By 1999, this was already clearly evident, when Frédéric Guillemot (Drums) and Vincent Danhier (Bass) decided to join and secure the line-up. The press and fans enthusiastically praised and welcomed the band’s first release: a mini-CD, “The Blossom”.
This promising debut took a sudden tragic turn, when Frédéric Guillemot committed suicide just a few months later. The band members were inspired to exorcise the dramatic loss of their close friend by expressing the darkest feelings and frustration this trauma provoked in a new concept album. The result was “The Nameless Disease”, produced by Andy Classen (Legion Of The Damned, Dew-Scented, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Disbelief, Graveworm…) and mastered by Goran Finberg (IN FLAMES, Opeth, Dimmu Borgir…), an album which carried a powerful, aggressive and modern sound. In 2002, the band signed a deal with Season of Mist which finally gave Frédéric’s epic eulogy a proper release. The Old Dead Tree performed several shows and toured at various festivals for the record, with the likes of Opeth, Katatonia and Paradise Lost.
Franck Métayer, at the drums since 1999, decided to leave in 2004, later joined Breaklose for a couple of years, and is now a member of Interria. He was replaced by Foued Moukid (now in Arkan) whose debut performance with the The Old Dead Tree appeared on the 2005 album, “The Perpetual Motion”. The band played at several high profile festivals over the summer of 2005 to promote the album’s release, including at “Summer Darkness” (NL) and “Fury Fest” (FR).
Sophomore album “The Perpetual Motion” was fully produced by Andy Classen at the Stage One Studio (Germany) and the collaboration proved to be particularly successful. The album received raving reviews late Summer 2005. Throughout the fall and winter of that year, The Old Dead Tree hit the road with Dutch gothic metallers Epica for a full European tour, and performed several shows as headliners in France and the Benelux.
On May 2006, guitarist and founding member Nicolas Chevrollier called its quits to focus on his family, as he would soon become a father. The strong friendship binding the members of the band made the decision particularly difficult. A replacement was found in Gilles Moinet (main composer of doom metal act Luc Incerta), a man with a deep sense of melody who quickly found his place and brought new influences to The Old Dead Tree.
After several more shows, the band members started working on their third album early 2007. The recording sessions and the whole mixing and mastering process took place in June at the Stage One Studio, once again with irreplaceable producer Andy Classen. The wait is now over and The Old Dead Tree have given birth to their new album “The Water Fields”. This title is based upon an imaginary place where one finds refuge from pain and everyday doubts. “This is a concept album about avoidance, kidding oneself, and the urge we have to hide from reality and to remain passive when we are on tenterhooks...” says Manuel Munoz. “The band went further again, reaching a new stage in terms of song writing and maturity. This album is much heavier and darker, but also more diverse and full of sheer emotion! Even the production of Andy Classen outdoes the job on our previous material…”
The Old Dead Tree disbanded in November 2009.
In January 2013, The Old Dead Tree announced their reunion and that they will play at the Hellfest festival. The 2013 line-up is Manuel Munoz (vocals & guitar), Nicolas Chevrollier (guitar), Gilles Moinet (bass) and Raphaël Antheaume (drums)
So Be It!
The Old Dead Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I slowly start to realise...
It can't be!
How many times did you fight up to now?
For how long have you prepared your withdrawal?
I had better close my eyes once more again...
(Be)cause it can't be
I have just opened my eyes (again)
But I don't want to realise.
I can still remember the sound of your voice,
You looked better, you can't have made this choice
No It can't be!
I can not stand the idea
That you have been so silent
Eaten by your own pain
You tried suicide again
My brother, my old friend,
It can not be the end
Of your smiles when your face was shining with joy,
Of these hours we spent, speaking about our great band.
The Old Dead Tree's song "It Can't Be!" delves into the struggles of a person who has just found out that their friend has attempted suicide again. The opening lyrics express the disbelief and shock of the singer as they start to realize what has happened. The repetition of "It can't be!" shows the singer's desperate attempt to deny the reality of the situation.
The next few lines suggest that the friend had been struggling for a long time and had attempted suicide before. The singer expresses regret that they couldn't predict this outcome and they would rather close their eyes and ignore it. The following lines are filled with memories of the friend's voice and appearance, making it hard for the singer to accept that they could have made the choice to attempt suicide again.
The song ends with the singer's heartbreak at the thought of their friend being consumed by their pain and ending their life. The memories of their shared moments spent talking about the band and the joy they brought each other is a stark contrast to the current situation. Overall, the song highlights the complexity of dealing with suicide and the impact it has on those left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
I have just opened my eyes
The singer has recently gained awareness of their surroundings.
I slowly start to realise...
The singer's comprehension of what's happening is increasing gradually.
It can't be!
The singer is in disbelief of what they're witnessing or experiencing.
How many times did you fight up to now?
The artist is wondering about the amount of times the subject has struggled in life.
For how long have you prepared your withdrawal?
The artist is inquiring about how much time has elapsed since the subject began distancing themselves.
I could not have predicted this outcome my friend
The singer is saying that they were unprepared for what they're seeing.
I had better close my eyes once more again...
The singer wishes to avoid reality by not bearing witness to it.
(Be)cause it can't be
The artist reinforces that what they're experiencing is impossible.
But I don't want to realise.
The artist is actively avoiding further comprehension of reality.
I can still remember the sound of your voice,
The artist still recalls what the subject sounded like.
You looked better, you can't have made this choice
The singer cannot understand why the subject has made this decision since it seems unlikely given their appearance.
No It can't be!
The artist repeats their disbelief that the present reality can even exist.
I can not stand the idea
The singer cannot tolerate the thought of what's transpired.
That you have been so silent
The singer is concerned about the subject's silence and what it might indicate.
Eaten by your own pain
The singer believes that the subject's pain has become overwhelming and all-consuming.
You tried suicide again
The artist knows that the subject has made previous attempts on their own life.
My brother, my old friend,
The artist is addressing someone who is both a dear friend and brother.
It can not be the end
The singer admits that the present outcome is unacceptable since there's still hope.
Of your smiles when your face was shining with joy,
The singer recalls that there were happier times when the subject was happy and carefree.
Of these hours we spent, speaking about our great band.
The artist reminisces about the time they spent together discussing their shared love of music and their band.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matthieu Auvray
Piece of art