History Rocks..!!!!!

Originally posted by Act of Oblivion Originally posted by Frederick Roger Camel has a series of history-based concept albums, mostly on early and mid-20th century... Early King Crimson often dwelled in obscure lyrics about living in the Middle Ages. Their debut is quite a good rendition of 12th and 13th century Sicily, with their eccentric court and problems with the Papacy, with a special interest in the figure of Frederick II. Symphony X have a concept album based on Homer's Odissey.    Just to name a few...   ..What a great collection of examples, especially King Crimson, for got about them!!!..and how more historical can you get with these themes and topics, great stuff...

I didn't know these great posts were hiding in this forum.   Thanx, AoO, for bringing this thread back up.  I love Camel.  I love [Mirage] and [Moon Madness].   I remember this one album that was about this old Japanese soldier who was strained in an island in SW Pacific and still thought that the war was still going on.  Kinda like Mr. Miyagi meets Robinson Carusoe.   There was this song about him expressing his devotion to his country and the Emperor.  Usually such expressions would cringe me, especially if the character is supposed to be  an Imperial Japanese soldier, but this one was done like a love song.  What was the song?

Alright I just found it. The album name is [Nude], the song is called {Drafted}. 

               
            
                 In reply to your request,
                 Please find......  I hereby protest.
                 To the ways and the means you use,
                 You know......  I can not refuse.
                 So I'll take this vow of Loyalty,
                 Fight for the right,
                 You have said,
                 To be free.

                 When this time has run its course,
                 I must.....  Live without remorse.
                 For the deeds I'm bound to do,
                 I know......  it's all the same to you.
                 But I won't forget the memory.....
                 Taking a life, for a life
                 To be free.



I guess it's little bit more protestsque(?) than I remembered.  But it's a song of loyalty, devotion and accepting the destiny,too.  I knew there was something  haunting about this one. But I could easily interpret that into a love song with little or no tweaking.  It just have to be a long distant, unconditional, tragic, one sided, possibly conspiring criminal or amoral activity kinda love.   Cmon, that happens more than you know........

Anyway, I will come back with King Crimson tomorrow.  That one's gonna take me all night.


Edited by King Kang of Mu - 22-Apr-2008 at 16:40

Originally posted by red clay   Showing your age?  The first band I thought of was Iron Butterfly.  They were kicking around before you were even thought of.  As a matter of fact, so were most of the bands you mentioned.  I don't know how historically based IB's stuff was, don't offhand remember much of it [not necessarily age related it was the 60's]

Although nightwish was brought up before, let's not forgot creek mary's blood.It's about the struggles of native americans.
There's also Leaves ' Eyes album titled Vinland Saga about lief ericson's journey to newfoundland.
My two favorites for getting a feeling for ancient battles are Turisas and Finntroll.
Although I havn't listened to much of them, Chthonic sings about the original inhabitants of taiwan.

Originally posted by King John Iced Earth has a whole album devoted to historical subjects from Attila the Hun to the Battle of Gettysburg. This album is called The Glorious Burden.

Gettysburg was the best from that album.A trilogy of songs connecting together.On Horror Show they have a song about a child who loses his father during the revolutionary war.

Originally posted by Jarl_Frank Grave Digger has quite some nice Albums which all cover historical themes:Tunes of War: a concept album about the history of Scotland, and mainly its struggle for independence with EnglandKnights of the Cross: A concept album about the CrusadesExcalibur: A concept album about the Arthurian legendsThe Last Supper: A concept album about the last days of Jesus

..i have heard of Gravedigger before, might even have listened to a few of their songs, although i cannot remember the details...i am assuming they are a German band?...

..thanks Jarl for your contribution...
    

Hello!
NikeBG told me about these Forums in MSN and thought I would be a good addition - and here I shall make my first contribution [which I already made in our MSN conversation, and he thought I should post this here, so I do :D]

Grave Digger has quite some nice Albums which all cover historical themes:

Tunes of War: a concept album about the history of Scotland, and mainly its struggle for independence with England

Knights of the Cross: A concept album about the Crusades

Excalibur: A concept album about the Arthurian legends

The Last Supper: A concept album about the last days of Jesus

Iced Earth has a whole album devoted to historical subjects from Attila the Hun to the Battle of Gettysburg. This album is called The Glorious Burden.

..hello again gremlinlord...

Kamelot has the Fall of Icarus

..i recall Iron Maiden having a song called 'Flight of Icarus' also telling the story of the ambitious but doomed winged man...

..i mentioned Slayer's 'Angel of Death' earlier in the thread and later realised that i did not own the album,so i fought my way through the mass of Xmas shoppers today and grabbed myself a copy of 'Reign in Blood'...great album, ferocious and full-on metal heavy!!!....

..yes, the fantasy connection does appear to be common, i am also a big fan of Tolkien, and 'The Hobbit' remains one of my favourite books having first read it when i was at school...my introduction to all things fantastical came when i got involved in 'Dungeons and Dragons' role playing games...i was taken with the imagery and the subject matter, not long after a friend lent me a cassette of Black Sabbath's 'Sabotage' album and it just blew me away, the music seemed to fit my fantasy interests perfectly...the sounds conjured up all kinds of pictures and ideas in my head, and from that moment, i was addicted to this kind of music...still am!!!!...i did not really get into the 'goth' kind of fashion, but i certainly was a victim of the 'denim, leather, and studs' look, complete with a self-painted Black Sabbath picture on the back of my cut-off denim jacket....sigh...those were the days!!!

Originally posted by NikeBG Another one, which came to my mind - a nice Spanish band called Saurom with their album "Juglar Metal".

....thanks for the selection of links NikeBG...

..although i will have to get my girlfriend to translate the site for Saurom!!!...as she knows some Spanish...my language abilities are appalling, although that does not spoil my immense enjoyment of Rammstein's music!!!..

.i do wonder why the metal fraternity find so much interest in history and the creation of their music, and as we have seen from members posts, from people all over the globe..?....maybe it is just like-minded indivuduals? ....

....generally speaking, most of the people i know who enjoy listening to and making rock music seem to share a liking for historical episodes, military stories, fanstasy and mythological associations....(although this does not always apply in reverse) ..despite the often unconventional image of such bands and people, i do find that many sentiments they express contain a deep and profound level of thought that belies the nature of the music...Rush are an excellant example of this....sure, i know there are many genres of rock and metal music that do not (Van Halen, Poison,!!?) but on the whole, a lot of metal bands do approach their themes and topics with an admirable sense of foresight and insight....and all good to them...

Originally posted by NikeBG ActOfOblivion, I highly suggest you do find Virgin Steele's "House of Atreus" - I'm not sure how to classify them, but I'd say they're more like the old and classic heavy metal style and they're not a new band either.Btw, can we count Corvus Corax as a rock group? Because they do have a main theme aimed at history, with tracks like "Saltarello" (medieval dance) or f.e. "Bacchus" and others...

..thanks NikeBG, i will try aand make an effort to track them down, maybe i can drop a few hints to family with regards to Xmas prezzies!!!...the old 'classic' metal sound is what i like..lots of bands today seem to have the heaviness in the guitars, but the 'woooorrrggghhh''ggrrrrr' vocal style is not really my cup of tea, some of it is ok, Machine Head and Trivium for example, but i do like the newer bands like Hammerfall and Dragonforce who retain that old sound and dynamic..

..as for the other bands you mentioned, why not include them...to hell with it...lets expand the thread!!!!

..thanks for your choices Reginmund, this is where i get to learn about music from other countries, all recommendations are most welcome...i have noted that there are quite a few decent rock and metal bands coming from Italy, i must get round to exploring the metal scene with more effort.... what with jobs, life and family, my musical exploits have tended to take a seat at the back, although i do still enjoy playing around with my guitar..purely as an amateur mind you!!!..lots of noise and its heavy riffs i like playing, its fun and its louder than my sons wailing and screaming!!!...     
    
    

Edited by Act of Oblivion - 14-Dec-2006 at 06:28