1. American heavy metal band … Read Full Bio ↴Various bands with the name Overlorde:
1. American heavy metal band from Atlantic City, New Jersey. Formed in 1985 and were originally active until 1988. The band has reformed as of 2000.
2. Heavy Metal band from Fayetteville, North Carolina, US. Changed name to Overlord SR in 2015.
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1. OVERLORDE was formed in 1985 by John "Kong" Bunucci (Bass / & Lead Vocals) and Mark "M.E." Edwards (Guitar & Backing Vocals). Dave Wrenn (Drums & Backing Vocals) joined shortly thereafter, and this "power metal" band played its first show at the SHOWPLACE in Dover, NJ that November.
At this time in central New Jersey, the NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) was reaching a peak with bands such as IRON MAIDEN, SAXON , and DEF LEPPARD continuing their invasion from Britain. These and other bands, such as Germany's SCORPIONS, ACCEPT , and America's QUEENSRYCHE heavily influenced OVERLORDE. Additionally, the Old Bridge Metal Militia (local New Jersey metal fans) was thriving, Megaforce Records/ Rock and Roll Heaven had moved from their Route -1 Flea Market Store and Seton Hall's WSOU-FM was about to switch to an all-metal format that would have a major impact on the popularity of metal. METALLICA, one of Megaforce Record's first artists, was about to release Master of Puppets, so the form of "thrash metal" they made so popular was really just beginning.
The band concentrated on originals from the start, with John handling the Lead Vocals along with Bass guitar. The band was joined by vocalist Pat O'Donnell in early 1986, who then took over the Lead Vocal role from John. The pace of live shows continued with the band playing in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Venues included the STONE PONY, PARK VILLA II, ONSTAGE, BILLY O'S, ZAFFY'S, STREETS, SPOTSWOOD LAKE, the DIRT CLUB, the HIGH TIDE CAFE, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, and the SHOWPLACE.
OVERLORDE recorded and released a 5 -song vinyl EP in 1987 on their own label, STRIKE ZONE RECORDS. Recorded at Fox Studios in East Rutherford, NJ (the same studio where HADES recorded its first album), the EP borrowed QUEEN's concept from their Queen II album. It featured a SIDE BLACK and SIDE WHITE. Three studio songs were on SIDE BLACK : Snow Giant, The Masque of the Red Death (based on the Edgar Allen Poe story), and Overlorde. SIDE WHITE included two live cuts, The Longest Day (based on the Cornelius Ryan novel about D-Day) and Time Machine (based on the novel by H.G. Wells). Note: All songs copyright 1985/86/87
The EP received praise overall in publications like VARIETY, KERRANG!!!, METAL RENDEZVOUS, POWERLINE, the AQUARIAN, and the EAST COAST ROCKER, and received airplay on metal radio such as WSOU and WDHA . However, Pat and the band parted ways around the end of 1987, and Rod Tyler Loiza took over the vocal duties in 1988.
A new demo was begun, and members of the band attended the 1988 CMJ convention in NYC. While at the event, OVERLORDE was interviewed for West German TV. But the group disbanded late that year after only a few shows with Rod and before the demo could be fully completed.
The 1990's saw each of the original members continue music in one form or another. John reformed his previous band FINAL PLEA, and was involved with other local projects. Mark formed BREAKER M.E. , then went the solo instrumental route up until he developed his voice to the point of singing lead. Dave went on to various original and cover bands including PERSIA and ICHABOD CRANE. John, Mark, and Dave remained in touch, and both John and Dave have worked with Mark on musical projects in one form or another.
OVERLORDE experienced a revival of sorts in Europe, specifically in Greece and Germany. This was brought to the band's attention in December 1999. The EP appeared on collector "want lists", and the band was contacted about releasing more material. While some confusion existed with similarly named bands, this OVERLORDE acquired the U.S. trademark and it was clear that the demand was for the EP released on Strike Zone Records.
M.E., Kong, and Dave (the original three founding members) met in February 2000 to discuss a possible reunion. It was decided to launch www.overlorde.com and start FORCE RECON (a metal community/fan club) to see if there was interest in an Overlorde reunion.
There certainly was, so the band reunited in July 2000. After recruiting former SEVEN WITCHES vocalist Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas, they recorded and released the album "Return of the Snow Giant" in 2004. It received great reviews in magazines and websistes from all over the world. In the summer of 2015, Germany's DEAF FOREVER magazine named it one of its "Top 100 U.S. Metal Albums of all time".
As of March 2017, the band had some member changes and now consists of:
Mark "M.E." Edwards - Guitar
John "Kong" Bunucci - Bass
George Janeira - Drums
George Tsalikis - Vocals
Snow Giant
Overlorde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winter storms and druid games
From another time, in a distant time
Ice men bold with ice blue steel
Mages spinning northern spells
Cast upon the world, an ancient magic world
Oh watch the Northern lights
The Snow Giant here is found!
The Snowy realm with snow white king
Where many venture just to see
If they can have it all, the kingdom and the throne
The giant lives but all alone
No winter knights to guard his throne
Here upon the top, the top of the world
Oh watch the Northern lights
Beyond the solid sea
The Snow Giant here is found!
Seasons pass unnoticed
The light of endless day, or dark of endless night
A king without a quest
Noble and alone
Content within his soul. the Keeper of the Chest
He stands alone to guard his home
The hordes of man to claim his throne
Upon his land they come, the wicked and the wrong
With firebolts and magic swords
Invaders storm the snow-capped fort
But all to no avail, the giant knows it well
Oh learn the lesson well
Told in this Northern tale
The Snow Giant wins once more
Snow Giant! (4 x)
The lyrics of the song "Snow Giant" by Overlorde paint a picture of a remote and frigid world ruled by a solitary, noble giant. The first stanza describes the landscape with "cold and barren frozen plains" and "winter storms and druid games." The second stanza introduces the Ice men, who wield "ice blue steel" and magic spells to maintain the ancient magic of the world. The chorus exhorts the listener to "watch the Northern lights beyond the solid sea" and identify where the Snow Giant is located.
In the third stanza, the Snow Giant's realm is described as a snowy kingdom where many venture to see if they can claim the throne. However, the giant lives alone, without winter knights to guard his throne. The fourth stanza describes how the giant is content with his life, irrespective of the passing of seasons or endless days and nights, and how he stands alone to guard his home.
The final stanza brings forth the conflict. The invaders of the giant's land come with "firebolts and magic swords" to claim his throne, but "the giant knows it well." The song ends with a triumphant call to "learn the lesson well/told in this Northern tale/the Snow Giant wins once more."
Line by Line Meaning
Cold and barren frozen plains
Desolation and emptiness in a frozen wasteland
Winter storms and druid games
Harsh winter storms and the mystical rites of druids
From another time, in a distant time
From a time long past, in a far-off age
Ice men bold with ice blue steel
Heroes with icy blades of steel
Mages spinning northern spells
Sorcerers weaving ancient spells of the north
Cast upon the world, an ancient magic world
A world imbued with ancient magic spells
Oh watch the Northern lights
Behold the dazzling Aurora Borealis
Beyond the solid sea
Over the vast frozen ocean
The Snow Giant here is found!
In this frozen land, the mighty Snow Giant resides
The Snowy realm with snow white king
The Snowy Kingdom with a white king
Where many venture just to see
Many brave the winter to lay eyes on it
If they can have it all, the kingdom and the throne
Many would covet the kingdom and the throne
The giant lives but all alone
The giant lives in utter solitude
No winter knights to guard his throne
No knights brave enough to defend his throne
Here upon the top, the top of the world
Here at the top of the world, where the giant reigns supreme
Seasons pass unnoticed
The seasons come and go, yet unnoticed by the giant
The light of endless day, or dark of endless night
The endless days and nights of the Arctic
A king without a quest
A king with no ambitions
Noble and alone
A noble giant, content with solitude
Content within his soul. the Keeper of the Chest
Content with guarding his treasure chest, the giant's soul is at peace
He stands alone to guard his home
He stands alone, defending his home
The hordes of man to claim his throne
Humans seek to take his throne by force
Upon his land they come, the wicked and the wrong
Evil and treacherous invaders come to his land
With firebolts and magic swords
They come armed with magic swords and fiery spells
Invaders storm the snow-capped fort
Invaders attack the giant's snowy fortress
But all to no avail, the giant knows it well
Their efforts are in vain, as the giant knows all their tricks
Oh learn the lesson well
Learn the lesson from this story
Told in this Northern tale
As told in this Northern legend
The Snow Giant wins once more
The mighty Snow Giant emerges victorious yet again
Snow Giant! (4 x)
Chanting and exulting the glory of the Snow Giant
Contributed by Skyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Overlorde
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