The first incarnation of the band was under the name Aslan, after a character in the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. With money earned from local shows and T-shirt sales, they recorded a self-titled demo tape in 1986. After discovering another band with the same name, they changed theirs to Psychotic Waltz and recorded a new four-song demo in 1988.
In 1990, they debuted with their independently financed debut A Social Grace, which was released in Europe via a licensing deal with the German label Rising Sun Productions. The album was very well received in Europe, being named album of the month in some European magazines,[citation needed] The situation in US was more difficult, as the album was released under the band's own Sub Sonic Records label. With practically no promotion and minimal distribution, it remained an extremely underground item. In 1991, the band appeared in the Dynamo Festival in Holland.
After the tour, the band's guitarist, Dan Rock, suffered a near-fatal accident after falling off a bridge while rappelling. The band went on to record their second album, Into the Everflow. The album was recorded from August–October, 1992, at Phoenix Studios in Herne, Germany, and was produced by Mekong Delta's main man, Ralph Hubert. After recording the album, but before its release, the band did a small tour while Dan Rock recovered from his accident. The CD was released in Europe on Dream Circle Records, and was very well received, getting album of the month honors in many European magazines.[citation needed] After Rock recovered, the band was nominated as the Best Hard Rock band at the 1992 San Diego Music Awards.
By that time, the band was at the peak of its popularity. They signed with Ralph Hubert's own label, Zardoz Music, for their third album, Mosquito. Recording took place in late 1994 in Record Plant and Madhatter studios in Los Angeles, with the help of the famous metal producer Scott Burns. The initial response for this album was mixed, as the more conventional songwriting that the band followed led some hardcore fans of the band to label it as a sell-out. This was the last album that was recorded with their initial lineup, as bassist Ward Evans left the band after two tours in Europe and was replaced with Phil Cuttino.
They entered the studio once again in 1996, for what proved to be their last studio work together, Bleeding. This time, Scott Burns did the engineering, but the record was mixed by Dan Rock and engineer Woody Barber. Before the band started touring in support for the new album, guitarist Brian McAlpine announced that he would not be able to follow the band due to familial obligations. He was replaced by Steve Cox for the band's final two European tours. Phil Cuttino filmed a promotional video for the track "Faded". This proved to be disastrous for the band, as a crew member sued the band in April 1998, claiming that a light on the set caused him to go blind.
The lengthy court battle that followed, coupled with the different musical interests that the band members had, contributed in the band's demise. Buddy Lackey was the first to leave the band. For a short while, the remaining band members tried to continue with the band, but eventually each went his own way. Rock recorded two instrumental albums with his project Darkstar. Norm Leggio and Steve Cox created the band Teabag, and Buddy Lackey formed the band Deadsoul Tribe, where he performs using his real name, Devon Graves.
Psychotic Waltz reunited in 2010, will tour Europe in support of Nevermore and Symphony X, and are planning to write, record and release a new album.
Halo of Thorns
Psychotic Waltz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the song of an angel
echoes of a fallen tear
frayed by the wind
a weed by a willow
withered and yellow
she lays her head to die
reading the script
of the play that we lead
christ I'd die again
o' if I could save you now
you knew this had to come
spare me the sacrilege
this play had brought upon us
lay in my dying hour
it feels like I'm
falling, falling
flying, tripping
this crown of kings
this bloody halo bleeds me dry
hear me cry
as in the script
of the play that we lead
so I rise again
much stronger than before
a child sacrifice
let me lay down this bloody cross
we've dragged so far behind us
and close this theatre now
weaping over this crooked cross
lying face down in the blood of saints
just write me out of this play
The lyrics of Psychotic Waltz's Halo of Thorns begin with an image of an angel whispering alone, creating an eerie and lonely tone. The echoes of a fallen tear add to the somber mood of the song. The next lines describe a weed frayed by the wind, lying by a willow tree. The weed is withered and yellow, and the image of it lying down to die is a symbol of death and decay. The second stanza refers to reading the script of the play that we lead, creating the sense that life is a scripted play that we cannot escape. The third line of this stanza says "Christ, I'd die again if I could save you now," indicating a desire to save someone or something that has already been lost. The singer acknowledges that this loss was inevitable, and begs to be spared from further sacrilege. The haunting and beautiful melody of the song continues as the singer describes the sensation of falling, flying, and tripping. The bloody halo is a metaphor for a crown of kings, which bleeds the singer dry. The final lines of the song suggest a desire to be written out of the play altogether, signaling a desire to escape the scripted and predetermined nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
whispered alone
Speaking in a hushed, solitary voice
the song of an angel
The enchanting melody of an ethereal being
echoes of a fallen tear
The lingering sounds of a sorrowful droplet
frayed by the wind
Tattered by the force of nature
a weed by a willow
An unwanted plant by a majestic tree
withered and yellow
Dried out and lacking vitality
she lays her head to die
She gives up her life willingly
lays to die
Surrenders to the impending end
reading the script
Following the predetermined storyline
of the play that we lead
Of the life we control
christ I'd die again
The lyricist would sacrifice their life again
o' if I could save you now
If only the lyricist could rescue their loved one
you knew this had to come
The inevitable end was foreseen by all
spare me the sacrilege
Do not violate the sacredness of our fate
this play had brought upon us
Our own actions led to this fate
lay in my dying hour
Stay with me as I approach the end of my life
it feels like I'm
Embodying the sensation of
falling, falling
Descending, spiraling downward
flying, tripping
Ascending, losing balance
this crown of kings
Symbol of authority and power
this bloody halo bleeds me dry
This halo of thorns is draining me of life
hear me cry
Listen to my anguished plea
so I rise again
Resurrected, renewed
much stronger than before
More resilient than previously experienced
a child sacrifice
Innocent life offered in tribute
let me lay down this bloody cross
Allow me to relinquish my heavy burden
we've dragged so far behind us
The past and its problems have hindered us
and close this theatre now
Put an end to the drama
weeping over this crooked cross
Crying for the injustice and suffering
lying face down in the blood of saints
Prostrate in the spilled blood of the righteous
just write me out of this play
Remove me from this unfortunate narrative
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.