Guns N Roses...Novemvber Rain...

Well now...everyone has heard of Guns N Roses...they need no introduction and I am not writing one! What everyone has not heard of is Del James, the friend of Axl Rose (the founder of Guns N Roses). Del James is a music journalist and also the road manager of the band. He wrote a story "Without You" which inspired the epic video of the well known GNR song "November Rain".

The lyrics of the song is featured here:

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time...on your own
Do you need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time...on my
own Sometimes I need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Don't ya think that you need somebody
Don't ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one.


In my next post I will be uploading the story "Without You".

Theatre of Tragedy

There is an interesting band I found: "Theatre of Tragedy", a Norwegian band. The band is best known for its use of contrasting vocals: male death grunts and "bright" female vocals; commonly referred to as the beauty and the beast vocals. Till date the band has released eight albums with one of the eight being a live album. The most admired albums are: the self titled album that was their debutant, Velvet Darkness They Fear and Storm. The band has been around for almost 17 years now.

The most wonderful thing that sets this band apart from the usual death, doom and gothic metal bands is the use of Early Modern English in their initial albums: mainly in Theatre of Tragedy and Velvet Darkness They Fear. Now, I agree this isn't the most remarkable thing and there would be a lot of bands that do that but this combined with the power of lyrics, beautiful music and the beauty-beast vocals: now that is something not every band has.

The lyrics (and I am talking about their album Velvet Darkness They Fear) usually do not have a clear theme or meaning but they have elements from folklore with prominent supernatural elements being present. One of the nine songs presented is in German and trust me, it's a must listen to. As far as other albums are concerned they have some wonderful songs as well and lyrics are strong. In short, the band won't disappoint you...

The official website of the band has the name: From The Pages of Tragedy. However given their name, I didn't find the lyrics so "Tragic". The names of the songs are just brilliant. Some of the names which really appeal to me are: Der Tanz Der Schatten (The Dance of The Shadows), And When He Falleth..., Black As The Devil Painteth, Bring Forth Ye Shadow, A Hamlet For A Slothful Vassal, Ashes and Dreams etc etc.

Band Members:

Raymond István Rohonyi - Vocals, Programming, lyrics
Nell Sigland - Vocals
Frank Claussen - Guitar
Vegard K. Thorsen - Guitar
Lorentz Aspen - Keyboards
Hein Frode Hansen - Drums

Former Members:

Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull - Vocals
Tommy Lindal - Guitar
Tommy Olsson - Guitar
Pål Bjåstad - Guitar
Geir Flikkeid - Guitar
Eirik T. Saltrø - Bass

Discography:

Albums:

Theatre of Tragedy (1995)
Velvet Darkness They Fear (1996)
Aégis (1998)
Musique (2000)
Closure: Live (2001)
Assembly (2002)
Storm (2006)
Forever Is the World (2009)


Singles and EPs:

Theatre of Tragedy (demo) (1994)
Der Tanz Der Schatten (single) (1996)
A Rose for the Dead (EP, 1997)
Cassandra (single)(1998)
Virago (EP)(1999)
Image (single) (2000)
Inperspective (EP) (2000)
Machine (single) (2001)
Envision (single) (2002)
Let You Down (single) (2002)
Storm (single) (2006)
Deadland (single) (2009)
Addenda EP (2010)