Hannah Levin's review of the Black Angels album, Passover, described them as "Walking in the shadows cast by Spacemen 3 and Spiritualized mastermind Jason Pierce" and compared them to The Warlocks and Black Mountain, also invoking "dirges" reminiscent of both The Velvet Underground and the 13th Floor Elevators. The band's icon is a stylized image of Nico.
In December 2007, the group announced on their blog that their second album would be released in Spring of 2008. In March 2008 a release date of May 13th was announced for their second album, Directions to See a Ghost. Their third album was "Phosphene Dream" released in 2010. This record is slowly starting to give Black Angels international recognition.
http://www.theblackangels.com/
Empire
The Black Angels Lyrics
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Trying to hear his voice,
While he's preaching to the choir,
And that choir is death and noise.
And he closes up his fist, and he sees if they exist.
Angels with broken wings,
She brings you white daffodils,
You place them on your windowsill.
Then you open up your fist, and you see if they exist.
Well you sit in dark forests,
You've been there for quite a while.
And when they come to take you,
You just sit and smile.
You say, "Hey, you take this. I'm gonna see if you exist."
Oh it's time to leave here,
And I still have my knife,
And it's pressed up against my body,
Tonights gonna be the night.
And I cut my own wrist, just to see if I exist.
The Black Angels' song "Empire" is a hauntingly beautiful piece that speaks about the call of power and the subsequent fall of those who become entrapped by it. The song opens with a reference to the call of the empires, which seems to be summoning its subjects to listen to its voice. However, this "voice" is not easily heard, and the preacher's message is lost in the clamor of death and noise.
The subject of the song then speaks about the futility of trying to cling onto the empires, which are prone to collapse, and their followers with broken wings. In contrast, the subject discusses the power of music and its ability to transport one's soul to a different place. The white daffodils symbolize purity, innocence, and peace, and they serve as a break from the carnage and violence of the empire. However, despite this, the subject is still not content, and they still hold onto their anger and pain tightly.
Towards the end of the song, the subject mentions their desire for self-harm and their inclination towards violence. This thirst for self-destruction and existential questioning goes hand in hand with the subject's refusal to give in to the power of empires and become a puppet controlled by the ruling class.
Overall, the song is a powerful message about the human condition, our desire for power and control, and our innate self-destructive tendencies.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the empires calling,
The empire is beckoning and demanding attention.
Trying to hear his voice,
Attempting to listen to the empire's orders.
While he's preaching to the choir,
The empire is communicating to those who are already on its side.
And that choir is death and noise.
The group that the empire is addressing is characterized by violence and chaos.
And he closes up his fist, and he sees if they exist.
The empire exercises control and tests its power over others.
Angels with broken wings,
The innocent ones who have been damaged and hurt.
Melodic harmonies she sings.
Despite her pain and suffering, she brings beauty to the world.
She brings you white daffodils,
She offers tokens of purity and goodness to others.
You place them on your windowsill.
You admire her gifts of kindness and hope.
Then you open up your fist, and you see if they exist.
You, too, test your ability to control and influence your surroundings.
Well you sit in dark forests,
You exist in a state of isolation and confusion.
You've been there for quite a while.
You have been lost in this darkness for an extended period of time.
And when they come to take you,
When others try to help you out of your darkness,
You just sit and smile.
You do not fully trust their efforts to save you.
You say, "Hey, you take this. I'm gonna see if you exist."
You test the sincerity and reality of others' attempts to help you.
Oh it's time to leave here,
It is necessary to move on from this bleak, lonely place.
And I still have my knife,
Even though you are leaving, you are not without protection.
And it's pressed up against my body,
You are clutching your weapon closely, ready to defend yourself if needed.
Tonights gonna be the night.
Tonight marks a turning point, a definitive moment of change.
And I cut my own wrist, just to see if I exist.
You inflict pain upon yourself in a desperate attempt to know that you are truly alive and real.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.