Post by frozenfire on Dec 29, 2018 9:00:12 GMT -6
I know there is a thread below for this but the title makes it easy to forget "New Christian in BM band."
I just wanted to follow up with this album. Elijah had made comments awhile back ensuring they could remain separate from the Christian band stigma (rightfully so, as they are not) and my main concern for listening to the band was the question of "What was really going on lyrically?" because musically it sounded outstanding. I think this band, this album are similar to Lo-Ruhamah and Temple of Perdition in that there are a lot of questions and the information given is generally (and I believe) intentionally vague in the public. No fault there but what's the resolution with this band?
Resolution?
Well, the physical CD was a long time in coming, the lyrics are hard to read in the booklet and none of that helped me digest this. It's been months now though, the lyrics have long been posted on bandcamp, Metal Archives and the lyrics are embedded in the files on iTunes allowing me to listen and digest the lyrics and music as one. I've said elsewhere, I don't really care for listening to music if it doesn't edify in some way. So, the words mattering a great deal to what I listen to, this album is enthralling! I used the term esoteric in the other thread, meaning hidden or difficult and I stand by that. Elijah uses a lot of metamorphic analogies and difficult language. Yet, if you're willing to go at it I think it's fantastic!
For example, from the closing of the title track:
"(Knower of the field and the harvest)
From the field of this black hierurgy
To the solar blood, through white and red,
The sickle turns upon itself,
O firstborn from among the dead.
(Stone-set my face against the world's dying starlight)
Make me a blasphemy
Against the star that rules the age;
Phosphoros, dawn within my heart,
Beyond all world's and flesh's rage.
(In everliving fire of the fluxion)
Forever peregrine,
On wings of theion borne aflame,
As burning adamant unburned,
Inscribed with secret, sainted name.
(So long I've sat dreaming through glass darkly of your face)
In living I want nothing more,
In dying nothing more I seek,
But I should come to you at last
And tremble as my name you speak."
I find it amazing how he turns phrases here in a prayer about the harvest of the end of the age, that he be made a blasphemy to Satan (the star of the age) and that Christ (Phosphoros - the morning star) would dawn in his heart and cause him to rise above the world. It continues that as he flies from this world (forever peregrine) that he'll do so on divine wings (theion) to be born upward as by an unbreakable stone (adamant) one with the secret, sainted name (Christ in Rev 19:12). He at last he longs (I want nothing more) than to be in the presence of God, trembling as his name is spoken. Incredible way to end the album!
Musically and lyrically I'm glad to have picked this up. I've truly enjoyed diving into this. Definitely one of the coolest albums I've ever purchased. I still wouldn't be calling this Christian in some clear sense but I'm willing to listen and enjoy and will continue to be curious about where things go from here going forward.
I just wanted to follow up with this album. Elijah had made comments awhile back ensuring they could remain separate from the Christian band stigma (rightfully so, as they are not) and my main concern for listening to the band was the question of "What was really going on lyrically?" because musically it sounded outstanding. I think this band, this album are similar to Lo-Ruhamah and Temple of Perdition in that there are a lot of questions and the information given is generally (and I believe) intentionally vague in the public. No fault there but what's the resolution with this band?
Resolution?
Well, the physical CD was a long time in coming, the lyrics are hard to read in the booklet and none of that helped me digest this. It's been months now though, the lyrics have long been posted on bandcamp, Metal Archives and the lyrics are embedded in the files on iTunes allowing me to listen and digest the lyrics and music as one. I've said elsewhere, I don't really care for listening to music if it doesn't edify in some way. So, the words mattering a great deal to what I listen to, this album is enthralling! I used the term esoteric in the other thread, meaning hidden or difficult and I stand by that. Elijah uses a lot of metamorphic analogies and difficult language. Yet, if you're willing to go at it I think it's fantastic!
For example, from the closing of the title track:
"(Knower of the field and the harvest)
From the field of this black hierurgy
To the solar blood, through white and red,
The sickle turns upon itself,
O firstborn from among the dead.
(Stone-set my face against the world's dying starlight)
Make me a blasphemy
Against the star that rules the age;
Phosphoros, dawn within my heart,
Beyond all world's and flesh's rage.
(In everliving fire of the fluxion)
Forever peregrine,
On wings of theion borne aflame,
As burning adamant unburned,
Inscribed with secret, sainted name.
(So long I've sat dreaming through glass darkly of your face)
In living I want nothing more,
In dying nothing more I seek,
But I should come to you at last
And tremble as my name you speak."
I find it amazing how he turns phrases here in a prayer about the harvest of the end of the age, that he be made a blasphemy to Satan (the star of the age) and that Christ (Phosphoros - the morning star) would dawn in his heart and cause him to rise above the world. It continues that as he flies from this world (forever peregrine) that he'll do so on divine wings (theion) to be born upward as by an unbreakable stone (adamant) one with the secret, sainted name (Christ in Rev 19:12). He at last he longs (I want nothing more) than to be in the presence of God, trembling as his name is spoken. Incredible way to end the album!
Musically and lyrically I'm glad to have picked this up. I've truly enjoyed diving into this. Definitely one of the coolest albums I've ever purchased. I still wouldn't be calling this Christian in some clear sense but I'm willing to listen and enjoy and will continue to be curious about where things go from here going forward.