Blitzkid was a horror punk band that began in Bluef… Read Full Bio ↴active 1997-2012
Blitzkid was a horror punk band that began in Bluefield, WV in the winter of 1997, with guitarist/vocalist/songwriter TB Monstrosity and bassist/vocalist/songwriter Argyle Goolsby. In the 17 years that they have been a band, they have toured consistently all over the US and overseas, released multiple albums and EPs, a Live DVD and participated on the soundtrack for a film.
After recording a 10 song demo just for fun titled “Songs For The Aesthetically Challenged” the band became a bit more serious and gained it’s first 3-piece lineup. In 1998, the trio began songwriting, rehearsing, and started playing local gigs. In May of 1999, they recorded the 7-song “Revisited EP”. This particular release showcased a more hookladen “horror rock” approach that the band had already hinted at. The recording also showcased some of the band’s most popular material to date in the songs “Nadine”, the original recording of “Slaughter At the Sock Hop”, and “Hate You Better”.
By the winter of 1999, Blitzkid entered Lively Sound Studios in Lewisburg, WV to record the 13 song full length “Terrifying Tales” album. Extensive gigs soon followed in their hometown as well as branching out for the first time into surrounding states. Soon afterward, the revamped creeprock trio quickly began work at Real 2 Reel studios in Blacksburg, VA in the summer of 2001 for the 12 track “Let The Flowers Die” album which as released on December 29th, 2001.
In December of 2003, Fiend Force Records, a major independent record label from Germany specializing in horrorock, began working with the band and placed a track by them on their debut compilation album “This Is Horrorpunk”, followed by the Euro release of their 2003 recording “Trace Of A Stranger”. Fiend Force Records officially released the Blitzkid/Mister Monster split EP “Exhuming Graves And Making Ddates”. After extensive touring to promote both releases (including the band’s first successful stint in Europe with The Spook on the now legendary “Everyday Is Halloween” tour in October 2004), Blitzkid regrouped with Fiend Force as their official label and continued to play nonstop rounds of shows.
In the time that followed, Blitzkid found themselves at SS Studios (Hamilton, NJ) in May of 2005 tracking what would become their fifth full length album, “Five Cellars Below”.
By early 2006, Blitzkid had completed work on the new record and embarked on more live shows that led to them touring Germany once again successfully with Fiend Force’s The Crimson Ghosts in June, and once they returned stateside, the band embarked on their biggest U.S. tour yet that saw them play 58 dates from June 29th to September 12th.
On August 25th, 2006, “Five Cellars Below” was released worldwide via Fiend Force Records and in October, the band set out to tour Europe for a third time on the Hell Night's Tour with labelmates The Rezurex, The Other, and The Bloodsucking Zombies from Outer Space. The tour saw them playing the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Austria, Holland, Hungary, and Germany.
As of 2011 the band is currently headed up by Argyle Goolsby (bass/vokills/metabolism), Nathan Bane (guitar/keys/the brightside) and Ricko Mortis (drums/job security), after long-time vocalist/guitarist TB Monstrosity called his quits with the band. In the time they have been a band, they have garnered critical underground acclaim for their tireless work ethic, consistent, ever evolving album output, disregard for bad tour routing and dedication to giving their audience their moneys worth through providing energetic live shows and playing great songs.
Blitzkid has a prodigious following in the states as well as Europe and have shared the stage, in some cases regularly, with many and great notable acts. Blitzkid have also been a regular part of many of the biggest festivals in Europe including Mera Luna, Rock My Ass, Endless Summer, Summer Breeze, and WGT. Blitzkid are signed to Century Media/People Like You Records worldwide and managed by Riot Rock Management.
The band is booked exclusively by Destiny Tourbooking in Europe, and by The Pantheon Agency in North America. The band has released material consistently since 1998. Apparitional released in March of 2011 is Blitzkids first release on Century Media/PLY Records. Their music has also appeared in many salient horror films, most notably It Came From Trafalgar, Dark Wings a documentary on the Mothman, Satan Hates You, and Gris Grimlys classic Cannibal Flesh Riot. They have also appeared favorably in publications such as Terrorizer, Punk Rock Confidential, Metal Maniacs, Rue Morgue, Horrorhound, Virus, Drop Dead, Sonic Seducer, KinKats, Revolver, Zillo, and Ox.
Recently the band released their newest album, "Apparitional", which has the last recordings of TB with the band before the break-up as well as an special guest in the form of Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein (Ex-Misfits/Kryst The Conqueror/Gorgeous Frankenstein) on the song "Mr. Sardonicus". They also released a new EP titled "Head over Hills".
Vanishing Riders
Blitzkid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eyes darting.
The town is racing for it's life.
Doors locking.
The leaves are raging on a breeze.
A warning.
Within an hour they'll be here.
We bolt our doors.
The skies last flame now turns to rust.
Howls on a nearby hill initiate the dusk.
And they ride...
And they ride...
And they ride...
And they ride...
Sleek cloaks of ebon tear the sky.
Dark flapping.
Accursed hooves ignite the dust.
Dark rapping.
A trail of embers lace the way.
Burnt tracking.
Before the corss we kneel and pray
for passing.
The cursed cavalry's wroght purpose
is unknown.
Extended torches lead the flight
of charging bones.
Am I, alone, the one who'll face
this lottery?
And ride forever on a fire blackened steed?
The vanishing riders
come with new moons to take an offering.
An offering, now, of a human soul.
No one knows why these hills are haunted
with encroaching cries.
Despairing mares.
No one here can leave this town alive.
A dash of fire
The flight of exposed bones.
A number will be drawn.
The vanishing riders...
The vanishing riders...
The vanishing riders...
The vanishing riders...
The... vanishing....
The lyrics of Blitzkid's Vanishing Riders depict a feeling of imminent danger that is about to hit a small town. The night is bleak, and there is a sense of despair in the air. The townsfolk lock their doors and prepare themselves for whatever is coming their way. The leaves are howling with the wind, giving them a warning of the arrival of something ominous. The riders are coming, and they are not ordinary in any way. The lyrics describe them as having sleek cloaks of ebon and accursed hooves that ignite the dust. They leave burnt tracking along the way, and they charge towards their unknown purpose with extended torches.
The chorus of the song repeats "The vanishing riders" over and over again, sending shivers down the listener's spine. The townsfolk are uncertain of their fate, leaving one to wonder if they will be the ones to face the "lottery" and ride forever on a fire blackened steed. There is a sense of hopelessness in the lyrics, with the riders coming with new moons to take their "offering" of a human soul. The song ends on a grim note, with no hope for anyone to leave the town alive.
Overall, the lyrics of Vanishing Riders create a haunting picture of a small town's fate at the hands of unknown forces. The feeling of uncertainty and despair is evident throughout the song, leaving the listener feeling uneasy.
Line by Line Meaning
Despair has gripped the air tonite.
The feeling of hopelessness and misery is felt throughout the night.
Eyes darting.
The people's eyes are nervously shifting around.
The town is racing for it's life.
The town is in a state of panic and trying to escape.
Doors locking.
The people are securing their entrances.
The leaves are raging on a breeze.
The leaves are blowing violently in the wind.
A warning.
The leaves blowing violently acts as a warning sign.
Within an hour they'll be here.
The vanishing riders will arrive within an hour.
They're coming.
The vanishing riders are approaching the area.
We bolt our doors.
The people are securing their homes.
The skies last flame now turns to rust.
The sun is setting in the sky.
Howls on a nearby hill initiate the dusk.
The howls of the riders signal the start of darkness.
And they ride...
The vanishing riders are on their way.
Sleek cloaks of ebon tear the sky.
The black cloaks of the riders flutter in the wind.
Dark flapping.
The flapping sound of the cloaks is ominous.
Accursed hooves ignite the dust.
The riders cursed hooves kick up dust as they ride.
Dark rapping.
The sound of the hooves is unsettling.
A trail of embers lace the way.
There are burning embers left in the wake of the riders.
Burnt tracking.
There are marks on the ground from where the riders have passed.
Before the cross we kneel and pray for passing.
The people are praying for the riders to pass by without harming them.
The cursed cavalry's wrought purpose is unknown.
It's unclear why the cursed cavalry is riding through town.
Extended torches lead the flight of charging bones.
The riders hold torches as they charge through the streets.
Am I, alone, the one who'll face this lottery?
Is there a chance that only one person will be selected by the riders?
And ride forever on a fire blackened steed?
Will that person be taken to ride forever with the riders?
The vanishing riders come with new moons to take an offering.
The riders come during every new moon to take someone.
An offering, now, of a human soul.
The riders take humans as sacrifices.
No one knows why these hills are haunted with encroaching cries.
It's unclear why the riders are haunting this area.
Despairing mares.
The horses of the riders are filled with despair.
No one here can leave this town alive.
No one can escape the town with the riders around.
A dash of fire.
There's a sudden burst of flames.
The flight of exposed bones.
The riders are skeletal.
A number will be drawn.
Someone will be chosen as a sacrifice.
The vanishing riders...
The riders who disappear.
The...
The end is near.
Contributed by Hannah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.