Biography:
Initially, the band played straightforward black metal under the name Treblinka. After having recorded the album Sumerian Cry in 1989, vocalist/guitarist Johan Edlund and bassist Jörgen Thullberg parted ways with the other two founding members, and subsequently changed the name to Tiamat. The Sumerian Cry album, as recorded by Treblinka, was released as Tiamat's debut album in June 1990.
After the debut, Edlund's leadership would modify the band's style with influences ranging from Mercyful Fate, Candlemass, Pink Floyd and King Crimson, with Sumerian lyrical themes. German guitarist Waldemar Sorychta would produce and contribute instrumentation to many of the band's albums, as well as those by Tiamat's own tour and labelmates, including Moonspell, Rotting Christ, Lacuna Coil and Samael.
1994's critically acclaimed Wildhoney mixed raw vocals, slow guitar riffs and synthesizer sounds which sounded different from other extreme metal bands active at that time. An almost continuous forty-minute piece of music, Wildhoney was considered to be a landmark release within the progressive/doom metal genres and would lead to the band's appearances at the Dynamo and Wacken Open Air metal festivals in 1995. The group would play a second gig at Dynamo two years later.
Upon the release of A Deeper Kind of Slumber (1997), Edlund relocated from Sweden to Germany and declared himself the only permanent member of the band; all albums that would follow would cement the band into a more gothic rock sound, quite different from the extreme music they did in the years before, with recent albums showing a The Sisters of Mercy influence.
The band signed to Nuclear Blast Records in June 2007. Tiamat released their new album Amanethes April 18, 2008.
Lineup:
Johan Edlund - vocals, guitar (Treblinka, Expulsion, LucyFire, Dark Age, Ayreon)
Anders Iwers - bass (Desecrator, Ceremonial Oath, In Flames, Cemetary, Mercury Tide)
Lars Skjöld - drums (Jupiter Society)
Thomas Wyreson - guitar
Former members:
Andreas Holmberg - drums (Expulsion)
Stefan Lagergren - guitar (River's Edge, Expulsion, Mr Death, Treblinka, Judge And Jury, Tranquility)
Jörgen Thullberg - bass (Expulsion, Mr Death, Treblinka)
Niklas Ekstrand - drums (Face Down)
Kenneth Roos - keyboards
Johnny Hagel - bass (Sundown, Sorcerer)
Magnus Sahlgren - guitar (Celeborn, Dismember, Lake of Tears)
P.A. Danielsson - keyboards (Veni Domine)
Thomas Petersson - guitar
Fredrik Ĺkesson - guitar (Southpaw, Talisman, Krux, John Norum, Arch Enemy, Sabbtail, Opeth, Shock Tilt)
www.churchoftiamat.com
Angel Holograms
Tiamat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be sure you make the same mistakes again
Dig with bare hands or a silver spoon
But never change the masterplan
The face of god
In velvet black
The skies are full of angel holograms
London bridge is burning down
My fifteen minutes seem like fifteen years
As time goes by we slowly rot away
It happens here and now and everywhere
The lyrics of Tiamat's song Angel Holograms contain a warning and a reminder to learn from history to avoid making the same mistakes again. It emphasizes the point that one can dig with bare hands or a silver spoon but changing the master plan is not an option. The phrase "never change the master plan" refers to the idea that the world is run by a select few and their grand plan, and that the common people have no say in that plan. The face of God in velvet black is a reference to the idea of a higher power that exists in everything, even in the darkness.
The line "The skies are full of angel holograms" can be interpreted in multiple ways- it could be a symbol of hope, indicating that even in a dark world, there's still something beautiful to hold on to, or it could be seen as a warning, indicating that these holograms are not real, but an illusion created by those in power to control the masses. The mention of "London Bridge is burning down" seems like a reference to anarchy and chaos, while "my fifteen minutes seem like fifteen years" could be a reference to the idea of time moving slowly during moments of distress or the fleeting nature of fame. The line "As time goes by we slowly rot away" is a cynical commentary on the mortal condition and the inevitability of aging and death.
Line by Line Meaning
Always learn from history
Never forget what you have been through in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.
To be sure you make the same mistakes again
If you do not learn from the past, you will inevitably repeat the same mistakes again and again.
Dig with bare hands or a silver spoon
The way you approach the task at hand can be either determined by your lack of resources or abundance of privilege.
But never change the masterplan
While the methods can be flexible, the objective should not be compromised.
The face of god
Divine entities can personify themselves in various forms or concepts.
In velvet black
The setting is mysterious and ethereal, yet elegant.
The skies are full of angel holograms
The environment is filled with idyllic motifs, but they may not be as they appear at first glance.
London bridge is burning down
The world around us is ever-changing and unpredictable.
My fifteen minutes seem like fifteen years
One’s perception of time can be subjective and can be influenced by how memorable the experience is.
As time goes by we slowly rot away
As we age, we experience physical decay and emotional exhaustion.
It happens here and now and everywhere
These experiences are not unique to any particular place or time, but they are universal to all.
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