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.
Tree of Life
Manilla Road Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ladder to the light
So many names have thee
All-Father of life
Searching for the truth
Hanging from The Tree
Contemplating life
Wisdom for an eye
Searching for the truth
Looking to the stars
Each and every night
Wondering who we are
Always asking why
Can't you see what it means?
Can't you believe in The Tree?
Branching to nine worlds
Connected by three planes
The mighty Yggdrasil
Tree of life and pain
Can't you see what it means?
Can't you believe in The Tree?
Hanging from The Tree
All-Father of life
The lyrics to "Tree of Life" by Manilla Road speak about a universal symbol present in multiple cultures - the Tree of Life. The song's lyrics depict a narrative of climbing up the Tree of Life, symbolizing an ascent towards enlightenment, wherein the singer seeks to understand the meaning of life, the universe, and their place in it. The All-Father of life mentioned in the song is a reference to Odin, a deity from Norse mythology, who is viewed as the god of wisdom, knowledge, and war. In Norse mythology, Odin hanged himself from Yggdrasil, the World Tree, for nine days and nine nights to gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.
The song adds that the Tree of Life is connected to nine worlds, indicating that the Tree represents the spiritual and physical worlds, which are joined through the Tree. The connection is facilitated by the three planes depicted in the song, with the Tree of Life as the anchor. This Tree is described as the mighty Yggdrasil, which represents not just life but also pain. The latter might mean that the path to enlightenment can also be a tumultuous one, with suffering and challenges along the way.
In summary, "Tree of Life" by Manilla Road is a song of spiritual exploration, encouraging the listener to seek knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment as one climbs up the Tree of Life. It is through the Tree that one connects to the spiritual and physical worlds, with the Tree of Life as the anchor.
Line by Line Meaning
Climbing up The Tree
Ascending the Tree of Life
Ladder to the light
A way to reach enlightenment
So many names have thee
The Tree of Life has many different interpretations and representations
All-Father of life
The Tree of Life is seen as a fatherly figure that gives and sustains life
Searching for the truth
A journey of discovery to find meaning and purpose
Hanging from The Tree
A metaphor for the struggle of life and its challenges
Contemplating life
Reflecting on the existence and significance of life
Tis knowledge that we seek
The pursuit of knowledge to understand the world around us
Wisdom for an eye
Understanding and insight to help navigate life
Looking to the stars
Gazing up to the heavens for guidance and inspiration
Each and every night
A constant search for answers and meaning
Wondering who we are
Questioning our identity and place in the world
Always asking why
An innate curiosity to understand the world
Can't you see what it means?
A call to recognize the importance and significance of the Tree of Life
Can't you believe in The Tree?
An invitation to have faith in the power of the Tree of Life
Branching to nine worlds
The Tree of Life as a symbol of interconnectedness between different levels of existence
Connected by three planes
The three dimensions of existence that are linked through the Tree of Life
The mighty Yggdrasil
The Tree of Life as a powerful, enduring force
Tree of life and pain
The Tree of Life as a source of both vitality and suffering
Hanging from The Tree
A reminder of the fragility and vulnerability of life
All-Father of life
A source of nourishment and support for all living things
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex Xela
Lyrics
Climbing up The Tree
Ladder to the light
So many names have thee
All-Father of life
Searching for the truth
Hanging from The Tree
Contemplating life
Tis knowledge that we seek
Wisdom for an eye
Searching for the truth
Looking to the stars
Each and every night
Wondering who we are
Always asking why
Can't you see what it means?
Can't you believe in The Tree?
Branching to nine worlds
Connected by three planes
The mighty Yggdrasil
Tree of life and pain
Can't you see what it means?
Can't you believe in The Tree?
Hanging from The Tree
All-Father of life
Alex Xela
Lyrics
Climbing up The Tree
Ladder to the light
So many names have thee
All-Father of life
Searching for the truth
Hanging from The Tree
Contemplating life
Tis knowledge that we seek
Wisdom for an eye
Searching for the truth
Looking to the stars
Each and every night
Wondering who we are
Always asking why
Can't you see what it means?
Can't you believe in The Tree?
Branching to nine worlds
Connected by three planes
The mighty Yggdrasil
Tree of life and pain
Can't you see what it means?
Can't you believe in The Tree?
Hanging from The Tree
All-Father of life
Nikhil Srivatsa
What a hymn. Travel well, Sir Mark
Shillian
A touching yet haunting song, rest in peace legend.
Jim Iliadis Sigurdsson
So emotional, aggressive and beautiful solo..pure greatness.
Yngve Balmsteen
Oh my god, Mark looked so much younger even in 2008. RIP, still missed, and still the best.
Fanch Le Dissez
Rest in peace, Mark.Shelton, forever in my thoughts...damn, what a depressing day.
Francesco Laruffa
True masterpiece
ARTalive01
Still has an amazing voice if you ask me!
Bruno Rios
Unsung heroes of metal. RIP Mark!
Mark
Hauntingly beautiful