Chance
Take A, Take A Chance

See The Devil He Is So Intense
See The Devil Go And Change His Name
What's The Going Price Of Innocence
It Can't Be The Same
Is It Dark When The Moon Is Down
Is It Dark With A Single Flame
If There's Glass Falling All Around
I Am Not To Blame

And This He Knows If Nothing More
That Waiting In The Dark Like Destiny
Are Those Who Kissed The Dogs Of War
And There Is No Tomorrow
No Tomorrow
Take A Chance
Take A, Take A Chance
Take A Chance
Take A, Take A Chance

Burn The Night Away
Burn The Night Away
Burn The Night...

Pictures At An Exhibition
Played As He stood His Trance
Staring At His Inhibitions
All The Time Believing
That It Now Came Down To Nothing
But This Chance
Chance...
Chance...
Chance...

I Fear You
Your Silence
Your Blindless
See What You Want To See
In Darkness
One Kindness
One Moment
Tell Me What You Believe

I Believe In Nothing
Never Really Had To
In Regards To Your Life
Rumors That Are Not True
Who's Defending Evil
Surely Never I
Who Would Be The Witness
Should You Chance To Die

Father Can You Hear Me
This Is Not How Was Meant To Be
I Am Safe And So Are You
As For The Others Destiny

I Believe That Situations
All Depend On Circumstance

Look Away
Look Away
Look Away
Look Away

Pictures At An Exhibition
Played As He stood His Trance
Staring At His Inhibitions
All The Time Believing
That It Now Came Down To Nothing
But This Chance
Chance !
Chance !
Chance !

ARTISTA : SAVATAGE
ALBUM : HANDFUL OF RAIN
ANNO : 1994
DURATA : 07:49
FORMAZIONE : Zachary Stevens : Vocals
         Alex Skolnick : Guitars
               Jon Oliva : Keyboards And Piano
             Johnny Lee Middleton : Bass
               Steve "Doc" Wacholz : Drums

Immensi, sempre e comunque. Una bandiera dell' heavy metal più raffinato e più suggestivo.
Ho i Savatage nel cuore da sempre e ogni volta che li sento, mi emoziono come se fosse la prima volta. E quando sento canzoni come "Chance", vado in estasi.
Pubblicato a pochi mesi dalla scomparsa del mai troppo rimpianto Criss Oliva (morto il 17 Ottobre del 1993, in un incidente stradale causato da un guidatore ubriaco), fratello del grande Jon Oliva nonchè membro fondatore dei Savatage, "Handful Of Rain" è un album cupo, dove testi sono riflessivi e parlano di vari argomenti importanti (la meravigliosa "Alone You Breathe" è dedicata alla scomparsa di Criss, "Castels Burning" è dedicata a Giovanni Falcone e alla sua lotta alla mafia e via di seguito).
In "Handful Of Rain" suona come amico della band anche il grande Alex Skolnick, maestro della chitarra nonchè membro dei Testament.
Ogni canzone è bellissima e lascia un segno.
Ogni altro commento è superfluo.

Marduk " Imago Mortis "

2008-05-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

MARDUK " IMAGO MORTIS "

Imago Mortis
Ever Since The Appelbite
Deathened !
The Branches Creep Together
A Chair With A Cold Back
Lux Rigor Mortis
Lux Rigor Mortis
Lux Rigor Mortis

Today King
Tomorrow Worms And Cold In Mouth
A Reach For Purity
Through Decay
Through Black Soil Excrements
None Shall Stand Before
The Lord Of The Death
Death-Winged Dart

Cold And Hollow
Silent, Yet Piercing
Death Fire Trumpets
Fresh Traces From Twelve To Twelve
Pole To Pole
Infans To Derrepitus
Sunbleached Shadow, Useless Corpse
Jesus Loves You, Useless Corpse
Lux Rigor Mortis
Lux Rigor Mortis
Lux Rigor Mortis
Cinis Ater Et Ossa

Behold
One Who Moments Agao At The Height Of Power
Received Worship From Kneeling Crowd

Now Himself Cast Down By Deaths Dominion
Bears Mute Witness To The Whole Worlds Face

Cinis Ater Et Ossa

Sack Of Maggots, Maggotsack
Hopeless Pile Of Hopeless Bones
So Thin Was His Holy Plan
For You ?
Wings Of Dust, Handful Of Nothing
Iron Skies And And Streets Of Brass
Even The Whore
She Loves Us All

Imago Mortis
Ever Since The Appelbite
Deathened !
The Branches Creep Together
A Reach For Purity
Through Decay
Through Black Boil Excrements

None Shall Stand Before
The Lord Of THe Death
Death-Winged Dart

Imago Mortis
Wings Of Dust
Handful Of Nothing
Hopelless Pile Of Hopeless Bones

ARTISTA : MARDUK
ALBUM : ROM 5.12
ANNO : 2007
DURATA : 08:36
FORMAZIONE : Daniel ''Mortuus'' Rosten : Vocals
               Morgan ''Evil'' Steinmeyer Hakansson : Guitars
             Magnus ''Devo'' Andersson : Bass
               Lars Broddesson : Drums

Un'altra grandissima band importantissima per il movimento Black Metal e forse, uno dei gruppi più amati del genere. Ho scelto questa canzone perchè mi piace un casino così come tutto il loro ultimo album. Dall'incedere lento e morboso, è splendida e dannatamente evocativa, con la voce di Mortuus malata ma davvero efficace.

Opeth " To Bid You Farewell "

2008-05-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

OPETH " TO BID YOU FAREWELL "

I Am Awaiting The Sunrise
Gazing Modestly Through The Coldest Morning
Once It Came You Lied
Embracing Us Over Autumn's Proud Treetops

I Stand Motionless
In A Parade Of Falling Rain
Your Voice I Cannot Hear
As I Am Falling Again

Devotion Eludes
And In Sadness I Lumber
In My Own Ashes I Am Standing Without A Soul
She Wept And Whispered : "I Know..."

We Walked Into The Night
Am I To Bid You Farewell ?
Why Can't You See That I Try
When Every Tear I Shed Is For You ?

ARTISTA : OPETH
ALBUM : MORNINGRISE
ANNO : 1996
DURATA : 10:56
FORMAZIONE : Mikael Akerfeldt ; Vocals, Electric And Acoustic Guitars
                  Peter Lindgren : Electric And Acoustic Guitars
                   Johan DeFarfalla : Bass
           Anders Nordin : Drums

Non so che dire. Poche parole posso dire su quello che per me è uno dei gruppi metal più affascinanti di sempre. Di album in album hanno sempre dimostrato un gusto e una progressione musicale a dir poco sublime. Amo alla follia la canzone che ho scelto. Intro molto ''zeppeliniano'', si sviluppa una brumosa ballata, cullati dalla voce prima magnetica poi da vero orco nero di un magnifico Mikael Akerfeldt. Da ascoltare ancora, ancora, ancora...

Emperor " Into The Infinity Of Thoughts "

2008-04-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

EMPEROR " INTO THE INFINITY OF THOUGHTS "

As The Darkness Creeps
Over The Northern Mountains Of Norway
And The Silence Teach The Woods
I Awake And Rise...
Into The Night I Wander
Like Many Nights Before
And Like In My Dreams But Centuries Ago

Under The Moon, Under The Trees
Into The Infinity Of Darkness
Beyond The Light Of A New Day
Into The Frozen Nature Chilly
Beyond The Warmth Of The Dying Sun
Hear The Whispering Of The Wind
The Shadows Calling...

I Gaze Into The Moonwhich Grants Me Visions
These Twelve Full Moon Nights Of The Year
And For Each Night
The Light Of The Holy Disciples Fade Away

Weaker And Weaker, One By One

I Gaze Into The Moon
Which Makes My Mind Pure As Crystal Lakes
My Eyes Cold As The Darkest Winter Mights
But Yet There Is A Flame Inside

It Guides Me Into The Dark Shadows
Beyond This World
into The Infinity Of Thoughts...
Thoughts Of Upcoming Reality

In The Name Of The Almighty Emperor
I Will Ride The Lands In Pride
carrying The Blacksword At Hand, In Warfare

I Will Grind My Hatred Upon The Loved Ones
Despair Will Be Brought
Upon The Hoping Childs Of Happiness
Wherever There Is Joy
The Hordes Of The Eclipse
Will Pollute Sadness And Hate
Under The Reign Of Fear

The Lands Will Grow Black
There Is No Sunrise Yet To Come
Into The Wastelands Of Phantoms Lost
May These Moments Under The Moon Be Eternal
May The Infinity Haunt Me... In Darkness

ARTISTA : EMPEROR
ALBUM : IN THE NIGHTSIDE ECLIPSE
ANNO : 1994
DURATA : 8:14
FORMAZIONE : Vegard Sverre Tveitan (Ihsahn) : Vocals, Guitars, Synths
                Tomas Thormodsaeter Haugen (Samoth) : Guitars
              Terje Vik Schei (Tchort) : Bass
                Bard Eithun (Faust) : Drums

Senza ombra di dubbio una della band più importanti per il movimento Black Metal. Canzone meravigliosa, epica e maligna, tratta da un disco fondamentale per la musica estrema.

Blind Guardian " A Past And Future Secret "

2008-04-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

BLIND GUARDIAN " A PAST AND FUTURE SECRET "

Oh, I Haven't Been Here For A While
In Blindness And Decay
The Circle's Been Closed, Now

My Song Of The End
My Song Of The End
I've Seen At All

Listen Crowd
I'll Tell You Everything
Though I Have To Say I Don't Know Much
Talking About A Past And Future Secret
Most Called Him Once And Future King
Far Back In The Past I Saw His Ending
Long Before It Started I Knew His Name
He's The One Who Took The Sword Out Of The Stone
It's How That Ancient Tale Began
I Hear It In The Cold Winds

My Song Of The End
My Song Of The End
My Song Of The End
I Had Seen It In My Dreams
My Song Of The End
I Can't Stop The Darkening Clouds

I Feel Cold
when I Cry Out For The Bark
Take Him Back To Avalon
Dwell On For A New Age So Long Sleep Well My Friend
Take Him Back To Avalon
I Will Wait And Guard
The Future King's Crown

My Song Of The End
My Song Of The End
My Song Of The End
My Song Of The End
It Was Nice But Now It's Gone
My Song Of The End
It Was Fixed The Whole Time
My Song Of The End
I Saw It All

ARTISTA : BLIND GUARDIAN
ALBUM : IMAGINATIONS FROM THE OTHER SIDE
ANNO : 1995
DURATA : 3:48
FORMAZIONE : Hansi Kursch : Vocals, Bass
            Andre Olbrich : Guitars
              Marcus Siepen : Guitars
                Thomas Stauch : Drums

Deliziosa canzone in stile medievale per i Blind Guardian, uno dei gruppi che più di tutti in ambito metal, ha reincarnato lo spirito del Grande J.R.R. Tolkien, padre del libro fantasy più bello di tutti i tempi, "Il Signore Degli Anelli". Il gruppo tedesco è in grande forma anche se ad un primo ascolto le non proprio convenzionali vocals di Hansi Kursch possono dare qualche esitazione, che scompare dopo pochissimo a favore di un brano melodioso, dolcemente medievaleggiante e semplicemente suggestivo.

Fates Warning " At Fate's Hands "

2008-02-06T23:23:00.000-08:00

FATES WARNING " AT FATE'S HANDS "

Ours Is The Cry Of The Helpless
Told In The Timeless Truth
Of The Written Word
Trapped By The Tempest Of The Blind
our Muted Calls Can't Be Heard

Helpless As We Stand
Amidst The Push Of Thoughtless Hands

We Are Adrift Without Direction
In A Raging Storm On A Calm Sea
Clinging To Our Expectations
To Stem The Tide Of Destiny

Helpless As We Fall
Beneath The Crush Of Waters Walls

ARTISTA : FATES WARNING
ALBUM : PERFECT SYMMETRY
ANNO : 1989
DURATA : 7:00
FORMAZIONE : Ray Alder : Vocals
                    Jim Matheos : Guitars
              Frank Aresti : Guitars
                Joe DiBiase : Bass
          Mark Zonder : Drums

Pura progressione musicale, paradisiaca nel suo incedere e meravigliosa nella sua costruzione. Uno dei migliori brani dei Fates Warning, con un Ray Alder stellare e con tutto il gruppo a tessere trame di tecnicismo mai fine a se stesso ma teso a creare una piccola composizione diventata un classico nel suo genere.

The Gathering " Eleanor "

2008-01-21T16:30:00.000-08:00

THE GATHERING " ELEANOR "

Underneath The Mask You've Buried Yourself Into
It’s Coal-Black
I Am Tired Of The Gulping That You Do
Every Day A New Face
What If I Unscrew
Your Own Identity
Wouldn’t You Guess There's Nothing Left Of You ?

The Quicksand Of Life Drags Us
Down Into The Circle
One Day, One Day
We Might Not Catch You

I Feel Sorry For What You Try To Do
Breaking Others Down, To Try And To Pursue
Your Own Selfish Interests
I Am Starting To Get Sick Of You

Whatever Happened Ever Since You Left
You Make Yourself And Me Look Like Fools

Whatever Happened Ever Since You Left
Whatever Happened Ever Since You Left
Whatever Happened Ever Since You Left
Whatever Happened Ever Since You Left

ARTISTA : THE GATHERING
ALBUM : MANDYLION
ANNO : 1995
DURATA : 6:41
FORMAZIONE : Anneke Van Giersbergen : Vocals
            Rene Rutten : Guitars, Flute
                Jelmer Wiersma : Guitars
              Frank Boeljen : Synthesizer
                    Hugo Prinsen Geerligs : Bass
        Hans Rutten : Drums

Meraviglioso gruppo olandese che forse in questo album, ha raggiunto uno dei vertici assoluti della sua carriera. Tutte le canzoni sono bellissime e la voce della meravigliosa Anneke troneggia su tutto, forse una delle più belle voci in campo metal.
Ho scelto questa canzone perchè non solo mi piace un casino, ma anche perchè ricordo ancora che quando li ho visti dal vivo, l'emozione è stata fortissima, e durante l'esecuzione di "Eleanor" il pubblico sembrava essere in trance, me compreso, cullati dalle note avvolgenti e coinvolgenti della canzone. Meravigliosi.

Manowar " Battle Hymn "

2008-01-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

MANOWAR " BATTLE HYMN "

By Moonlight We Ride
Ten Thousands Side By Side
With Swords Drawn Held High
Our Whips And Armours Shine
Hail To Thee Our Infantry
Still Brave Beyond The Grave
All Have Sworn The Eternal Vow
The Time To Strike Is Now

Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !

Gone Are The Days When Freedom Shone
Now Blood And Steel Meet Bone
In The Light Of The Battle's Way
The Sands Of Time Will Shade
How Oroud Our Soldiers Stand
With Mace And Chain In Hand
Sound The Charge Into Glory Ride
Over The Top Of The Vanguished Pride

Victory, Victory, Oh !
Victory, Victory, Oh !
Victory, Victory, Oh !
Victory, Victory, Oh !

To The Battle We Ride
We Crossed A Starlit Sky
No Space, No Time
We'll Catch The Wind
Strange Losses, Men Died
We Crossed A Starlit Sky
And Still No Space Or Time
We'll Catch The Wind

Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !

Sound Of Charge Into Glory Ride
Over The Top Of The Anguished Pride
By Moonlight We Ride
Ten Thousand Side By Side

Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !
Kill, Kill, Oh !

ARTISTA : MANOWAR
ALBUM : BATTLE HYMNS
ANNO : 1982
DURATA : 6:55
FORMAZIONE : Eric Adams - Lead Vocals
       Ross The Boss - Guitars, Keyboards
                 Joey DeMaio - 4, 8 String Bass, Bass Pedals
           Donnie Hamzik - Drums, Percussion

Forse la canzone più epica della musica metal. L' atmosfera che dona è meravigliosa e straordinariamente "battagliera". Possono essere odiati, presi in giro per le loro evidenti pacchianate o per loro frasi, ma hanno scritto pagine memorabili di musica e "Battle Hymn" ne è un esempio più che evidente.

Voivod " Jack Luminous "

2008-01-01T03:39:00.000-08:00

VOIVOD " JACK LUMINOUS "

Listen ! Listen To Me ! Can't You Hear Me ?!!
Listen ! I Beg Of You !!
I Have Escaped The One Who Rules Deep In Space
He Knows My Name, I Know His Game
Now That I'm Here, He Will Know Where I Am...
And He Will Get You Too !!
And He Will Make You Believe Whatever He Wants
Inside Your Brain, He'll Play His Game

Listen Now !
Please ! Don't You Believe
Whatever He Says... Whatever He Says...
Whatever He Says...

I'm No Preacher, I'm No Space-Age Cowboy
I'm No Flash-In-The-Pan !!
Don't You Know That You Have Another Thing Coming ?
You Are Not Safe, Here In This Place
Are You Aware You Face Your Last Dead Line ?
I Am Here To Warn You...
President X-D Wwill Be On Your TV
Electron Waves, A Pixel Face

Listen Now !
Please ! Don't You Believe
Whatever He Says... Whatever He Says...
Whatever He Says...

You Will Never Switch Him Off
When You're Hypnotized
Don't You Dare To Call His Bluff
He's Well Organized
You Will Never Switch Him Off
When You're Yypnotized
Don't You Dare To Call His Bluff
He's Well Organized

He Gets Around... He Gets Around...
He Gets Around... He...

Listen To Me...
It's Not Easy...
To Let You Be...
Happy In Your World And You Can't Imagine
What Will Come From The Milky Way, Far Away

My Words Are Clear...
We Can't Stay Here...
What Do You Fear?
Happy In Your World And You Can't Imagine
What's Coming From The Milky Way, Far Away

You, People Of This World
Be Prepared To Greet Me
You, People Of This World
You Will Submit To Me !
Deep Into My Third Eye
You Are Getting Sleepy
Deep Into My Third Eye
Now You Belong To Me !

Now ! Is The Time...
Together We Can Change This Place
For The Better...
Now ! Is The Time...
Together We Can Change This Place
For The Better...

Now, Focus On My Voice
Will You Do It For Me ?
Now, Focus On My Voice
Yes ! You Will Do It For Me !
I'll Give You Everything
But You Must Come To Me
I'll Give You Everything
But You'll Have To Join Me !

Now ! Is The Time...
Together We Can Change This Place
For The Better...
Now ! Is The Time...
Together We Can Change This Place
For The Better...
Now ! Is The Time...
Together We Can Change This Place
For The Better...
Now ! Is The Time...
Together We Can Change This Place
For The Better...

You Will Never Switch Him Off
When You're Hypnotized
Don't You Dare To Call His Bluff...
He's Well Organized

X-D Is Coming
The Sky Is Changing
X-D Is Coming
My Head Is Spinning

And What About Hydra, Sirrah, Pollux And Gemma...
Diadem, Bellatrix, Mirach, Izar...

Lies Are What We Once Knew
Time To Live Something New...Hey, Hey
We Can No Longer Take Things For Granted
We Can Now Remember What We Wanted...Hey, Hey
Hey, Hey...
We're Not Slaves Anymore
Now We Know What Life Is For
We Don't Fight Anymore
He Is What We're Living For
We're Not Slaves Anymore
Now We Know What Life Is For
We Don't Fight Anymore... Not Anymore...

More than tears fill my eyes
As bright Ships Dot The Sky
More Than Fear Is In Sight
As Moon And Sun Stand By... And Cry

So ? This Is The End
I'm Leaving Now, Farewell My Friends
X-D Is Now In Control
Making Plans For His New Home

Fate Lights Me From Within
To The Stars I'm Fleeing
Earth Heeds Not My Warning
Forever Sleepwalking... Dreaming

So ? This Is The End
I'm Leaving Now, Farewell My Friends
Maybe One Day, Time Will Tell
I'llBbe Back And Break The Spell...
I'll Break The Spell... I'll Break The Spell...

ARTISTA : VOIVOD
ALBUM : THE OUTER LIMITS
ANNO : 1993
DURATA : 17:26
FORMAZIONE : Denis "Snake" Bélanger - Vocals, Keyboards & Sounds Effects
                Denis "Piggy" D'Amour - Guitar & Sounds Effects
         Michel "Away" Langevin - Drums, Keyboards & Sounds Effects
            Pierre St. Jean - Studio Session Bass

Che dire ? Meravigliosa composizione di un geniale gruppo. La voce di Bélanger, camaleontica come non mai, conduce l'ascoltatore in un lungo viaggio lisergico su temi alieni.

A New Journey

2008-01-01T03:28:00.000-08:00

...e al fine, da una costola di ...Oscuri Presagi... ,nasce questa nuova creatura. Il suo scopo ? Puramente ed esclusivamente musicale. The journey begins...