The band released their first CD, 2004's self released Tommorows Door, unfortunately without much fanfare as their (Now Retired) drummer wished to remain low profile and underground.
Soon the tables of fortune would smile as he was replaced by Eric Gnant and the recording of KISS OF THE THORN was complete. This was to be their Best Recording Ever as they recorded as a band should under the masterful hand of Joel Wanasek at JTW studio's.
Upon the interest of a friend from Germany, black metal giant Northern-Silence Records who had interest in the band's first release formed a new label EYES LIKE SNOW for flagship artist A TORTURED SOUL. On September the 28th- 2007
What is A Tortured Soul -A Tortured Soul is best described as an Dark Heavy metal sound with a thrash metal influence. Of course lead singer Rick Black's lyric's will always show traces of his black metal roots just as the band compositions will show their molten heavy metal core. Tandem searing guitar leads are the signature of Nate Gorenc, Ryne Schultz's lightning fast lead work. combined with, Eric Gnant's killer drumming that will pound the shit out of you every time you hear his fiery tom roll’s, crisp snare or faster than hell double bass attack, You will feel the massive tones of Stefan Bohl and his in the pocket ,deep dark and crushing bass guitar mastery . Rick Black is the vocalist who is self trained in the lost art of very, very high/low multi octave vocals the like of King Diamond and Halford with such an extreme range you must experience it to believe. the Band's History starts -a year or so back, when the band chanced upon the interest of a friend from Germany, black metal giant Northern-Silence Records who had interest in the band's first release formed a new label EYES LIKE SNOW for flagship artist A TORTURED SOUL. And KISS OF THE THORN was released to the mail order audience of the WORLD!! Like a 6000 ton ball bearing rolling off a cliff in the Alps a TORTURED SOUL s Molten Metal ATTACK will never STOP! Crushing. Killing and Destroying every soul alive or dead This band will not surrender .--And now a 2nd album has been written to surpass Kiss of the Thorn look for Lucifer's Fate set for release early 2010
Ritual
A Tortured Soul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The ritual begins
A kiss before my last goodbye
War with demons of my sin
Tear me from within
A scar to show my pain was life
I've seen mothers fight with death
Stolen faith from the blackest souls
Filled the coffins watch them cry
Seven angels with their lonely eyes
Cold steel upon my skin
The ritual it ends
The shotgun is my last goodbye
Blood, blood upon the walls
The pictures never fall
A stain to show my pain was life
I've seen mothers fight with death
Touched the scars my cancer left
Stolen faith from the blackest souls
Filled the coffins watch them cry
Seven angels with their lonely eyes
The song Ritual by A Tortured Soul is a dark and intense portrayal of an individual who is deeply tormented by his past, his sins, and his struggles with illness. The lyrics describe a ritual that the singer undergoes, which involves cutting himself with cold steel upon his skin. The ritual, in a way, is a manifestation of his internal turmoil, as he seeks to purge himself of the demons that haunt him. He knows that the ritual will be his last goodbye, his final act before he succumbs to his inner demons.
Throughout the song, the singer describes his experiences with illness and death, including his own battle with cancer. He also portrays himself as somewhat of a witness to the emotional turmoil of others, as he sees "mothers fight with death" and "coffins watch them cry". The seven angels with their lonely eyes provide a haunting and almost surreal element to the song, representing perhaps the toll that death and despair take on those who witness it.
Overall, the song Ritual paints a bleak and disturbing picture of the human condition. It is a vivid portrayal of death, illness, and personal demons, and the struggle that we all face to overcome them.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold steel upon my skin
Feeling the icy touch of the blade on my flesh
The ritual begins
The ceremony that precedes my final act commences
A kiss before my last goodbye
Sharing a final moment of intimacy before departing forever
War with demons of my sin
Engaging in a battle to conquer my own inner demons
Tear me from within
Ripping apart the very fabric of my being
A scar to show my pain was life
Leaving a permanent reminder of the suffering I endured during my existence
I've seen mothers fight with death
Having observed those closest to me battle with the inevitability of their demise
Touched the scars my cancer left
Having felt the remnants of my own illness after its physical manifestation ceased
Stolen faith from the blackest souls
Witnessing individuals who have lost their faith, even in the darkest of times
Filled the coffins watch them cry
Filling caskets with the remains of those who have departed, observing the mourning of their loved ones
Seven angels with their lonely eyes
Encountering celestial beings with a palpable sense of isolation and detachment
The ritual it ends
The ceremony that preceded my final act has come to a close
The shotgun is my last goodbye
Using a firearm to bid farewell to the world
Blood, blood upon the walls
The visual remnants of my final moments, splattered across the surfaces surrounding me
The pictures never fall
Despite the violent conclusion of my life, the images adorning the walls remain undisturbed
A stain to show my pain was life
A blemish upon the surfaces around me, immortalizing the anguish and strife that defined my existence
Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.