But hey; perhaps you want to know more about Astral Doors?! Don't worry; below you can read the full biography
In early 2002, Swedish guitarist Joachim Nordlund, drummer Johan Lindstedt and singer Nils Patrik Johansson teamed up and decided to write some metal songs in the spirit of the old heroes Rainbow, Dio, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. They completed the band with organ player Jocke Roberg and with Martin Haglund on the bass.
They recorded their debut-album (mixed by Peter Tägtgren at Abyss Studio) and began working with Danish based metal-agency Intromental Management. Deals were locked down for “Of The Son And The Father”. The band caught immense media attention, with fantastic reviews everywhere, and various festivals were not late to book ASTRAL DOORS.(now with Martin Haglund as the second guitarist and with Mika Itaranta on the bass) The band performed at Wacken Open Air, Sweden Rock Festival and 2000 Decibel during the summer of 2004, gaining an impressive number of new fans.
Not resting on the laurels of their success, ASTRAL DOORS finalized their 2nd opus “Evil Is Forever” very quickly and the album was released by the same labels as the debut album. The release, which once again received amazing media and fan support, was followed by an extensive European tour as support act to German metal-gods Grave Digger, as well as several festival gigs in Sweden, and not to forget a successful gig in Germany with the hard rock princess herself, Doro Pesch.
Wanting to please their European fans with some extra and exclusive material, while waiting for their next full length, the band gathered a variety of material of unreleased songs and Japanese bonus track, and in October 2005 released the “Raiders Of The Ark” EP.
In late 2005 the band once again went back to the Abyss Studio and Peter Tägtgren to record their 3rd full length album, “Astralism”. The album was released in 2006 and stunned everybody with its roaring sound and incredible riffs and technicality. Astral Doors was offered the prestigious spot as official support band for the power metal kings Blind Guardian on a full scale European tour in the fall of 2006. Astral Doors accepted the offer, impressed everybody and left deep musical tracks in their wake…
When the band returned to Sweden after the very successful, 2 month long tour with Blind Guardian, Astral Doors immediately started writing new material for the fourth album. Astral Doors will always stand with both feet in the classic hardrock, but this time around they decided to bring more elements, moods and variations to the classic Astral Sound. "New Revelation" was released September 2007, received great reviews and climbed on the charts.
After the release of New Revelation, the band went out on their first big European tour as headliners. It was a blast and during 2008 the band returned to Sweden Rock Festival for a smoking appearance.
By this point, the band felt that they needed new challenges; left the old management and signed with German agency Flying Dolphin and later also with new label Metalville.
Two and a half year after the release of "New Revelation", the band striked back, stronger than ever before with the epic masterpiece, "Requiem of Time".
With songs like "Power and the Glory", "Testament of Rock", "St. Peters Cross", the album truly is one of the highlights in the bands career.
The first line up change in the history of the band was also a fact as Ulf Lagerström was introduced as the new bassplayer in the band stepping in after Mika. Martin Haglund also left the band due to personal issues. No new guitarist was hired; the band decided to finally give Joachim the attention he deserves and also to give the magical keyboard of Jocke Roberg more space in the sound picture.
Stronger than ever, the band went out to play some of the most important festivals 2010, and the band also decided to put together a compilation with their best songs as a treat for old fans, but most important; to win over new fans. "Testament of Rock-The Best of Astral Doors" also contains the previously unreleased song, "Victory".
This summer, 2011, the band played some cool festivals, among them the mighty BANG YOUR HEAD FESTIVAL.
In October 2011 the band will release their heaviest album so far, "Jerusalem", which is a journey through good and evil. Mixed by Daniel Bergstrand, the music of Astral Doors reaches new heights. Blistering hits like "Seventh Crusade", Babylon Rise" and "With a Strangers Eye" meets up with the epic title track and the video hit "Child of Rock'n'roll". Several tours are also planned. The best band in the world has sharpened their strings......
To be continued.....
Black Rain
Astral Doors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carrying the bomb of judgement day
In their minds they knew it too well
Angels sent from hell
The empire strikes; pacific suprise
Harbour's on fire, a fatal advice
Victory; the world is at stake
A bound that no one could break
Land of the rising sun
Everyone; waiting for the rain
Atomic clouds
Black Rain
Black Rain
Hiroshima; Drowning in Black Rain
A burning child; still alive
Seek the river; for the final dive
Bodies floating out to the sea
Into eternity
All lost in flames, panic and pain
The day turned to night, but here comes the rain
They all drank to borrow some time
Radiated cries
Home of the Samurai
They're warriors; waiting for the rain
Atomic clouds
Black Rain
Black Rain
Hiroshima; Drowning in Black Rain
Hiroshima
Black Rain
Hiroshima
Land of the rising sun
Everyone; waiting for the rain
Atomic clouds
Black Rain
Nuclear dust
Black Rain: They saw it coming down
Black Rain: Over Hiroshima
Black Rain, Coming from heaven
Drinkin in the Black Rain.
The song "Black Rain" by Astral Doors is a powerful commentary on the horrors of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. The opening lines make reference to the Enola Gay, the plane that dropped the bomb, and the notion of judgement day, invoking a sense of impending doom. The singers paint a picture of the Japanese people waiting for the rain to come and cleanse the land of the destruction wrought by the bomb, but instead, they are met with the black rain of nuclear fallout.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Black Rain" over and over again, emphasizing the bleakness and devastating power of the event. The lyrics describe the aftermath of the bombing, with burning children seeking the river as a final escape, bodies floating out to sea, and panicked cries ringing out amidst the destruction. The imagery evoked is vivid and harrowing, serving as a stark reminder of the terrible toll that war can take on innocent civilians.
Overall, "Black Rain" is a poignant and powerful tribute to the victims of the Hiroshima bombing. It is a reminder that the legacy of war can be felt long after the fighting ends and serves as a warning about the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly away; Enola Gay
The pilot of Enola Gay airplane is instructed to fly away.
Carrying the bomb of judgement day
The airplane is carrying a bomb which is going to be dropped soon.
In their minds they knew it too well
The pilots were aware of the destruction that the bomb was going to cause.
Angels sent from hell
The pilots were like angels sent to cause destruction and were well-aware of it.
The empire strikes; pacific surprise
The empire is dropping a bomb on Pacific ocean islands as a surprise.
Harbour's on fire, a fatal advice
The harbor is on fire which is a dangerous consequence of the bomb dropped on it.
Victory; the world is at stake
The world is at stake as a consequence of this victory.
A bound that no one could break
The bond between the pilots and their mission was unbreakable.
Land of the rising sun
Referring to Japan which is often called the land of the rising sun.
Everyone; waiting for the rain
Everyone in Japan is waiting for the rain.
Atomic clouds
Referring to the mushroom-like clouds that form after an atomic bomb is dropped.
Black Rain
Referring to the rain that falls after an atomic bomb is dropped which is black due to radioactive material.
Hiroshima; Drowning in Black Rain
People in Hiroshima are drowning in the black rain.
A burning child; still alive
A child who is still alive despite being burnt by the bomb.
Seek the river; for the final dive
The child is suggested to jump into the river for a final relief.
Bodies floating out to the sea
Dead bodies are floating in the water and heading towards the sea.
Into eternity
The bodies are floating into an unknown future which lasts forever with them.
All lost in flames, panic and pain
Everyone is lost in the chaos of fire, panic, and pain.
The day turned to night, but here comes the rain
The day turned into a night-like situation but now the rain is coming which is black and poisonous.
They all drank to borrow some time
People drank water to extend their lives for some time against radioactive poisoning.
Radiated cries
People's cries are filled with pain and suffering caused by radiation.
Home of the Samurai
Referring to Japan which is known for Samurai warriors.
They're warriors; waiting for the rain
Japanese warriors are waiting for the rain which is their last hope of relief.
Nuclear dust
Referring to the radioactive dust and debris formed after the atomic bomb is dropped.
Black Rain: They saw it coming down
People saw the black rain falling from the sky.
Black Rain: Over Hiroshima
The black rain fell over the city of Hiroshima.
Black Rain, Coming from heaven
The black rain is coming from the skies.
Drinkin in the Black Rain.
People are drinking the black rain which is carrying radioactive material and dying.
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kiril Gyudurov
You don't have to be HAPPY with a song. This is a song about a tragedy. What do you expect? Heavy Metal is honest music.
LightkeeperDio
"A burning child; still alive Seek the river; for the final dive" I'm crying from these words...
Music lover
Magnificent album in my collection, thanks for vid.
panos ermithis
To anyone who hears the song right now: never forget it.
shinobi74
masterpiece
Elvis Coroa Ferreira
Powerful vocal
The Metalist
temazo
KOKO DOCHEV
the best
W Scott
why does this not have move views. this makes me quite sad.
KOKO DOCHEV
mnogo dobre