Sons of Perdition's first album, The Kingdom is On Fire, was released in 2007. The Hank in Chains Review had this to say of it: "Sons have delivered a beautiful brimstone masterpiece with The Kingdom Is On Fire... an absolutely phenomenal album from start to finish."
Kingdom was followed by Psalms for the Spiritually Dead in 2010. James Carlson called it "a musical sermon unlike any other."
Trinity, the third and final album in Sons of Perdition’s Dissolution Trilogy, was released on GraveWax Records on November 12, 2013. At over 72 minutes, Trinity is a long, metaphorical narrative that tells of a man’s hellish pilgrimage through the American Southwest.
Zebulon Whatley was raised outside the rural settlement of Scrougout, Texas on a diet of fanatic religion and weird fiction. He currently resides in Austin, Texas.
Blood in the Valley
Sons of Perdition Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To wander the wasteland so grim.
They pray to false idols of wood, gold and rock
When they ought to raise voices to Him.
The blood in the valley is Thine Lord, not mine,
So guide my hook and hand as I reap from the vine.
The faithful up front and the sinners behind,
They poison the wells with their venomous lies.
The crops in the fields turn to coal.
Like a gangrenous limb on the body of Christ,
Their stain brings Hell on the whole.
The blood in the valley is Thine Lord, not mine,
So guide my hook and hand as I reap from the vine.
The faithful up front and the sinners behind,
O Lord, let Thy glory shine.
The moon of the harvest is steeped in red hue,
And from the mouth of the valley, no sound.
The dregs on the ground pay the Devil his due
As he lights on that pale sunken mound.
The blood in the valley is Thine Lord, not mine,
So guide my hook and hand as I reap from the vine.
The faithful up front and the sinners behind,
O Lord, let Thy glory shine.
The Sons of Perdition's song "Blood in the Valley" vividly describes the aftermath of a religious conflict, where the "sick of the fold" have turned their backs on the main group and wandered into a wasteland to pray to "false idols of wood, gold, and rock." The main group, on the other hand, is portrayed as faithful believers of God. The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that the valley is the domain of the Lord, with the singer asking for guidance as they reap from the vine. The faithful are ahead, and the sinners are left behind, hoping that God's glory will shine upon them.
The lyrics also hints at the betrayal of the sick of the fold, who "poison the wells with venomous lies" and turn "the crops in the fields to coal." Their actions are described as a stain on the whole, likened to a "gangrenous limb on the body of Christ." The final verse speaks to the aftermath of the conflict, as the "moon of harvest is steeped in red hue," and there is no sound from the mouth of the valley. The dregs on the ground "pay the Devil his due," as he lands "on that pale sunken mound." Overall, the song speaks to the idea of religious infighting, the consequences of deviating from the faith, and the idea that the Lord is the only one who can bring glory and justice.
Line by Line Meaning
The sick of the fold turn their backs on the flock
Those who are sick of the church leave the congregation
To wander the wasteland so grim.
To wander in a depressing and desolate environment
They pray to false idols of wood, gold, and rock
They worship fake gods made of material things
When they ought to raise voices to Him.
When they should actually be praying to the one true God
The blood in the valley is Thine Lord, not mine,
The death in this place belongs to you, God, not to me
So guide my hook and hand as I reap from the vine.
Please aid me as I carry out this task
The faithful upfront and the sinners behind,
The believers should lead while the non-believers follow
O Lord, let thy glory shine.
May God's greatness be revealed
They poison the wells with their venomous lies.
They spread harmful lies that pollute everything
The crops in the fields turn to coal.
The crops get ruined
Like a gangrenous limb on the body of Christ,
Like a diseased body part affecting the rest of the church
Their stain brings hell on the whole.
Their negative impact harms the entire community
The moon of the harvest is steeped in red hue,
The moon appears red after the bloody harvest
And from the mouth of the valley, no sound.
Things are eerily quiet at the scene of the harvest
The dregs on the ground pay the Devil his due
The remains of the harvest belong to Satan
As he lights on that pale sunken mound.
As he revels in the aftermath
The blood in the valley is Thine Lord, not mine,
The death in this place belongs to you, God, not to me
So guide my hook and hand as I reap from the vine.
Please aid me as I carry out this task
The faithful upfront and the sinners behind,
The believers should lead while the non-believers follow
O Lord, let thy glory shine.
May God's greatness be revealed
Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.