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
Wings of Heaven
Tiamat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until the day that you will dance avidly on my grave
Seems like a lifetime we've been living this lie
But I can't help keep lying when you undress before my eyes
The wings of heaven are descending
The touch of her naked skin's amending
The skies will collide
And it will take us trough the night
Thank you my angel like belly dancing concubine
Like Cleopatra you're sleeping safe in a royal shrine
Thank you for the blood and tears and for the table dance
Wholeheartedly I thank you dear for our short romance
The lyrics to Tiamat's "Wings Of Heaven" showcase a complex and tumultuous relationship between two people. The first line, "I'll be your master and I'll be your slave," sets the tone for the power dynamic at play. Despite this imbalance, the singer acknowledges that they will remain in this relationship until death, as they say, "Until the day that you will dance avidly on my grave."
The second stanza reveals that this relationship has been built on lies, but despite this, the singer cannot help but be drawn in by their partner's nakedness, stating, "But I can't help keep lying when you undress before my eyes." This line speaks to the intense attraction and pull that the singer feels towards their partner, even though they recognize that the foundation of their relationship is built on falsehoods.
The chorus of the song speaks about the "wings of heaven" descending and the touch of their partner's naked skin "amending." It seems as though the singer finds solace and peace in their partner's presence, even though the skies will eventually "collide" and the relationship will end. Overall, the lyrics of "Wings Of Heaven" speak to the intense emotional and physical pull of a relationship, even when it is built on lies and ultimately doomed.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be your master and I'll be your slave
I will submit to you while also controlling you.
Until the day that you will dance avidly on my grave
Our relationship won't end until the day you celebrate my death with joy.
Seems like a lifetime we've been living this lie
We have been keeping up this facade for a very long time.
But I can't help keep lying when you undress before my eyes
I can't resist the temptation to deceive you when I see you naked.
The wings of heaven are descending
An angelic figure is approaching.
The touch of her naked skin's amending
Her touch is healing and repairing what has been damaged.
The skies will collide
Something significant is about to happen.
Only for a little while
This event will be temporary.
And it will take us trough the night
We will go through this event during the nighttime.
Thank you my angel like belly dancing concubine
You are like a beautiful belly dancer to me, an exotic consort.
Like Cleopatra you're sleeping safe in a royal shrine
You are like Cleopatra, resting securely in a royal tomb.
Thank you for the blood and tears and for the table dance
You have given yourself to me fully, including your pain and your joy.
Wholeheartedly I thank you dear for our short romance
I am grateful for our passionate but brief relationship.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL JOHN TUCKER, DOUGLAS THOMSON WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind