Manilla Road was created by Shelton in 1977 with high school friends Benny Munkirs, Rick Fisher and brothers Robert and Scott Park. After playing in local bars, the group first gained attention with their song "Herman Hill," inspired by the Herman Hill riot. Their first album "Invasion" was released in 1980 on the band's own label, Roadster Records. Between this time and their next release the band recorded material for an album to be titled "The Dreams Of Eschaton", however this was not released until 2002 (under the name "Mark of the Beast") as they were not happy with the sound. Shelton has been quoted as saying the music was "not metal enough" and "sounded like shit." Despite this "Mark of the Beast" was critically well received when it was eventually released. These early albums have more in common with progressive rock and proto-heavy metal than the band's later epic metal sound.
The next record was "Metal" in 1982, which began to define the future musical direction of Manilla Road. Their "classic" sound was solidified with the epic release of "Crystal Logic" in 1983.
The next five Manilla Road albums (along with a live release, "Roadkill") featured new drummer Randy Foxe, who had more of a thrash-oriented style than original drummer Rick Fisher. Along with "Crystal Logic" (1983), the new lineup's first two albums, "Open the Gates" (1985) and "The Deluge" (1986), are generally considered to be classics in the field of epic heavy metal. It was on these three albums that Manilla Road's style became fully formed. Lyrics typically feature fantastic elements from Norse mythology, Arthurian legend or other literary sources. These are often combined in one setting, the concept album "Atlantis Rising" (2001), for example, features a war between the Æsir and Cthulhu, centered around the city of Atlantis.
"Mystification" (1987) suffered from exceptionally poor production resulting, ironically, from the substandard equipment at a new studio the band hoped would improve their sound. The recent re-release has fixed this problem to a large extent. After Mystification came "Out of the Abyss" (1988), widely criticised at the time for its thrash metal influences. The band released one more album, "The Courts of Chaos" (1992), described by Shelton as "the first true Manilla Road masterpiece" before splitting up because of personal and musical disagreements between Scott Park and Randy Foxe.
In 1992 Mark Shelton recorded "Circus Maximus" with Aaron Brown and Andrew Coss. Despite having never been intended as a Manilla Road project, the album was released under this name at the record company's insistence.
Manilla Road re-formed in 1994 and released "Atlantis Rising" in 2001, again with Mark Shelton as the only original member. On this occasion, however, the sound was much more consistent with the Manilla Road of old and it was the band who decided to continue using the name. Their latest albums are "Spiral Castle" published in 2002, "Gates Of Fire", in 2005, and "Voyager" in 2008. In May 2009 they released their second live album called "After Midnight Live", which was recorded live, on the air, at KMUW radio studios, Wichita, Kansas in December of 1979 shortly before the release of their debut album "Invasion". The album "Playground of the Damned" was released in 2011, followed by "Mysterium" in 2013, "The Blessed Curse" in 2015, and what was their final release, "To Kill a King" in 2017.
Mark "The Shark" Shelton died in Germany from a heart attack at the age of 60. Manilla Road were on tour at the time of Shelton’s death; he had performed at Germany’s Headbangers Open Air Festival the previous night.
Lux aeterna
Manilla Road Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is a place where sunlight dies
No seems to care
For the lost and lonely ones
Out of sight is out of mind
Still I wait for mornings warm embrace
I can't see into the dark
Is someone watching me
Now that it's all over
What can you believe in when you kiss the night
Feels like everything is dying
Give me some eternal light
People stand around as castles fall to crumbled ruins
Don't lift a finger - he might just take your money or your life
Slip away
Hide behind an epmty stare
Much safer now pretending to be blind
No more, Ican't take it any more
I'm leaving for a brighter place
So much brighter
Now that it's all over
What can you believe in when you kiss the night
Feels like everything is dying
Give me some eternal light
Not so long ago
I'd have waited for a lifetime
For the chance to think it over
Someday I hope to find
The truth in love and reason
Such things I'll never find alone
Waiting in darkness
I've gone weary of the chase
Still conscience lingers on so tired
Goodbye promise me you'll hope for something after
It's much brighter than today
So much brighter
The song "Lux Aeterna" by Manilla Road is a deep and poignant reflection on the loneliness and hopelessness that can often invade our lives. The lyrics express a feeling of isolation and abandonment in the face of overwhelming darkness. The singer tells of a corner in their empty room where "sunlight dies," a space where they feel forgotten and invisible. It's a place where no one cares for the "lost and lonely ones," and the feeling of being out of sight means they are out of mind.
The singer appears to be searching for hope and light in the darkness, waiting for a "morning's warm embrace" and the promise of a brighter day. They speak of feeling watched and pursued, trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear and uncertainty. The chorus begs for an "eternal light" to guide them out of the darkness and into a better tomorrow.
The song also touches on the concept of powerlessness in the face of social and structural collapse. As "castles fall to crumbled ruins," people stand idle, preferring to hide behind their "empty stare" rather than take action to help those in need. The singer expresses a sense of betrayal, as they realize that no one is coming to save them. The only hope is in finding an inner strength and a promise of something better after this life.
Overall, the song is a powerful testament to the human spirit's resilience in the face of overwhelming darkness. Though the singer is lost and alone, they refuse to give up hope, searching for a brighter future that remains just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
In the corner of my empty room
The singer is situated in a corner of an empty room.
There is a place where sunlight dies
In this place, sunlight fades away to darkness.
No seems to care
No one seems to give attention or cares about this place.
For the lost and lonely ones
This place is for the lost and lonely ones.
Out of sight is out of mind
When something or someone is out of sight, people tends to forget or ignore them.
Still I wait for mornings warm embrace
Even though in a gloomy place, the singer is waiting for the feeling of warmth and comfort when the dawn breaks.
I can't see into the dark
The singer can't see anything in the darkness of the place.
Is someone watching me
The artist is unsure if anyone is watching or observing them.
Now that it's all over
The present moment of the artist where everything seems to be ended or finished.
What can you believe in when you kiss the night
In moments of sadness, what is there to believe in when you feel overwhelmed.
Feels like everything is dying
The feeling of everything coming to an end or fading away.
Give me some eternal light
The artist is asking for everlasting light or hope to shine through in their life.
People stand around as castles fall to crumbled ruins
People don't do anything as something valuable or important falls apart and turns into a ruined shell.
Don't lift a finger - he might just take your money or your life
People are afraid to take action because of being taken advantage of or harmed.
Slip away
Escape from the present predicament or circumstance.
Hide behind an empty stare
Concealing one's true emotions or state behind a blank expression.
Much safer now pretending to be blind
Being ignorant of a situation is safer than facing the truth of it.
No more, I can't take it any more
The singer has reached their limit and can't endure the current situation.
I'm leaving for a brighter place
The singer is leaving to pursue a better situation or life.
So much brighter
The new situation is much more favorable and positive.
Not so long ago
Refers to a recent past that has still lingering effect or feeling.
I'd have waited for a lifetime
The artist would have waited for an extended period for an opportunity.
For the chance to think it over
The opportunity to consider the consequences of actions or decisions.
Someday I hope to find
The artist has a desire to uncover or attain something in the future.
The truth in love and reason
To understand, possess or experience love and reason in its true form.
Such things I'll never find alone
Unable to discover those things without the help or company of others.
Waiting in darkness
The singer is waiting in a gloomy or depressing situation.
I've gone weary of the chase
The artist is tired and disheartened from constantly chasing something.
Still conscience lingers on so tired
Despite being exhausted, the burden of consciousness and morality continue to prevail.
Goodbye promise me you'll hope for something after
The singer is saying goodbye and hopes that the person they are addressing also has hope for a better future.
It's much brighter than today
The future holds more promise and potential than the present.
So much brighter
The new future holds immense positivity and opportunities.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manny Ruiz
I know Mark intended this album to be a solo record, not a MR album. I guess it's more melodic than MR albums, but still heavy. I'm still amazed at how this band evolved from a stoner, space rockish band to brutal thrash.
Keith Harris
I love all of Manilla Roads phases.
Qays S
"Evolved" or "devolved"? Either way, I love all their stuff. But, for example, their last two offerings (To Kill a King and The Blessed Curse) were way more prog/melodic than thrash.
Francesco Laruffa
Beautiful voice,beautiful sounds and guitar!
Mike Walkey
a masterpiece! the guitar outro is simply amazing.
rockenrollling
one of the best guitar solo in metal music history
Oliver Frey
I can't stop hearing this over and over again.
tournication
the best Manilla Road-song ever? probably a tie between this one, Books Of Skelos & The Dragon Star. i could name a dozen more😁. Shelton just writes too many perfect songs.
Crusader Films
I can't stop listening to it.
Bartek Kuczak
Beautiful song