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
The Whores of Babylon
Tiamat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Might even fool a clever mind
Just won't forget their price to pay
As silk betrays and truth unwinds
Cling, cling to your mind, my words
Never trust a foreign race
All the sweetness you have heard
Everything they do and say
Might even fool a clever mind
Just won't forget their price to pay
As silk betrays and truth unwinds
Cling, cling shattered nerves
To the queen you did adore
Has turned to stiff ebonite cures
In scarlet waves on distant shore
Everything they do and say
Might even fool a clever mind
Just won't forget their price to pay
As silk betrays and truth unwinds
The lyrics of Tiamat's song "The Whores of Babylon" warn against the dangers of trusting outsiders who may appear charming and alluring, but ultimately have ulterior motives. The first verse describes how these outsiders can deceive even the most intelligent minds, and how their true intentions will be revealed in time. The second verse urges the listener to be cautious and not trust those who are not part of their own "race", warning that the sweetness they offer is merely a facade. The final verse speaks to the consequences of ignoring this warning, with the once beloved queen and her followers turning to "stiff ebonite cures" (presumably death or some form of curse) in a far-off land.
Line by Line Meaning
Everything they do and say
The actions and words of the Whores of Babylon are deceptive and can mislead even the most intelligent minds.
Might even fool a clever mind
Their deceptiveness is so powerful that even clever people can be fooled by them.
Just won't forget their price to pay
However, there will always be consequences to their actions, and they will ultimately pay for their deception.
As silk betrays and truth unwinds
Their deception is akin to silk, which can easily unravel and expose the truth.
Cling, cling to your mind, my words
The listener is warned to be wary and to hold on to their own thoughts and beliefs in the face of the Whores' deceit.
Never trust a foreign race
The Whores are portrayed as a mysterious and foreign group, adding to their allure and danger.
All the sweetness you have heard
Their words may seem sweet and attractive, but they are laced with lies and deception.
Has put your soul in carbon haze
Their deception has a negative effect on the listener's soul, leaving them confused and uncertain.
Cling, cling shattered nerves
The listener is urged to hold on to their composure, as the danger of the Whores of Babylon becomes more apparent.
To the queen you did adore
The listener is reminded of an idol they once held in high regard, who has been revealed to be among the Whores.
Has turned to stiff ebonite cures
Their idol has hardened and become unresponsive to their cries, and his/her actions have led to negative consequences.
In scarlet waves on distant shore
The negative consequences are represented by waves crashing on a distant shore, signifying the damage that has been done and is out of the listener's control.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous Peach
Holy moly. This was one of my favorite tracks in the 90ies. Relistening to this after 25 years feels like no time has passed.
dukeofdream
i don't listen to Tiamat but this album is one of a kind! I heard it more times than i can count!
Jacques Bouchard
First albums raw and extremely heavy. After slumber every album is a masterpiece. Don't listen to the early stuff much but I appreciate where they started. I wonder what happened. Death metal to what they are today. ROCK GODS
QuitChangingMyName!
Listen to the albums. There is at least a few songs on every album worth it. But this and a few others are masterpieces
TheRobuzz
@Jacques Bouchard A Deeper Kind of Slumber is my favourite Tiamat album, but I love Wildhoney - it's definitely worth a try.
Manmeet Singh
I would highly recommend their Prey album.
Kakha Khmelidze
Strongest, strangest but best doom metal song ever made from utterly best album in the genre.
J
Hauntingly catchy.
AUnidade
Magnifico!
Age of Reason
Wish this song was longer