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
Teonanacatl
Tiamat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They glance in morning breeze
As dividing tiny rays
A morning tries to seize
Greet me my proud little soldiers
Of brown, purple and grey
Carry us on your shoulders
If you begin to fall
Please have some more
You could stay at my place if you want
I'll sleep on the floor
In shades of purple cloth
They guide us to the light
With irresistible pride
To the feast they us invite
Greet me my proud little soldiers
Of brown, purple and grey
Carry us on your shoulders
Carry us far away
If you begin to fall
Please have some more
You could stay at my place if you want
I'll sleep on the floor
(For long and faithful service)
The lyrics of Tiamat's song Teonanacatl describe a psychedelic experience induced by the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms, also known as teonanacatl in the Aztec language. The singer is located close to where the mushrooms grow, and in the early morning, they can see them sway in the breeze through the sunlight. The music invites the listener to envision the mushrooms serving as little soldiers, helping them to transcend into another realm, far away from their current reality. The singer also offers hospitality to those who partake and finds beauty in the way the mushrooms guide them toward the light.
The first stanza sets the scene by describing the location and time of day, painting the picture of the mushrooms themselves. The second stanza suggests that the mushrooms, "little soldiers of brown, purple, and grey," offer to transport the singer into another, more mystical world. The chorus repeats this idea of being carried away on the shoulders of the mushrooms, asking them to "carry us far away." Then, the third stanza suggests that the mushrooms guide the singer to the light and invite them to a feast. The final lines speak directly to the mushrooms as if they have been loyal servants, thanking them for their "long and faithful service" and again repeating the offer of hospitality.
Line by Line Meaning
Not far from where I live
This location is relatively close to my residence.
They glance in morning breeze
The entities being referred to are visible and moving slightly due to a gentle breeze.
As dividing tiny rays
The morning light is creating small shafts of light that are dividing the area.
A morning tries to seize
The current time of day, morning, is attempting to assert its dominance and take control of the environment.
Greet me my proud little soldiers
Addressing the entities as if they are loyal and obedient soldiers in service to the artist.
Of brown, purple and grey
The color palette of the entities in question consists of various shades of brown, purple, and grey.
Carry us on your shoulders
The singer requests the entities to physically lift them up and move them forward to a new location.
Carry us far away
The desired destination for the artist and the entities is a significant distance from their current location.
If you begin to fall
The artist acknowledges the possibility of becoming weakened or losing control.
Please have some more
The artist suggests to the entities to consume more of the hallucinogenic substance to address any potential issues.
You could stay at my place if you want
The singer offers the entities a place to stay if desired.
I'll sleep on the floor
The artist is willing to sacrifice their own comfort to accommodate the entities if they choose to take up the offer.
In shades of purple cloth
The visual experience of the substance is described with an emphasis on the color purple.
They guide us to the light
The entities are leading the singer towards an experience or understanding of enlightenment.
With irresistible pride
The entities exude an impressive amount of self-confidence and assurance.
To the feast they us invite
The artist is being invited to participate in a grand and fulfilling experience by the entities.
(For long and faithful service)
This line is a parenthetical note that implies a reward or recognition for loyal and dedicated service.
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