The band's untraditional aesthetic and approach to their music has led to Altar of Plagues appealing to a wide variety of listeners and this may be seen by the diverse range of acts Altar of Plagues have toured with, including Isis and Mayhem, as well as having appeared at festivals that focus on extreme metal and festivals that encourage experimentation and diversity.
In June 2013, the band announced via Facebook that they were splitting up and their final live performance would be at the Unsound Festival in Poland in October.
Members:
James Kelly - guitars, synthesizers, vocals;
Dave Condon - bass guitar, vocals;
Johnny King - drums.
http://www.altarofplagues.com
Feather and Bone
Altar of Plagues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forever dying and stripped of all but nothing and fed to nothing.
Wide eye cannot see the beyond, they will not look upon it's face.
The ride to that which has no soul, the ride to nothingness.
Words fall empty, words filled with heart
The wide distance pulls us apart.
Horses are rapid and ready. White light chases light.
The lyrics of Altar of Plagues's song "Feather and Bone" evoke a sense of endlessness and desolation. The opening line, "It is a familiar place that the road leads toward," sets the tone for the rest of the song, in which the listener is taken on a journey to a place that is dying and void of meaning. The repetition of the phrase "nothing and fed to nothing" reinforces the idea that there is no purpose to this journey, no end goal to be attained.
The second verse introduces the concept of blindness, with the line "Wide eye cannot see the beyond, they will not look upon its face." This could be interpreted as a commentary on human nature- we are often unable or unwilling to face uncomfortable truths or realities. The phrase "the ride to that which has no soul" heightens the sense of emptiness and finality.
The third verse is perhaps the most striking, with its juxtaposition of words that are "empty" and "filled with heart." This is a reminder that even though the journey itself may be meaningless, the emotions and connections we make along the way are real and impactful. However, the final line, "Horses are rapid and ready. White light chases light," brings us back to the idea that this journey is leading nowhere- the horses may be fast and eager, but they are racing to an empty destination.
Overall, "Feather and Bone" is a meditation on the futility of existence and the inevitability of death. The lyrics are highly evocative and the repetition of certain phrases creates a sense of circularity, as though the journey described in the song is destined to repeat itself over and over again.
Line by Line Meaning
It is a familiar place that the road leads toward.
The destination of this road has been visited before and is not unknown.
Forever dying and stripped of all but nothing and fed to nothing.
This place is constantly undergoing death and decay, and is ultimately consumed by nothingness.
Wide eye cannot see the beyond, they will not look upon it's face.
Even those with the widest perspective cannot comprehend the true nature of this place and cannot bear to face it fully.
The ride to that which has no soul, the ride to nothingness.
The journey leads to a place devoid of any life or essence, and ultimately to complete emptiness.
Words fall empty, words filled with heart
Language is inadequate in conveying the emotions and depth associated with this experience.
The wide distance pulls us apart.
Both physical and emotional distance separates and isolates us from others in this moment.
Horses are rapid and ready. White light chases light.
Movement is swift and purposeful, with a sense of urgency driving forward. Brightness and clarity pursue each other in endless cycles.
Contributed by Sarah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ritalin Rain
everything about this is scary.. it's so irish, definitely summons up this very dark, irish bronze age dread, like exploring some ancient tomb. changed my life. what an amazing band
Peter K.
best altar song so far. (2019)
INROKrecommends
Just got this album on Vinyl <3
Paulo Figueiredo
My fav song from Mammal
INROKrecommends
Coldworld is amazing... I should actually upload some of his tracks.
Michael Queelag
3:25 "Wide eye cannot see the beyond, they will not look upon it's face" love this part
Dáithí
Sounds like an anthem that could accompany a death march! and has the atmosphere of an Irish funeral well in my own head at least
Beelzebubbbbles
There are loads of great bands recording and performing in Ireland. You're not going to hear too many of them on the radio, but that's been the case for decades. Look for alternative online radio, like Phantom FM, to broaden your horizons.
Beelzebubbbbles
There's no problem with uploading full albums, so why would a track be too long?
Kyle King
This is amazing. I have to look these guys up.