Rock Bands and Tolkien (Nightwish and more)

[Lindale]

I must have shared this story quite a number of times to friends, but am not too sure if I've mentioned it here. Anyway, here goes.

Nightwish is virtually unheard-of here in the Philippines; if you think Tolkien fans are rare here, then NW fans are even rarer. Around three years ago a suitor captured me by playing on my Tolkien side, to the point of doing a harana, including Elvenpath if memory serves. That got me to Nightwish. (And later I found out, he wasn't really into Tolkien, just metal. That was, until about three months later, when I got him to read Sil.)

Nightwish draws on plenty other sources as well. Tolkien is but one; apart from Elvenpath and Wishmaster, I cannot think of any other Nightwish songs that have Tolkien references. Nightwish also draws from history and historical fiction (at least, I think we can classify them as fiction), like Creek Mary's Blood, The Kinslayer, etc. At first, The Kinslayer sounds so Noldor, so Feanor, but it alludes to the wacky psycho that ran amok in some Christian school. Then there are the love songs (the ones I love most), like Ever Dream. We'll get off-topic if I go further into that.

BUT if you truly want Tolkien-metal, I suggest Blind Guardian's 1998 album Nightfall on Middle Earth. That is truly blatant Silmarillion-inspired album. My favorites include Nightfall, Mirror Mirror, Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns), Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill), and Harvest of Sorrow.

I'm pretty sure there are other Tolkien metal out there. Nightwish and Blind Guardian belong to the power metal subcategory; there exist such things as Nazgul, Amon Amarth, Isengard and Menegroth, among many others. Unfortunately my knowledge of these black metal is limited; I'm not into growling songs.

And to sum it up, here's a nice article.

Looking forward to hearing from the Finns here!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Lindale

if you think Tolkien fans are rare here, then NW fans are even rarer. Around three years ago a suitor captured me by playing on my Tolkien side,

Ooh, what a nice way of putting it!

Nightwish - I quite like them. They're very 'goth' of course, or were, because I think they have a new singer now who is less operatic. I'm fond of Elvenpath anyway. It's quite unusual because I'm often suspicious of liking music just because it has obvious Tolkien references.

[The Might]

Indeed, good observation on other such bands there, Lindale.

Perhaps a better topic would then be - metal & Tolkien.

And I agree with Lalwende, that really is a nice way of putting it.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This thread can certainly expand to include other bands, metal or not, who play Tolkien-related music. There are lots of them! (There are previous threads, but I'm not sure how far you would have to dig to find them, so it's worth starting this new one.) For those who are interested, I can refer you to a chapter on the connection between Tolkien and black metal music in the upcoming book Music in Middle-earth. I've already seen it, and though that's not my style of music, it's a fascinating topic. The book is currently being prepared for printing and should be published in October.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Thanks for the link, Lindale, although it seems the writer misses a trick here:

"Even the controversial Varg [Vikernes] project Burzum used to be known as Uruk-hai after the menacing super-race of orcs."

Burzum is, of course, also an homage to Tolkien. This project is easily my favourite Tolkien-inspired metal.

I would also point out that the rather famous Amon Amarth are unrelated to Tolkien: they just liked the name.

I bought that Nightfall in Middle-earth album a few years ago and found it to be very tiresome. Nightwish I have no opinion of.

[The Might]

Lady Estelyn, could you help me out with renaming the thread so it better suits the topic - something like rock bands & Tolkien or something like that.

And the connection to black metal sounds interesting, would like to know more since I was not aware it existed.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Aye, big influence. There are or were at least eight bands called Sauron.

There's Feanor, Cirith Ungol, Cirith Gorgor, loads of Morgoths, Gandalf, Saruman, Moria; the list goes on. That's just from a 60 second search on metal-archives.

[Lindale]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

I would also point out that the rather famous Amon Amarth are unrelated to Tolkien: they just liked the name.

Quite true. And sometimes I wonder, do those black metallers think they get cooler or something by alluding to one such as Tolkien, who is easily associated with modern epics. I mean, if those metallers allude to something as crass as those horrible Meyer things, they'd get classified as emo/screamo stuff.

I bought that Nightfall in Middle-earth album a few years ago and found it to be very tiresome. Nightwish I have no opinion of.

You break my heart. But what is Burzum? Can you post a link? (Sorry. Am in the ROTC lounge right now, and what I'm doing is illegal surfing )

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Originally Posted by Lindale

Quite true. And sometimes I wonder, do those black metallers think they get cooler or something by alluding to one such as Tolkien, who is easily associated with modern epics. I mean, if those metallers allude to something as crass as those horrible Meyer things, they'd get classified as emo/screamo stuff.

Well, I would respectfully point out that Amon Amarth are not exactly black metal. Actually, I know this band quite well, and the bassist and founding member is the Lord of the Rings fan: he suggested the name and the others agreed that it had a nice ring to it.

Also: get.........cooler? Which alternative universe are you living in if you think making Tolkien references increases your 'cool'?

I don't know what Meyer is.

Anyway, as for Blind Guardian: each to their own, and all that. I see why it's popular but it's just not my thing.

Burzum is recognisable, surely, to us all, from the inscription on the Ring of Sauron:

Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,
Ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

It's also the name of one of the most influential black metal projects. Try looking for some Burzum; though you said you don't like growling vocals... how about screams? If not, he does plenty of ambient work too.