Formed in 1995 in Karlstad, Sweden, by Rob Coffinshaker (Robert Fjällsby), the Coffinshakers eked out an existence from small printings of 7" red vinyl singles and occasional gigs to a mostly uninterested audience. Their first single, "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave," inspired by the classic Hammer horror film, appeared in 1996. Consisting of Rob on vocals and guitar, Joe Undertaker on bass, Fang on electric guitar, and Andy Bones on drums (after the 2000 departure of Blackfist Bill "to study voodoo practices"), the band survived the audience indifference by the boldness of its idea and the near flawless execution. The band's direction of merging traditional country sounds of Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings to subject matter closer to Roky Erickson & the Aliens may have sounded loony, but Rob Coffinshaker's voice echoed the same gloomy low registers as his influences. The traditionally performed songs were catchy and entertaining, the Ennio Morricone and Ventures influences cleverly integrated, and the lyrics were...full-bodied.
Their first full-length record appeared in 1999. We Are the Undead continued in the same vein as the early singles, and they had a small but rabid following -- mostly in the neighboring Finland. After their first Finnish gig in 2001 they followed up with a mini-LP, Dark Wings Over Finland. Small tours and slightly escalating interest didn't quite convince the band to keep up, and they spent more time in their (not-quite eternal) resting places than they did recording new material. Lured out with an offer they couldn't refuse -- unlimited recording time in a studio and a good contract -- a Finnish promoter got the band back on the road, and they recorded their self-titled second album The Coffinshakers in early 2007. With this first release by a budding Finnish record label, these graveyard country-rockers creeped up to the Finnish Top 40 to mostly excellent reviews and a very receptive audience. ~ JT Lindroos, Rovi
Return Of The Vampire
The Coffinshakers Lyrics
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From dirt drenched in evil, appear without a sound
A dark sky lays ahead us on black wings of the night
Forever to walk in darkness, never to see the light
The thunder in the distance is a sign you'll have to learn
The stars they fade as evil takes its turn
The vampire return
We come to seek you out as the city goes to sleep
The hunger that burn so fiercely is calmed by the lives we reap
To the sound of the midnight chime you'll see us return
Nothing's gonna stop us when the bloodlust starts to burn
The ice-cold wind that grips your heart is a sign you'll have to learn
The stars they fade as evil takes its turn
The vampire return
The rustle of the bats' wings is a sign you'll have to learn
The stars they fade as evil takes its turn
The vampire return
"The Return of the Vampire" is a song by The Coffinshakers that paints a captivating picture of a returning vampire rising from the grave at night. The song talks about the vampire coming back to seek out new prey, being led by the hunger that burns in him. As the vampire comes into the city, the midnight chime sounds, signifying his return. The vampire is unstoppable and nothing can stop his bloodlust. The lyrics describe the darkness that the vampire brings, represented not only by his appearance but also by the fading stars and the cold wind that grips the heart.
The song has a haunting tone that evokes the vampire's supernatural presence. The Coffinshakers use a powerful blend of eerie guitar riffs, deep bass, and dark lyrics to create the ambiance of the vampire's return. The lyrics acknowledge that the vampire walks in darkness and can never see the light - a metaphor for the vampire's eternal damnation. The song is a perfect example of how music can create the right mood and atmosphere, bringing listeners to the realm of the supernatural.
Line by Line Meaning
Rising with the twilight mist through the cemetery ground
Vampires are emerging from the cemetery in the morning fog.
From dirt drenched in evil, appear without a sound
The vampires are coming out of the ground where they were buried, without making any noise.
A dark sky lays ahead us on black wings of the night
The sky is dark and ominous, like the wings of the vampire.
Forever to walk in darkness, never to see the light
The vampire will always be in darkness, never seeing the light of day.
The thunder in the distance is a sign you'll have to learn
The sound of thunder signifies that the vampire is coming and you should be aware.
The stars they fade as evil takes its turn
The presence of vampire signals that evil is taking over.
The vampire return
The vampires are returning to the city.
We come to seek you out as the city goes to sleep
The vampires hunt for their victims when the city is asleep.
The hunger that burn so fiercely is calmed by the lives we reap
The vampires feed on the blood of their victims to satisfy their hunger.
To the sound of the midnight chime you'll see us return
The vampires return at midnight, signaled by the chime of the clock.
Nothing's gonna stop us when the bloodlust starts to burn
The vampires are unstoppable once they start craving for blood.
The ice-cold wind that grips your heart is a sign you'll have to learn
The cold wind signifies the arrival of the vampire and you should prepare for it.
The rustle of the bats' wings is a sign you'll have to learn
The sound of the bats is a sign that the vampires are near and you should be careful.
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.