Oddbean

Saturday evening means it's time for Metal Transmitted by Relays. For the remainder of September, we're going to look at some instances where Metal has intersected with ... Tolkien. Starting with the power metal band Blind Guardian https://youtu.be/y6Pq5H0odaI Blind Guardian is a German band that has been cranking out power metal for many years now, but we're going to focus on their 1998 album "Nightfall in Middle Earth." https://youtu.be/6EyNjmspx64 It is a concept album based on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Silmarillion", and tells the story of the Noldor elves in the First Age and their sorrowful war against Morgoth to regain the stolen Silmarils. https://youtu.be/6Yz4_1mZarA #metal #heavymetal #tunestr #grownostr #metaltransmittedbyrelays #tolkien Check out these notes to continue down the metal rabbit hole. nostr:nevent1qqsz9p8vpxjq0k07dvtw30adqggpf9srrd005vmt093ppjyumsjlt8spz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqs4tk60g

This is one for the metal heads out there! nostr:nevent1qqsw49v394erqlw2zk2y9r65lj7hkwt98nx5h8mj0xsfeh8g286yqaqpz4mhxue69uhkummnw3ezummcw3ezuer9wchsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqsncmdj8

GN Nostr Leaving some tunes for the next time zone. nostr:nevent1qqsw49v394erqlw2zk2y9r65lj7hkwt98nx5h8mj0xsfeh8g286yqaqpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqsxafddp

In a basement in Austria, there lived a black metal band. It was not a black metal band filled with satanic themes and a low recording quality, nor was it a Norwegian band that stabbed people or burned churches in it's spare time. It was Summoning And that means Tolkien inspired lyrics, majestic atmospheric soundscapes, and a much needed change of pace for black metal. https://youtu.be/Vb1-yX3WhnA Welcome to Metal Transmitted by Relays. This month we're featuring metal bands influenced by Tolkien. And the time has come to dive into Black Metal, but don't be scared, it's not really as black as you've been led to believe, a fact I largely credit to Summoning. They borrowed the foundation of their sound from the Black Metal subgenre but rather than focusing on anger, despair, or anti religion themes, they wrote songs about Middle Earth. https://youtu.be/JvzY5aQDe70 They also recorded the first metal song written entirely in the Black Speech of Mordor. https://youtu.be/phjb-PLK6DI Their career has spanned over eight albums in which they've established a deep Tolkien nerd credibility far beyond any other band I've ever come across. They also pioneered the atmospheric black metal scene in inspiring several other bands to contribute to their particular style of black metal. But if you're a fan of the classic black metal sound, they have an album for that too. https://youtu.be/bAYqEiysNmA #metal #tunestr #tolkien #heavymetal #music #grownostr #metaltransmittedbyrelays Catch up on previous notes in this series here nostr:nevent1qqsw49v394erqlw2zk2y9r65lj7hkwt98nx5h8mj0xsfeh8g286yqaqprpmhxue69uhkxetvd3shytnwdaehgu3wwa5kuef0qgs8ja6sqsw3xe4gp4z7zvxgx8c9v26lwfnxv2c84nh4ph25r0az2dgrqsqqqqqpp2spzv

This is a good series for your metal heads! nostr:nevent1qqsp4z930q6950p6ych4ayv6vac09k325qkvft597r7qftcxv7dxxcgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqs28kgkc

The "With Doom We Come" album almost gives me AOE2 soundtrack vibes (a compliment, I love that soundtrack). I listened to this yesterday https://youtu.be/ACLHIzkW18g there's a bit of discussion about metal vocals as voice acting rather than singing, I feel like that comes through in the almost narrative delivery of the lyrics in the songs I've hit so far. Cool stuff

Interesting thought. Kind of like how music is another form of storytelling. Had to step away and cook supper, so I'm only halfway through the video. Listening to these guys go back and forth trying out different voices/screams is quite entertaining.

Far, far below the deepest delving of mainstream music, the world of metal is gnawed by nameless vocals... I have walked there, and I will bring now report to darken the light of day https://youtu.be/iBrugTuI28c It's time for Metal Transmitted by Relays, where I feature lesser known metal bands and subgenres each week. Continuing our Tolkien theme, today we have metal from the deep places of the world. Khazad Dum is a band named after the Dwarven name for Moria, the ancient, abandoned, underground stronghold of the Dwarves. And what sound did they choose to accompany their Dwarven motif? Funeral Doom. (Shout-out to Wind Rise for their Dwarf theme, but sorry, Doom Metal is way more "Dwarven" than Folk/Power metal.) Khazad Dum has released one album, "Hymns from the Deep". It's a concept album about the Fellowship's journey through Moria. Funeral Doom is the ultimate low-time- preference music. It's best experienced in it's entirety. https://youtu.be/KoZS1pMsBMU The only lyrics I was able to find. STONES OF SORROW "Ithkêl murbêl Buh Dashât sadishîn Doom of the deep folk wrote on blackened blades Tidings of Balin’s fate through tale of plight Stones of sorrow tell their tale as light fades Wrought by hands of time in stillness of night Hooded faces silent beside the tomb Reflecting upon the brave lord’s lone quest Went alone to look in Mirror mere’s gloom An arrow in the dark death manifest Grim readings sing bloody tunes of cruel ends Cloven shields and helms conjoin words to deeds Morning’s end to dread and horror extends Vile tides come to repeat prior misdeeds They are coming We cannot get out" #metal #tunestr #tolkien #heavymetal #music #grownostr #metaltransmittedbyrelays Previous notes in this series. nostr:nevent1qqsp4z930q6950p6ych4ayv6vac09k325qkvft597r7qftcxv7dxxcgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqs28kgkc

J. R. R. Tolkien has named more bands than any other human on Earth. https://image.nostr.build/3db2a881d42378f5035650b964a4f9c8fd30280398dea6ba5377f313772111b5.jpg Welcome to Metal Transmitted by Relays, my series of weekly notes featuring lesser known metal bands and subgenres. This will be the final installment of our September Tolkien Theme. I'm changing up the format a bit this week. Typically, I showcase one band that I have legitimitely listened to and enjoyed, but today, I am presenting a whole list of bands and will share music from a few that I have deemed worth a listen. My goal is to make the case that JRR Tolkien has named more bands than anyone, ever. It has become common practice among the metal communuty that if you need a cool band name, just consult a map of Middle Earth. Tolkien made up multiple entire languages to enrich the fantasy world he created, and therefore, he also provided hundreds or even thousands of unique names and terms, which decades later, are just waiting to be used as awesome band names. I have scoured the internet for articles, consulted AI, and trawled through the obscure reaches of Youtube and Encyclopaedia Metallum, and have compiled what I'm pretty certain is the most comprehensive list of Tolkien derived metal band names ever made. Let's begin. Amon Amarth: Viking themed melodic death metal, the elvish name for Mount Doom Gorgoroth: one of the pioneers of Norwegian Black Metal, named after the Northwestern region of Mordor Burzum: Varg Vikernes' Black Metal project before he went to jail for stabbing and killing a rival band's guitarist Eldamar: atmospheric black metal https://youtu.be/9SKcnz6Ubow Carach Angren: symphonic black metal Eregion: power metal Thangorodrim: black metal Uruk-Hai: black metal Anglachel: atmospheric black/dungein synth Aragorn: heavy metal Falls of Rauros: atmospheric black metal Cirith Ungol: heavy metal Argonath: black metal Isengard: black metal solo project by the drummer from Darkthrone Ephel Duath: Italian prog metal Aglarond: gothic doom from Mexico https://youtu.be/Q6F9iW_0ti0 Mordor: Industrial (Russian version of Rammstein) Ainur: progressive rock orchestra Arwen: symphonic metal Fangorn: black metal Fangorn: power metal Avathar: thrash metal from Ecuador Balrog: black metal Gimli Son of Gloin: Cirith Gorgor: black metal Rhun: black metal Gothmog: black metal Lungorthin: black metal Scatha: thrash metal Valar: black metal Hithlum: black metal Lorien: power metal Ainulindale: epic black metal Barrow Wight: black metal Dagorath: black metal Dol Guldur: black metal Minas Morgul: power metal Dwarrodelf: atmospheric black metal Emyn Muil epic black metal Fangorn: black metal Khazad-Dum: funeral doom Nazgul: black metal Numenorean: blackened death Rivendell: black metal Smeagol's Fate: black metal, dungeon synth Smoke of Isengard: doom/stoner metal Morgul Blade: heavy metal https://youtu.be/y64Lym-nMq4 Tengwar: epic folk metal Dol Amroth: power metal Kor: black metal Line of Durin: atmospheric black metal Ondolinde: melodic death metal Rivendell: black metal Vanyar: epic black metal Warg: black metal Avathar: epic black/folk metal Bauglir: melodic death metal Orodruin: black metal/ambient Caras Galadon: black metal Mithril: power metal Mordor: black/funeral doom Orkrist: symphonic black/gothic/folk metal Anduril: power metal Beleriand: atmospheric black metal Carn Dum: black metal Dagorlath: power metal Maeglin: black metal Mirkwood: atmospheric black metal Numenor: symphonic/black/power metal Witchking: epic heavy metal Wormtongue: black/folk metal Zirakzigil: progressive stoner/sludge metal Ash Nazg Burz: black metal Keys of Orthanc: epic black metal/dungeon synth https://youtu.be/L6m_xtk3esI Kingdom of Angmar: atmospheric black metal Morgul Vale: atmospheric black metal Nurn: black/ambient Olorin: Doom metal Palantir: black/speed metal Skald of Morgoth: black metal Amon Din: melodic death metal Arathorn: atmospheric black/folk metal Arda: power metal Baruk Khazad: folk/death metal Carcharoth: Dungeon synth, black metal Durthang: atmospheric black metal Eldarion: atmospheric black metal Erech: black metal Flying Nazguls: black metal Galadriel's Wrath: black metal Kortirion: black metal Maglor: folk metal Mithrandir: black metal Ungoliant: black metal Eowyn: atmospheric black/dungeon synth Carcharoth AV: atmospheric black metal Daedeloth: death/doom Dagorlad: atmospheric black/gothic Ered Angmar: pagan black metal Feanor: heavy metal Galadriel: gothic/doom/death Geist Elbereth: black metal Ithil: black metal Kharn: black/folk metal Moria: deathcore Moriquendi: black/folk metal Servant of Morgoth: black metal Lammoth: melodic black metal https://youtu.be/MYfDmLqqkeE #tolkien #grownostr #music #tunestr #heavymetal #metal #metaltransmittedbyrelays Previous notes in this series nostr:nevent1qqsv0mkd25qsea0wnqncujcq6fg4yane0e53fqydegecy3w86rmwwrspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqs8rm98y

What happens when guys from four or five different death metal bands hang out together in their spare time? They start a new gothic rock band, of course. https://youtu.be/y1PQE6cxXK4 It's time for Metal Transmitted by Relays, and for the past few weeks, we've been deep in the dark depths of extreme metal, so let's hear something a bit more accessible. Cemetery Skyline is a new band that is compromised of members from well known Death Metal groups Dark Tranquillity, Insomniun, Amorphis, Dimmu Borgir, Sentenced, and others... but it isn't Death Metal. They're recording their version of 90's and 2000's gothic, which they're calling Nordic Gothic. And it just so happens that they're releasing their album next Friday, October 11th. https://youtu.be/NasMtOyj__s #metal #tunestr #heavymetal #music #grownostr #metaltransmittedbyrelays Previous notes in this series here. nostr:nevent1qqs2dxvsqujms3l3l7vkffac2u6whsksrxtrdkgtpjt82msjlmj550qprpmhxue69uhkxetvd3shytnwdaehgu3wwa5kuef0qgs8ja6sqsw3xe4gp4z7zvxgx8c9v26lwfnxv2c84nh4ph25r0az2dgrqsqqqqqpkcmch2

For this week's edition of #metaltransmittedbyrelays we are featuring Amorphis https://youtu.be/VkfbnFr8piM Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band known for their unique blend of melodic death metal, progressive rock, and folk elements, and for some reason, they seem to be relatively unknown in the US. https://youtu.be/QP5BxIwLuZ8 Though they use some harsh vocals, they focus mostly on clean lyrics and catchy music, a good gateway band to get someone into melodic death metal. https://youtu.be/tptu0kptwcE https://youtu.be/fmHmTwZ8TLI #metal #tunestr #heavymetal #music #grownostr Catch up on previous notes in this series. nostr:nevent1qqs944j6up2v4xywk9yjt807kdnncemyx5lmen2req3a5k20w39d2cspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqsd8j0ma

https://image.nostr.build/85ebba036bfadc5c6ebc2b0132ce90507164c752f4696e74004d96f0ee8d64b8.jpg For this week's #metaltransmittedbyrelays I present Old Forest. https://youtu.be/bZX-xraneR0 Classic black metal sound, but with quite a lot of clean vocals, and perhaps a slight touch of prog. https://youtu.be/9zZ4YKHN0GY https://youtu.be/ML5c_pSEZ_4 #metal #tunestr #heavymetal #music #grownostr More metal awesomeness here nostr:nevent1qqstpy6spamejdzy2atlcjphlkvljtuj6w9fqxm3n2fgfqc3px5wyjgpzdmhxue69uhhwmm59e6hg7r09ehkuef0qgs8ja6sqsw3xe4gp4z7zvxgx8c9v26lwfnxv2c84nh4ph25r0az2dgrqsqqqqqpq6wsat

This week on #metaltransmittedbyrelays we're going to hear some cheesy power metal. Power metal bands are known for each having their schtick. Usually it's some type of overt fantasy theme. In tonight's example, it's Norse Mythology. https://youtu.be/v5yYMjU8xDg Brothers of Metal is a Swedish band featuring male and female vocals, and a good dose of humor in their lyrics and music videos. https://youtu.be/FLQnrOZmZoc https://youtu.be/SlzLplEogrs https://youtu.be/E90K_BhbEtA #metal #tunestr #heavymetal #music #grownostr More metal awesomeness here nostr:nevent1qqsr9z65g43tv0xmnxmhztfe68x4ac3cn40u2m73ruce796fg7p2rtspz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduhsygrewagqg8gnv65q630pxryrruzk9d0hyenx9vr6em6sm42ph739x5psgqqqqqqsg8y07d

Brothers of Metal is definitely what my music collection needed added to it. There's a ton of good viking themed folk, death, and black metal I'm all but growing bored with after years of listening to the same thing, but you can never go wrong with the good old fashioned corniness of power metal. Being unable to laugh at yourself is a sign of weakness just like any other.

For this #metaltransmittedbyrelays note, I present Omnium Gatherum. https://youtu.be/ubmuUiozKyo Though melodic death metal originated in Sweden, it quickly spread to Finland, and these guys represent the Finnish metal scene very well. https://youtu.be/gowDWEr5SDY If you don't generally use the word "beautiful" to describe death metal, then you just haven't heard Omnium Gatherum yet. I discovered them through their New World Shadows album, which is an absolute masterpiece of melodeath. https://youtu.be/6Au_6Ud9LVk #metal #tunestr #heavymetal #music #grownostr Continue down the metal rabbit hole with these previous notes. nostr:nevent1qqswvd2l2vkxs0tclfs6df87w86z0je38gpwhhu8zlxtq70cf0e5jhspzdmhxue69uhhwmm59e6hg7r09ehkuef0qgs8ja6sqsw3xe4gp4z7zvxgx8c9v26lwfnxv2c84nh4ph25r0az2dgrqsqqqqqpy7vnpg