As opposed to the aggressive Satanism of many black metal bands, GBK's lyrics take a literate, satirical view of biblical lore. The band is known for incorporating melodic, traditional heavy metal influences while retaining the more unorthodox aspects of black metal songwriting. GBK are one of America's first black metal bands and are true fathers of USBM.
Following the death of Richard Mills (singer on Kosherat) in August of 2006, the band split up, but later reformed to play gigs in 2009-10. The band has been sporadically active and playing gigs ever since with Unhold (Absurd, Luror, Helduntum) taking over as live vocalist. New studio material has been recorded Kohanic Charmers (2022)
Releases
* Goat Of A Thousand Young (1992; demo)
* Triumph of the Hordes (1994; demo)
* A Witness to the Regicide (1996; EP)
* Mocking the Philanthropist (1997)
* The Tricifixion of Swine (2000; EP)
* Judeobeast Assassination (2001)
* Satan is Metal's Master/Sperm of the Antichrist (2001; split)
* Castrate the Redeemer (2001)
* Hobo of Aramaic Tongues/Le Royaume Maudit (2003; split)
* On a Mule Rides the Swindler (2005; EP)
* Kosherat (2005)
* Weltenfeind (2008; split)
* Goat of a Thousand Young / Triumph of the Hordes (2017; compilation)
* Kohanic Charmers (2022)
The Holocaust Trumpeter
Grand Belial's Key Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forth from deadly Apocalypse...
Rips the crier
Galloping fast on a steed that reeks rabid of blood.
Forth from daemon throne
Blowing funeral wind throughout the worlds of time
Forth from all that is unholy
Whistling the reap of Satanic fury
Purest Ambassador of Armageddon!
At the blessed grotto
The Holocaust Trumpeter appeals our power!
Pestilent nightmare visitation
Envenom the Christ Child's crib
Passionate plague, a profanation
Commanded from beyond to kill!
Ghastly seduction through famine
Rape the nuns at the scalding convent.
Set to flame a blaze of war
And conquer the cowardice of God!
At the blessed grotto
The Holocaust Trumpeter appeals our power!
Immersed in a cloud of smoke
Rising from a pile of burning bibles
Words of a holy fable turn rapidly into debris!
The refuge of the spineless
Adorned with diseased art
Burned and free of the Christian chains!
Cast down thy tender look
Upon the flock of God
Touch the cicatrix of the piercing blade!
At the blessed grotto
The Holocaust Trumpeter appeals our power!
Religious malady cured
Which once forced me to kneel
At the blessed grotto the sheep
begin to shriek.
At the blessed grotto
The Holocaust Trumpeter appeals our power!
The Holocaust Trumpeter is a song by Grand Belial's Key, a controversial black metal band from the United States. The lyrics contain imagery that is violent, sacrilegious, and anti-Christian, which has led to accusations of racism and anti-Semitism against the band. In the first verse, the Holocaust Trumpeter is introduced as a rider on a steed that is soaked in blood. The rider is blowing a funeral wind throughout the worlds of time, announcing the coming of Armageddon. The second verse describes the Pestilent nightmare visitation, which is commanded from beyond to kill the Christ child and rape nuns at a convent. The third verse describes the burning of bibles, the destruction of Christian art, and the release of Christians from their chains.
The Holocaust Trumpeter symbolizes the coming of the end times and the destruction of the Christian worldview. The song can be interpreted as an attack on Christianity and a celebration of Satanism. However, it is important to note that Grand Belial's Key claims to be an artistic expression, and the band members deny any affiliation with racism or anti-Semitism.
Line by Line Meaning
Forth from deadly Apocalypse...
Rips the crier
Galloping fast on a steed that reeks rabid of blood.
The messenger rides out of a catastrophic event, and his mount carries the stench of death with him.
Forth from daemon throne
Blowing funeral wind throughout the worlds of time
Blasting morbid exequies!
The emissary arrives from a demonic realm, heralding destruction along the timeline of existence.
Forth from all that is unholy
Whistling the reap of Satanic fury
Purest Ambassador of Armageddon!
The purveyor of evil comes, calling the devastation of Satan's wrath, as the emissary of the end of the world.
At the blessed grotto
The Holocaust Trumpeter appeals our power!
The messenger calls on the power of his followers at a holy site.
Pestilent nightmare visitation
Envenom the Christ Child's crib
Passionate plague, a profanation
Commanded from beyond to kill!
A venomous and dreadful disease afflicts the crib of Jesus, commanded from beyond to spread death and destruction.
Ghastly seduction through famine
Rape the nuns at the scalding convent.
Set to flame a blaze of war
And conquer the cowardice of God!
In an act of horror, the nuns are violated during a time of famine, as a war is ignited to challenge the power of God.
Immersed in a cloud of smoke
Rising from a pile of burning bibles
Words of a holy fable turn rapidly into debris!
A towering inferno of burning bibles spews smoke, ash, and debris, as the words of a sacred tale are destroyed.
The refuge of the spineless
Adorned with diseased art
Burned and free of the Christian chains!
Those perceived as weak seek refuge in diseased art, and in liberation from the chains of Christianity by being burned.
Cast down thy tender look
Upon the flock of God
Touch the cicatrix of the piercing blade!
Lower your gaze upon the followers of God, and feel the wound left by a sharp, cutting blade.
Religious malady cured
Which once forced me to kneel
At the blessed grotto the sheep
begin to shriek.
The sickness brought on by religion is cured, as the followers of the messenger become terrified at an oasis of holy power.
At the blessed grotto
The Holocaust Trumpeter appeals our power!
Once again, the messenger calls upon his followers at a site of religious power.
Contributed by Cameron G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.