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
Clovenhoof
Tiamat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a room with blackened walls I'm coming trough
In a room in my house you'll be seeing it trough my eyes
It's a perpetual sin, let the ritual begin tonight
It's alright, can't you see
It's ok, she is with me
Like the sand of our time
Clovenhoof
Have you got faith enough to throw the first stone
Are you my flame when only darkness prevails
Are you my white wale, the hammer for my nails tonight
The lyrics of Tiamat's song "Clovenhoof" suggest a sense of surrender to a force or figure that is outside of oneself. The first stanza paints a picture of being engulfed by darkness, with no avenue of escape, and an impending sense of being consumed by the presence or entity they are encountering. The use of "perpetual sin" and "ritual" implies a sense of reverence or worship towards this being or force. The second stanza directly addresses this entity, questioning its holiness and whether it has the ability to condemn others for their actions. This could suggest that the singer is seeking some sort of guidance or absolution from this entity. The final line, "are you my white wale, the hammer for my nails tonight" suggests that the singer is seeking some sort of punishment, or catharsis through their encounter with this force.
Overall, the lyrics of "Clovenhoof" create a chaotic, otherworldly atmosphere and tap into themes of powerlessness, submission, and attempting to find meaning and purpose despite overwhelming darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
In a room with no doors I will loose myself to you
I will surrender completely to you without any escape in this enclosed room.
In a room with blackened walls I'm coming trough
Even in a dark room, I will reach you and come through.
In a room in my house you'll be seeing it trough my eyes
I will let you experience my world through my eyes in the room of my own house.
It's a perpetual sin, let the ritual begin tonight
Let's commit the sinful act tonight, as it's a never-ending cycle.
It's alright, can't you see
Don't worry, everything is under control.
It's ok, she is with me
It's fine, she is with me and nothing bad will happen.
Like the sand of our time
Our time together is fleeting and will eventually run out like sand slipping through our fingers.
Clovenhoof
A reference to Satan, implying a dark and sinful encounter.
Are you the one they say you are, are you holy to the bone
Are you the well-known holy figure you claim to be, completely pure and untainted?
Have you got faith enough to throw the first stone
Do you have enough unwavering confidence in your beliefs to pass judgement on others?
Are you my flame when only darkness prevails
Will you be my light in the darkest of times?
Are you my white wale, the hammer for my nails tonight
Will you be the one to fulfill my deepest desires and be my savior tonight?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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