The first, is a meta… Read Full Bio ↴There are five artists using the name "Lorien".
The first, is a metal band from Spain, formed in 1996. The band's musical style is often claimed to be "power metal" due to it's lyrics focusing mainly on items of the same nature as fantasy novels.
The name, Lórien is one of the Valar in J.R.R. Tolkien's Silmarillion and also the name of the forest where Galadriel and Celeborn dwelt in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings.
The band has released two albums so far, Secrets of the Elder, in 2002, and From the Forests to the Havens in 2005.
--
The second is an alternative indie band from Nashville, TN.
While it has been less then a year since the bands materialization, Nashville-natives Lorien have accomplished a great deal. The five individuals that comprise Lorien began experimenting in September of 2005. Pulling from bands like Muse, Radiohead, and Gatsbys American Dream, their apartment demos were encouraging. With their own unique blend of poetic, breathy vocals, epic classical piano, progressive rhythms, and melodic guitar work, Lorien quickly discovered they were making music that couldnt wait to be heard. October 10, 2005, only one month after playing together, Lorien performed their first show for over 2000 people. With initial exposure this high, Lorien set dates all over the southeast. The crowd response was unanimous; no one could get enough of Lorien! With hope, they set out to record an EP. Demos of Hail To The Queen, Seven Ways To Lie, and Comfortable [Praise The Stage] attracted the attention of young and talented engineer, Andy Hunt (Jars of Clay, Buddy Guy, Smash Mouth). They began recording feverishly in the spring of 2006. It was at this same time that they received word of their being selected to compete in Cornerstone Festivals New Band Showcase. By way of highest number of fan votes, Lorien was named Grand Prize Winner! This honor entitled them to a main stage performance at Cornerstone Festival with mewithoutYou, Copeland, Anberlin, and David Crowder Band. Following their well-received performance at Cornerstone in July, Lorien put the finishing touches on their EP, titled The Ghost In The Parlor. In September of 2006 Lorien played their EP release concert at Nashville's RCKTWN for an elated crowd. In preparation for this larger-than-life performance, they crafted a stage show complete with a choir and string quartet, as well as complex percussion breakdowns involving nearly every member of the band. It is this interesting and exciting professionalism that has gained Lorien the respect of many appreciators of music, and has garnered them several counts of publishing and label interest. Lorien's full and unique sound has a relevant and important place in the chronology of popular music; it is one you will be hearing a whole lot more of in the very near future.
This was taken from Lorien's Purevolume page: http://www.purevolume.com/lorien
See also:
http://www.myspace.com/lorienmusic
http://www.wearelorien.com
http://www.last.fm/music/L%C3%B3rien
--
The third is an gothic band from Poland.
The band has released two albums: Lothlorien, in 1998, and Czarny Kwiat Lotosu in 2002.
This was taken from http://www.metal-archives.com
--
The fourth is an alternative Britpopband from Reykjavik, Iceland.
--
The fifth is a British progrock band. They released one album (Children's games) on the Dutch label Silly Insects (a sublabel of S.I. Music).
--
Lorien
Under The Waves (Instant Karma / Virgin)
By: Alex Routledge
Lorien were once billed as the new pretenders to the Coldplay throne although their debut album, Under The Waves is at times a little more adventurous than their guitar-led contemporaries. With a melancholic and balladeering album, at times bordering on the epic, their sound brushes with Muse, the Manics and other six-string songsmiths.
The band, recently championed in NME as "one of the bands you must hear in 2002", open with recent single Ghostlost, a memorable tune which starts with a surging blast of feedback-drenched electric piano, quickly seaming into standard downbeat rock fare. Lorien mix the soft verse/heavy chorus amid an angst-ridden musical backdrop with echoes of Radiohead and the late Jeff Buckley.
Track 2 is more upbeat, a lightly strummed acoustic guitar taking centre stage before a catchy, yet lyrically weak vocal line. The sound here is probably closest to Travis but sadly lacks direction and the magic of the preceding track fails to reemerge.
An opening riff not disimilar to Radiohead's No Surprises marks the beginning of the next track, the band's debut single, Shivering Sun. One of the album's better tracks, the tune blends acoustic guitar, a catchy chorus and downbeat rhythms.
All Time is the band's slight and brief departure into electronica as they experiment with distorted vocals, backwards organs and sensual xylophones. It's an admirable intro but unfortunately soon merges into similar territory as much of the LP begins to sound the same. The band's formula of acoustic guitar intros followed by touching, anthemic choruses does not always work in their favour.
The LP's second half starts in similar fashion, a quiet disparate intro followed by a guitar-led soundscape with falsetto vocals. Disappear, however, starts with melancholic piano, a slow ballad mixing with a whirling acoustic guitar as Lorien take their cue from Starsailor and Coldplay.
A drum intro accompanies Blue, a jangly, upbeat number, as The Las meet Muse in one of the album's more inspirational tracks, where several mood changes see the band mixing summery guitar pop melancholic electronica.
The band close with Holy Lights, a slow acoustic number, a heady blend of charming folk and traditional balladry. Unfortunately, it's not quite the memorable finale Lorien are aiming for as the track soon descends into a very lame acoustic ballad, lacking both direction and melody. Lorien's debut album is a mixed blessing really -- some great tracks, but sadly not enough variation to keep the attention. Although unlikely at the moment to challenge Coldplay in the "Guitar Pop" league, they have great potential and a little more style, which could take them a long way.
Merlin the Wizard
Lorien Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Full of joy and life
My spirit is strong
But this is not a human's one
I'm the last of the former holy man
So I must learn to use the magic...
That exists everywhere
All the secrets all the invocations
I will find the old folk
'cause I have to know their
Hidden wisdom
If I want to win.
I am Merlin glorious and wise
I come from the land of the
Nymphs and fairies
That no one remembers now.
I keep alive the magic world
In the remembrance of
Mankind so it will never die.
I will go towards where
Someone called my name
Up to the wind
And is waiting for me.
While I ride Ileave behind
The beloved land where
I grew up but I know I will return.
Since I now know
I'll have to carry on
There is a great fate
Depending on my deeds
It's time to show
The secrets of the night
The hidden realm is starting to...
Reveal it's might In the wood
It's a force that never can be won
'cause it live in our minds
Reality, fantasy,
Where's the limit,
Where is the distance
Between these two real worlds.
It lives in the hearts
Of those who believe
It's fighting to regain
All the pride, all the majesty.
I feel the magic
Flowing from the trees
It's like a breeze that
Is surrounding this old wood
I am the last
Of the former holy man
I come from the land
Of the fairies and the nymphs.
The lyrics to Lorien's song Merlin the Wizard tell the story of Merlin, a legendary figure from Arthurian legend who possesses magical powers. The first stanza indicates that despite not being human, Merlin's spirit is strong and full of joy and life. As the last of the former holy man, he must learn to use the magic that exists everywhere, including all the secrets and invocations. He believes that in order to win, he must find hidden wisdom from the old folk.
The second stanza describes Merlin's role in keeping the magic world alive in the remembrance of mankind so it will never die. He rides towards someone who called his name, leaving behind his beloved land where he grew up, knowing he will return. He feels the magic flowing from the trees in the old wood, a force that can never be won because it lives in our minds. Reality and fantasy are blurred, and the limit and distance between these two real worlds are unclear. Merlin feels that the magic lives in the hearts of those who believe and is fighting to regain all the pride and majesty.
Overall, the song emphasizes the idea that while there may be a distinction between reality and fantasy, the magic and wisdom of the latter should never be forgotten or neglected. The song highlights the importance of understanding the power of the unknown and fighting to protect it.
Line by Line Meaning
feel my body
I am full of energy and vitality
Full of joy and life
I feel fulfilled and happy
My spirit is strong
I have a strong willpower
But this is not a human's one
My spirit is of a non-human entity
I'm the last of the former holy man
I am the final remaining holy man of my kind
So I must learn to use the magic...
I must learn how to use magic
That exists everywhere
Magic permeates all things
All the secrets all the invocations
I must learn all the secrets and spells
I will have to use.
I will have to use them to survive
I will find the old folk
I will search for ancient magical beings
'cause I have to know their Hidden wisdom
So I may learn their hidden knowledge
If I want to win.
If I want to succeed
I am Merlin glorious and wise
I am Merlin, both great and wise
I come from the land of the Nymphs and fairies
I hail from a land inhabited by magical creatures
That no one remembers now.
But now it is a forgotten land
I keep alive the magic world
I preserve the world of magic
In the remembrance of Mankind so it will never die.
So it will endure within humanity's memory
I will go towards where Someone called my name
I will follow the voice summoning me
Up to the wind
Towards the sky
And is waiting for me.
To meet my destiny
While I ride Ileave behind
As I depart
The beloved land where I grew up
I leave behind the land I once called home
but I know I will return.
But I anticipate my eventual return
Since I now know
Now that I understand
I'll have to carry on
I must continue my journey
There is a great fate
A great destiny awaits me
Depending on my deeds
My actions will determine it
It's time to show
It's time to exhibit
The secrets of the night
The mystical aspects of the night
The hidden realm is starting to...
The concealed world is beginning to emerge
Reveal it's might In the wood
Unveiling its true power in the forest
It's a force that never can be won
A force that cannot be defeated
'cause it live in our minds
Because it exists in our thoughts
Reality, fantasy, Where's the limit, Where is the distance Between these two real worlds.
The boundary between reality and fantasy is elusive
It lives in the hearts
It exists within our souls
Of those who believe
For those who have faith
It's fighting to regain
It strives to recover
All the pride, all the majesty.
Its grandeur and dignity
I feel the magic
I sense the magical energy
Flowing from the trees
Flowing from the surrounding trees
It's like a breeze that
As if a breeze
Is surrounding this old wood
Envelopes the ancient forest
I am the last
I am the final one
Of the former holy man
Of the previous order of holy men
I come from the land
I originate from the land
Of the fairies and the nymphs.
Inhabited by fairies and nymphs
Contributed by Thomas T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.