1) Oklahoma Thrash Metal act F… Read Full Bio ↴There are various artists called "Forte":
1) Oklahoma Thrash Metal act FORTE arrived with the 1990 demo tape 'Dementia By Design'. The band signed to Germany's Massacre Records for the debut 1992 album 'Stranger Than Fiction'. Line up included former OLIVER MAGNUM singer James Randell, guitarist Jeff Scott, ex-LEGIONED MARCHER bassist Ghames 'Reverend' Jones and drummer Greg Scott. Jones had also acted as touring bassist for Arlington, Texas Thrashers GAMMACIDE. Touring would find FORTE reaping valuable high profile supports to acts such as DREAM THEATER, PANTERA, OVERKILL, SEPULTURA, SAVATAGE, WATCHTOWER and FLOTSAM & JETSAM.
The 1994 album 'Division' witnessed a radical change in the band format with vocals now in the hands of Bill Dollins, another erstwhile LEGIONED MARCHER man. The album included a cover version of ACCEPT's 'Fast As A Shark'. Yet again the band scored more strong and diverse guest slots to the likes of FEAR FACTORY, LIFE OF AGONY and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN. Jones would also find time to deputise for GAMMACIDE.
The 1997 'Destructive' record saw another crop of new faces in vocalist David Thompson and bassist Richard Sharp. Another extensive road jount found the new look FORTE opening for TESTAMENT, KING DIAMOND, EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, SAXON and SKINLAB among others. The band stabilised their line up and cut a further album, 'Rise Above' in 1999. This record would be promoted on the live circuit with an appearance at the 'Powermad' festival and tour work alongside DEATH, TESTAMENT, HAMMERFALL and MANOWAR. Despite the band's obvious progress on the live front and a string of consistent albums FORTE severed then severed ties with Massacre Records. Original singer James Randell made a return in November 1999, commiting to tape the QUEENSRYCHE cover 'Prophecy' for a Frontiers Records tribute album released during 2000.
During January of 2002 the band announced its new line up which now included DREAM KINGS vocalist Kevin Valliquette and bass player Greg Nicholson joining the mainstay inner circle of the Scott siblings. Under their new guise FORTE set to work on a fresh studio album projected for an early 2003 release.
Former member Reverend Jones travelled on to BLACK SYMPHONY during 1997 and was ensconced in the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP for the German guitar guru's 2001 opus 'Be Aware Of Scorpions'. Erstwhile FORTE bassists Richard Sharp and Greg Nicholson founded THE KILL in 2003, seeing Sharp shift to guitar alongside another FORTE colleague vocalist Kevin Valliquette and drummer drummer Ezra Darrow. By April of 2004 Jones would be pulling road duty with Nu-Metal band FUEL. He fired up a new band project, BARNEY FIFER, in early 2005.
2) Forte, Apulian singer-songwriter born in 1988. After taking part in various unreleased projects, Forte decided to devote himself to a solo project. In 2020, he released his first work "Amore Doni, Amore Vuoi"
Stronger Than Death
Forté Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cryptic verse the mind unlocks
Hypnotized by an early grave
Cold steel fixation slave the way
Unreachable and devil locked
Burning flesh with horns aloft
Life or death an easy choice
The hammer coming down
Arise above the rest
Heavier than time
Stronger than death
Driven by demons
Burning in my chest
Heavier than time
Stronger than death
Far too gone to bring it back
Shattered life heart attack
Ghost of all you've torn apart
Dead eyes betray a frozen heart
In these lyrics, Forté speaks about the heavy and tormenting feeling of being pulled down towards death as a result of a constant state of shock in one's brain and bone. The 'cryptic verse' represents the ways in which the mind tries to make sense of this feeling, while the imagery of being hypnotized by an early grave and being a 'cold steel fixation slave' portrays the overwhelming and all-consuming nature of the feeling. The lyrics also mention demonic forces taking hold, represented by 'burning flesh with horns aloft' and the idea of being 'devil locked' - signifying the despair and helplessness of the situation. At this point, life and death can seem like an easy choice, with thoughts of ending it all seen as a way to 'kill the voice', or escape the pain.
However, the chorus brings a sense of resilience and determination to the song, with the words 'arise above the rest' and the idea of being 'stronger than death' suggesting that there is a way to pull through and rise above the feeling of despair. The metaphor of being 'heavier than time' speaks to the idea that time can feel like a burden and that overcoming it requires a significant amount of strength. The lyrics suggest that this strength comes from being 'driven by demons' and having a feeling that burns in one's chest - a powerful motivation to keep going despite the difficulties faced. The final verse speaks to the aftermath of the struggle, with all that has been lost and the sense of 'betrayal' that can be felt when looking back at what has been 'torn apart'.
Line by Line Meaning
Brain and bone in constant shock
The constant turmoil and unexpected events have a huge impact on one's mental and physical well-being.
Cryptic verse the mind unlocks
Figuring out and decoding cryptic messages can have a powerful effect on the mind.
Hypnotized by an early grave
The constant fear and fixation on death can be overwhelming and controlling.
Cold steel fixation slave the way
The obsession with committing violent acts can consume and control an individual.
Unreachable and devil locked
Feeling trapped and unable to escape the grasp of evil can be a terrifying experience.
Burning flesh with horns aloft
Picturing the devil with all his symbolic attributes can create a vivid and striking image.
Life or death an easy choice
When one feels like they have nothing else to live for, the choice between life and death becomes simple.
Just one more to kill the voice
Taking one more action to silence the inner demons can become an addiction.
The hammer coming down
The gravity of the situation and the consequences of one's actions are about to be felt.
Arise above the rest
After going through difficult times, one can come out stronger than before and stand out from others.
Heavier than time
The weight of past events and experiences can be incredibly heavy to carry.
Stronger than death
One's inner strength and resilience can be even greater than the power of death.
Driven by demons
The motivation and force behind one's actions may be fueled by their inner demons and personal struggles.
Burning in my chest
The intense and painful emotions can feel like they are physically burning inside.
Far too gone to bring it back
Once an individual has crossed a certain point, it can be impossible to go back to how things were before.
Shattered life heart attack
The emotional pain and stress can cause physical symptoms and have long-lasting effects on one's life.
Ghost of all you've torn apart
The past actions and decisions can haunt an individual and continue to cause damage.
Dead eyes betray a frozen heart
One's expression and demeanor can reveal the true inner pain and emptiness they are feeling.
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Raymond Keenan
This ROCKS BALLS!!!!! Great work guys!!!!!
oooooooooorly
How long until the album comes out? This rules.
sexton405
fuckin A greg keep it up
Mohd Yazid Yusof
Thrashers. .