After signing up with Warner Chappell / Metromania, Ingo Millek left the band in Summer 1987 and was immediately replaced by Sascha Paeth. No Remorse Records placed the band under contract in October 1987 and the signing was following by a session in Hannover's Horus Sound Studio, where they recorded their debut album "In Control", produced by Frank Bornemann and Tommy Hansen (Victory, Pretty Maids).
The album was released in January 1989 and soon afterwards the band were on the road as much hailed support for W.A.S.P, as well as on their own, well-attended headliner tour through Germany. A mini-album, "Open the Gate and Watch!" was released in April 1990 and Heavens Gate again went on tour throughout Germany, this time with Lawdy. Japan were quick to appreciate the Wolfsburgers' fast, heavy and furious style. JVC/Victor released both products in August 1990 as a "two in one" CD. The reactions to this release was so euphoric (positions in the Top 20 in several magazine charts) that the two top Japanese metal magazines, Burrn! and Metal Gear send their journalists to Germany, in order to further the cause of this new German metal band in the land of the rising sun. Japanese radio was also hit by Heavens Gate fever - cult DJ Captain Wada devoted an entire hour to a Heavens Gate Special. February 1992 saw the band signing a new contract with Steamhammer / SPV, following the close-down of No Remorse Records. "Livin' in Hysteria" had been released six months before, after having been recorded at Horus Sound and produced by Charlie Bauerfeind. Some of the songs on this album, "Best Days Of My Life" and "We Got The Time" amongst others, were selected by two German TV stations for their educational, anti-drugs video, "Gefährliche Sehnsucht" (Dangerous Desire) which was shown in schools all over the country. MTV Europe taped a Heavens Gate show in Munich and began showing successive portions of the film shortly afterwards. But above all in Japan it seemed as though the enthusiasm for Heavens Gate knew no bounds. Thomas Rettke and Sascha Paeth gave dozens of interviews there and played acoustic versions of three songs at the Second German Metal Seminars in Tokyo and Osaka, whilst in January the 4-track EP, "More Hysteria", originally released only for the Japanese market and including three new songs and an acoustic version of "Best Days Of My Life" went on sale. Heavens Gate were amongst the leading bands in the annual polls of the biggest Japanese magazines and the readers of Burrn! named Thomas Rettke "Best Vocalist" ahead of superstars Alice Cooper, Vince Neil, Sammy Hagar and Jon Bon Jovi. Their third album, "Hell for Sale" was released in November 1992 and documents the astounding progess that the Wolfsburgers had made. Just a year later saw the release of the headbanging "Live For Sale" album, which had been recorded in February 1993 in the Club Citta' in Tokyo's Kawasaki district. The band had played four sold out shows in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya and the second Tokyo show, in front of 2,500 deliriously happy fans, had served as the basis for the "Live For Sale" opus. Heavens Gate had thus been able to fulfill the promise they had made to their Japanese tour promoter after the release of "Livin' In Hysteria" - to go to Japan on tour. The trip to Japan was followed by a tour with Dream Theater and several one-off gigs until the end of the year. Guitarist Sascha Paeth built up his reputation as producer from Spring 1994 by working together with Charlie Bauerfeind for numerous metal bands. This caused Heavens Gate to slip into the background for eighteen months. But from the end of 1994 the band began the construction of their own studio in order to have more independence in scheduling and financial matters. Bass player Manni Jordan left the band for personal reasons in Summer 1995 and was replaced by Robert Hunecke who, from January 1996, also helped to write the songs for the planned album, "Planet E". The five musicians recorded the work from March to August 1996 and now stand at the starting gate of presenting their latest material. It goes without saying that the announcement of a new album has caused great excitement in Japan and elsewhere.
2) Heaven's Gate are a hardcore punk band from Florida featuring Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste, Iron Reagan, No Friends) on vocals, Mike Gorup (Warthog, Creem, Ajax) on guitar, Jeff Howe (Reversal Of Man, Combatwoundedveteran, Horsewhip) on bass and Paul Mazurkiewicz (Cannibal Corpse) on drums.
https://heavensgatefl.bandcamp.com/
3) Brooklyn, New York rock band. https://heavensgate.bandcamp.com/
Under Fire
Heaven's Gate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
lies that can send you to hell
always been shadowed and trapped like a spy
there's always a story to sell
[PRE-CHORUS:]
Fairytales, born in a sick mind that never fails
longing for rising sales
away from our life
[CHORUS:]
We're under fire
never the chance and time to clear it up
we're under fire
always abandoned and they will never stop
we're under fire
under the eyes of the gods
Spreading opinions and lies on TV
trying to fool with your doubts
deaf man can't hear and the blind man can't see
be ready to face all your fear
[PRE-CHORUS / CHORUS]
Why won't you open up your eyes?
why can't you hear the silent cries?
[SOLO: Sascha / Bonny]
[PRE-CHORUS / CHORUS]
Why won't you open up your eyes?
The lyrics of Heaven's Gate's song "Under Fire" talk about how lies and rumors can have a devastating effect on a person's life, and how the media perpetuates these falsehoods in order to boost their ratings. The first stanza talks about the power of words, how they can destroy a person's reputation in a matter of seconds, and how lies can send people to hell. The singer feels trapped and shadowed like a spy, and recognizes that there's always a story to sell, a sensational headline that can be used to capture people's attention. The pre-chorus describes the twisted mentality of those who create and spread rumors, driven by a sick desire for fame and profit. The singer warns them to keep their claws away from their life, but they know that it's not enough, they're never safe from the attacks of those who want to take them down.
The chorus reinforces this feeling of constant danger and being under attack. They're always under fire, with no chance to clear things up or defend themselves. Even when they're abandoned by everyone else, the gods are watching them, judging their every move. The second stanza talks about how the media uses its power to manipulate public opinion, spreading opinions and lies on TV in order to deceive people and make them doubt themselves. It's a warning to be ready to face all your fear, to live in a world where truth is constantly under attack. The outro repeats the question from the beginning of the pre-chorus, asking why people can't see or hear the lies that are being spread about them.
Line by Line Meaning
Words that can kill in a blink of an eye
The power of words can be fatal, causing harm and destruction in an instant.
lies that can send you to hell
Falsehoods and deceit can have severe consequences, even leading one to damnation.
always been shadowed and trapped like a spy
Feeling constantly monitored and confined, as if living a covert existence.
there's always a story to sell
The media often prioritizes sensationalism and profit over truth and accuracy.
Fairytales, born in a sick mind that never fails
Fabricated tales created by a warped imagination that never stops producing falsehoods.
longing for rising sales
The desire for increased profits fuels the spreading of misinformation and sensationalism.
but we will kick you to keep your claws
We will oppose those who seek to use deceitful tactics to manipulate and harm us.
away from our life
We will distance ourselves from those who engage in such harmful behaviors.
We're under fire
We are facing intense scrutiny, criticism, and opposition.
never the chance and time to clear it up
We are not given the opportunity or resources to defend ourselves or set the record straight.
always abandoned and they will never stop
We are constantly being deserted and left to face the harsh consequences alone, with no end in sight.
under the eyes of the gods
We feel as though we are being watched, judged, and punished by a higher power or authority.
Spreading opinions and lies on TV
The media disseminates biased viewpoints and falsehoods through television broadcasting.
trying to fool with your doubts
Attempting to manipulate and deceive the public by instilling uncertainty, skepticism, and mistrust.
deaf man can't hear and the blind man can't see
Even those who are physically impaired can sense when something is amiss or being concealed.
be ready to face all your fear
Prepare yourself to confront and overcome the frightening consequences of deception and dishonesty.
Why won't you open up your eyes?
Why are you refusing to acknowledge the truth and accept reality?
why can't you hear the silent cries?
Why are you ignoring the pleas and suffering of those who are being harmed or oppressed?
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER BILSKI, SASCHA PAETH, THOMAS RETTKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind