1. Though its earliest ech… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists named Pharaoh.
1. Though its earliest echoes ring back to 1997, American heavy metal act PHARAOH released its debut album via the Cruz del Sur Music label in 2003. Paradoxically entitled After the Fire, the album’s robust and resilient songwriting caught the ears of selective metal fans worldwide. Three years later in 2006, The Longest Night fell and was an immediate underground favorite. As modern and hi-resolution as it was pure and orthodox, The Longest Night also boasted a substantive production that allowed all ten songs to resonate in full splendor.
Once again inspired by the fans’ response to their hard work, the songwriters of PHARAOH laid plans to make yet another leap forward, and by the middle of 2007, a third album was ready for production. Returning producer/engineer Matt Crooks and the band set to work without hesitation, starting in July and continuing for the remainder of the year. The band had already agreed on titling the album Be Gone several months before entering the studio, because a singular theme emerged early in the songwriting process. Songs such as the radiant "Speak to Me" and the bottomless epic "Buried at Sea" examine the inherent flaws of mankind, pitted hopelessly against the seemingly omniscient and unwavering power of nature. Similarly, the soaring strains of "Dark New Life" and sinister waves of "Telepath" offer narratives from a world where the human race is blazing paths to literal and emotional extinction. The inevitable disappearance of mankind is the overarching theme embodied in Be Gone’s musical storytelling.
Musically, Be Gone features songwriting that is at once complex and compact. Matt Johnsen’s now-trademark layering of guitars creates a rich and fertile backdrop for master-vocalist Tim Aymar’s powerful and arresting expressions. The rhythm section of bassist Chris Kerns and drummer Chris Black keeps the momentum high, deftly supporting all of the multi-layered melodic invention happening at every turn. Always mindful of not only the genre’s traditions but also its own, the band this time invited Riot guitarists Mark Reale and Mike Flyntz to contribute hard-cutting solos to "Dark New Life", and regular guest guitarist Jim Dofka performs a dazzling spot on "No Remains". Because the four bandmates form various songwriting combinations, PHARAOH’s albums have a characteristic diversity and depth that few other bands achieve.
PHARAOH’s songwriting and studio performances have reached greater heights with each successive album. Grandiose and inviting, Be Gone out-classes its predecessors, and few heavy metal groups have ever sounded as erudite as PHARAOH does, ripened from a decade of intense work together. Like the albums before it, Be Gone is the band’s invitation to all free-thinking heavy metal loyalists to join them at the edges of the genre’s collective imagination. PHARAOH’s steadfast dedication to its album-making craft has delayed its live debut, which will finally come in the form of select shows during 2008. Aiming high as always, PHARAOH will deliver every bit of its majestic energy onstage, performing songs from its entire history. Indeed, 2008 may deliver PHARAOH unto the heavy metal mainstream, thanks to the band’s long-awaited live debut and of course the release of Be Gone, a future classic of American heavy metal.
Mid-2010 PHARAOH released a 7" split single along with Canvas Solaris as a Tribute To Coroner, featuring a melodic rendition of Coroner's "Tunnel Of Pain", a new E.P. being slated for early 2011 celebrates 10 years of Pharaoh with several special renditions of cult favorites and various PHARAOH-esque arrangements fans would normally not expect.
2. A doom/sludge metal band from New Jersey. Since 2009, Pharaoh have been playing and touring throughout the East Coast and Southern United States. The Demonstration was released in 2011 on A389 Recordings. This spring, Pharaoh releases This House is Doomed, our 2012 7". They are for you. They are going to be available for digital download when you purchase a copy as well.
3. A sleaze rock/glam punk band from Washington State released in 1991 EP "On Your Knees".
4. Russian hip-hop artist representing Dead Dynasty coalition. He used to be part of YungRussia, a association created by Boulevard Depo in 2014, which ceased to exist in 2016. In the past, he adopted other pseudonyms, like Leroy Kid and Castro The Silent. He is very influenced by Rammstein, Kid Cudi and Kurt Cobain, and has been described as a mix of "Justin Bieber" and "Kurt Kobain". About this, he said: "if I'm being compared to Kurt Kobain, it means I'm doing everything right."
Solar Flight
Pharaoh Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be the one to damn us both if pride is a sin
Flying on wings of faith, dying on wings of fear
No more leashes, cut the cord - no more reeling him in
Shooting star of my own flesh and blood
A comet on wings of pride
Failure flying, falling from the sky
I've told him my failures and given him all of my grief
But now it's time that he should learn from his own mistakes
To be empowered or betrayed by his own belief
I admire his faith, his strength, and the risks that he takes
Shooting star of my own flesh and blood
A comet on wings of pride
Failure flying, falling from the sky
But look at that boy fly
Shooting star of my own flesh and blood
A comet on wings of pride
Failure flying, falling from the sky
But look at that boy die
The opening lines of "Solar Flight" by Pharaoh describe a moment of intense emotion and uncertainty. The singer is facing an impending moment of reckoning ("Dawn closes in without mercy") with their "boy" by their side. It quickly becomes apparent that this is a complicated relationship defined by love, pride, and risk. The singer acknowledges that they are willing to risk everything, even damnation, for the sake of their shared pride. In the next lines, we get the sense that they are taking a dangerous flight together, with the singer acknowledging that faith and fear go hand in hand in this flight. However, there is also a sense of liberation and freedom in the decision to "cut the cord" and let their boy fly free.
The rest of the song explores the complex nature of their relationship and the admiration that the singer has for their boy. The repeated refrain of "Shooting star of my own flesh and blood, A comet on wings of pride" reinforces the idea that this is a dynamic, powerful relationship defined by the intense shared pride that each has in the other. The singer acknowledges the inevitability of "failure flying, falling from the sky," but also notes that their boy's determination and resilience in the face of adversity is nothing short of remarkable. In the final line, the tone darkens as we are reminded that risk and reward are two sides of the same coin, and that their boy's prodigious talents may ultimately lead to his downfall.
Overall, "Solar Flight" is a powerful meditation on the complexities of love, pride, and family ties. The singer's emotional journey is marked by moments of vulnerability and intense affection, but also a recognition that taking risks comes with a heavy cost. The song presents a poignant and moving portrait of a relationship between a parent and child characterized by both intense pride and deep emotional connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Dawn closes in without mercy and my boy is here
The morning is quickly approaching, and I am with my son.
I'll be the one to damn us both if pride is a sin
If having pride is wrong, then I am willing to suffer the consequences with my son.
Flying on wings of faith, dying on wings of fear
We may have great confidence and trust in ourselves and our abilities, but we are also aware of the potential risks and dangers that come with it.
No more leashes, cut the cord - no more reeling him in
I am no longer going to hold my son back or control his actions.
Shooting star of my own flesh and blood
My son is a bright and shining light, a product of my own body.
A comet on wings of pride
He is blazing a trail through life with a great sense of self-assurance and dignity.
Failure flying, falling from the sky
There is always a chance of making mistakes and falling down, but we keep pushing forward.
But look at that boy try
Despite any setbacks or obstacles, my son continues to strive towards his goals.
I've told him my failures and given him all of my grief
I have shared with him my own experiences of failure and sorrow.
But now it's time that he should learn from his own mistakes
It is time for him to learn and grow from his own errors.
To be empowered or betrayed by his own belief
He has the choice to either gain strength or be let down by his own convictions.
I admire his faith, his strength, and the risks that he takes
I have great respect and appreciation for his courage, vigor, and willingness to take chances.
But look at that boy fly
He is soaring high and accomplishing great things.
But look at that boy die
Despite his best efforts, he has met an unfortunate end.
Contributed by Sebastian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.