The band began in 1985 as a solo project for ex-Tyrus guitarist Peter Hobbs, with the help of ex-Nothing Sacred members Mark Woolley (guitar), Sham (drums) and Karl Lean (bass), who recorded a number of demos which attracted interest from overseas labels. Hobbs' debut self-titled album was released in 1988 through German record label Steamhammer Records, which achieved a great deal of success in Europe. A second album, Inheritance was released in 1995, but failed to repeat the success of its predecessor and was an Australia-only release. Hobbs' Angel of Death broke up soon after the release the album.
In 2002, Peter Hobbs put the band back together and released a compilation album of his two early demos, and the band played a European tour including an appearance at Wacken Festival, and shows with German thrash legends Destruction and black metallers Mayhem. This has been the strongest point of the band's career so far.
Although playing traditional style thrash metal, Hobbs has often described his band's sound as "virgin metal", stating his sound as a pure style of music. The band ended in 2019 due to the passing of founder Peter Hobbs.
Marie Antoinette
Hobbs' Angel of Death Lyrics
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Condemned to death
Your life is now in my hands
When dawn breaks the blade
Will fall to decapitate your head
No one will sigh for not a virgin
Will die but a decrepit wife of a king
My guillotine will fall
Another severed head to hang
On my guillotine wall
Hear them sigh let her die
The choice is one for all
Tears are she'd from her son
His blood begins to boil)
Six o'clock your time has come
My guillotine will fall
No one will sigh for not a virgin
Will die but a decrepit wife of a king
Remanded to the callous Marie Antoinette
Your life in now in my hands
When dawn breaks the blade will fall down to decapitate your head
No one will sigh for not a virgin will die
But a decrepit wife of a king
The lyrics of Hobbs' Angel of Death's song "Marie Antoinette" depict the final moments of the infamous queen's life before her execution by guillotine during the French Revolution. The first verse portrays the cruel fate that has befallen Marie Antoinette, who has been remanded to the callous executioner's hands and condemned to death. The second verse sings of the moment when the blade of the guillotine will fall at dawn, severing the queen's head from her body. The lyrics also imply that despite being a queen, no one will mourn her death because she is not a virgin and is instead a decrepit wife of a king.
The chorus repeats the words "Six o'clock your time has come, my guillotine will fall" and emphasizes the inevitability of the queen's impending death. The lyrics also suggest the executioner finds pleasure in his job, as he plans to add yet another severed head to his "guillotine wall." The final verse restates the queen's fate and closes with the same sentiment that no one will feel sympathy for her death.
Overall, the lyrics of "Marie Antoinette" show a bleak outlook on the queen's fate and the lack of empathy she received during her final moments. The song serves as a reminder of the brutality of the French Revolution and the inhumane treatment of those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Remanded to the callous Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette has been placed in the hands of a heartless and unsympathetic executioner
Condemned to death
Marie Antoinette has been sentenced to die
Your life is now in my hands
The executioner has complete control over whether Marie Antoinette lives or dies
When dawn breaks the blade
At sunrise, the guillotine blade will be dropped
Will fall to decapitate your head
The blade will drop and sever Marie Antoinette's head from her body
No one will sigh for not a virgin
No one will mourn Marie Antoinette because she is not a young and pure woman
Will die but a decrepit wife of a king
Marie Antoinette will be executed only because she is an aged and unappealing consort of a monarch
Contributed by Camilla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.