Slough Feg was formed in Central Pennsylvania, but relocated to San Francisco, California in 1990 with the hopes of "resurrecting the Heavy Metal scene in America". The band produced three demo tapes in the early 90s before releasing their self titled debut album. Bassist Justin Phelps left the band shortly after. In 1998, the European music label Dragonheart signed Slough Feg and the band released their second album 'Twilight of the Idols' in 1999. The band released 'Down Among the Deadmen' in 2000, and 'Traveller' in 2003 (renowned for being based on Game Designer Workshop's 1977 science fiction role-playing game of the same name)..
In 2005 the band moved to the Italian record label Cruz del Sur and released their fifth studio album, 'Atavism'. The band also officially shortened their name to 'Slough Feg' after the album's release. After the change of name, John Cobbett left in good terms with the band, and was replaced by current member Angelo Tringali in January of 2005. Around the same time, drummer and founding member Greg Haa left the band for personal reasons, and was replaced by current member, Antoine Reuben-Diavola. In 2007 released their sixth album (second with Cruz del Sur), 'Hardworlder', recorded and produced with former bass player Justin Phelps. In 2008 the band released 'The Slay Stack Grows' on Shadow Kingdom Records. This was a double CD release of old demos and live recordings from the bands early days.
The band toured in Europe, and the United States, doing coast-to-coast tours summers of 2005 and 2006, including an appearance at the first annual Alehorn of Power festival in Chicago, Illinois. The band has also toured the United States, doing a coast-to-coast tour for the first time in the summer of 2005 with another such tour planned for the summer of 2006, which will include an appearance at the first annual Alehorn of Power festival in Chicago, IL.
Death Machine
The Lord Weird Slough Feg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"I guard the city Helix
I ride the Death Machine
And serving Lord Zirpola
I keep the ranges clean
I am my only master
I keep the ranges clean"
[Kaz Oshay:]
"Immortal gladiator
Never a Statesmen's slave
I'm born to guide the ranges
Below the mutant caves
I am my only master
My mother was Oshay
She heard the flashwind coming
A thousand miles away"
Burning across the wastelands of this lost society
My name is Ankar Moor, I keep the ranges clean
Racing through the burnt-out shells, I must keep up the pace
Iron wheels like thunder in this Heavy Metal race!
Lady of the Range-guides, Oh won't you ride with me
Across the plains to Triton our union can be free
Hiding from the flashwind underneath the ancient caves
Battling mutants, sending Statesmen to their graves
I was a Range-guide
You were riding by my side
Out on the wastelands, all on your side
Battling Statesmen to kill Ankar Moor
Escaped city Helix
And no more Death Machines
The Statesmen's reign is over
I ride the ranges free
I am my only master
My mother was Oshay
Once more I ride the ranges
Immortal tracks I lay
The Lord Weird Slough Feg's song "Death Machine" is a story about two characters - Ankar Moor and Kaz Oshay - who serve as Range-guides in a lost society. These Range-guides are tasked with keeping the ranges clean and guiding people across the wastelands while battling mutants and fighting against the dictatorship of the Statesmen.
Ankar Moor claims to be the guardian of the city Helix and rides the Death Machine, a powerful weapon used to keep the ranges clean. He serves Lord Zirpola and is his own master, implying that he does not answer to anyone but himself. Kaz Oshay, on the other hand, is an immortal gladiator who refuses to be a slave of the Statesmen. He was born to guide the ranges and is his own master, claiming that his mother was Oshay and could sense the flashwind coming from a thousand miles away.
The song highlights the struggles of these Range-guides as they navigate the dangerous wastelands and fight against the oppressive regime. However, the lyrics also suggest a hope for freedom and unity, as Ankar Moor asks Lady of the Range-guides to ride with him across the plains to Triton, where they can be free.
Line by Line Meaning
"I guard the city Helix"
I am in charge of protecting the city of Helix
"I ride the Death Machine"
I ride a powerful machine of destruction known as the Death Machine
"And serving Lord Zirpola"
I am loyal to Lord Zirpola and follow his orders
"I keep the ranges clean"
I maintain order and eliminate any threats in the surrounding areas
"I am my only master"
I am independent and do not answer to anyone else
Immortal gladiator
I am a fighter who never dies and has battled many foes
Never a Statesmen's slave
I refuse to be controlled or manipulated by the ruling Statesmen
I'm born to guide the ranges
My purpose is to lead and protect the vast areas of land around me
"Below the mutant caves"
I operate in the dangerous regions beneath the caves where mutants reside
My mother was Oshay
My mother's name was Oshay
"She heard the flashwind coming
A thousand miles away"
My mother possessed incredible foresight and could sense danger from far away
Burning across the wastelands of this lost society
Riding recklessly through the barren expanse of a society in ruins
My name is Ankar Moor, I keep the ranges clean
I am known as Ankar Moor, the protector of the surrounding areas
"Racing through the burnt-out shells, I must keep up the pace"
I move at high speeds through the ruins to swiftly respond to any threats
"Iron wheels like thunder in this Heavy Metal race!"
My Death Machine roars with the force of thunder as I speed through the desolate landscape
Lady of the Range-guides, Oh won't you ride with me
I desire the join of the Lady of the Range-guides on my missions
"Across the plains to Triton our union can be free"
We could escape and find freedom together by traveling to the plains of Triton
"Hiding from the flashwind underneath the ancient caves"
We would have to take cover in the caves to avoid the deadly flashwind
"Battling mutants, sending Statesmen to their graves"
We would fight against the dangerous mutants and the ruling Statesmen, defeating them in combat
I was a Range-guide
I used to guide and protect the surrounding areas before the tyrannical reign of the Statesmen
"You were riding by my side"
The Lady of the Range-guides was my companion on my missions
"Out on the wastelands, all on your side"
We were alone in the vast ruination, with only each other to rely on
"Battling Statesmen to kill Ankar Moor"
The Statesmen were trying to eliminate me, but we fought back together
"Escaped city Helix
And no more Death Machines"
We were able to escape the city of Helix and put an end to the use of the deadly Death Machines
"The Statesmen's reign is over
I ride the ranges free"
The oppressive rule of the Statesmen has come to an end, and I now patrol the areas freely
"Once more I ride the ranges
Immortal tracks I lay"
I continue to protect and guide the vast lands, leaving behind a lasting legacy as an immortal being
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.