The bands first studio-experience was in 1994/95, when they recorded the Vergelmir demo-tape at the famous Sweet Silence Studio (Metallica, Blind Guardian etc.) in Copenhagen. Although the demo-tape didn't quite get the desired production, it accomplished it's task, as it circulated through the European metal-underground where it was well received in countries like Italy and Germany.
The next major event in the history of Wuthering Heights was in 1996/97 when they were one of the bands featured on the compilation-CD "Extremity Rising Vol.2" made by Serious Entertainment. The song used on that CD was "Sorrow In Memoriam", which nicely sums up all that Wuthering Heights is about: Huge compositions, great orchestral parts, folk-influences, intriguing lyrics, up-tempo (speed) and progressive metal.
In summer of 1997 the band finally got a deal with a German record label, who (for some reason) were convinced that the band played gothic/epic metal. This co-operation resulted in the demoCD "Within", which saw the band heading in a more progressive power/speed metal direction, leading to the break-up with this label.
After only a couple of weeks the band were offered deals with different record companies all over the World, and in the beginning of 1998 Wuthering Heights started up the co-operation with the American progressive rock/metal label The Laser's Edge/Sensory.
After having signed an album-by-album deal with The Laser's Edge/Sensory, the recording of the debut album "Within" - part one of an up-coming trilogy - took place in August/September 1998 in the Aabenraa Studios with producer Jacob Hansen.
At that time Wuthering Heights featured guitarist Erik Ravn, keyboarder Rune S. Brink, bassist Kasper Gram, drummer Morten Nødgaard and well known Swedish vocalist Kristian "Krille" Andrén (ex-Fifth Reason, Street Talk, Tad Morose and Memento Mori).
Artwork for "Within" was done by none other than the highly acclaimed Kristian Wählin, (known for his work with Memory Garden, King Diamond, Dissection, Bathory, Morgana Lefay a.o.).
After the release of "Within" in October 1999, Wuthering Heights experienced tremendous response from media and fans all over the World. A great deal of interviews were arranged, mainly with Erik Ravn, and the name started to spread throughout the worldwide metal scene.
In late 1999 and the first half of 2000 the band played several gigs in and around their hometown of Copenhagen, using Peter Jensen (ex-Communic, Sinphonia) as stand-in / extra guitarist, and even though this was not the band's proper element (after all, with one member living 2000 kilometres away, it is hard to practice all the time), the concerts went great and the fans seemed to love it.
During the fall of 2000 problems occurred in the Wuthering Heights camp, which resulted in drummer Morten and bassist Kasper leaving the band. But since this was, and still IS, Erik's "baby", Wuthering Heights decided to go on without these two members.'
Finding new musicians for Wuthering Heights could be a hard task, especially since there were no immediate plans for making it a "touring band", however Intromental Management helped the remaining members (Erik, Rune and Krille) out by enlisting the services of Danish drummer extra-ordinaire Morten G. Sørensen (Pyramaze, ex-Aurora), Swedish lead guitarist Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade, ex-Zool, Moahni Moahna) plus Italian bassist Lorenzo Dehó (Time Machine / Khali) guesting on the album.
This line-up recorded and released the next WH masterpiece entitled "To Travel For Evermore". The famous Jailhouse Studio was the surroundings for the recordings of the album, which took place in June 2001 with producer Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Pretty Maids, Twilight, Beyond Twilight, Chroming Rose etc.).
The album is nothing short of a brilliant epos of majestic and symphonic speed/progressive metal. This time with more focus on the technical aspects, better melodies and a huge production! The release of the album was July 10th '02 in Japan (with the bonus track "When The Jester Cries") by Toshiba-EMI, September 3rd '02 in the USA by Laser's Edge/Sensory, September 20th '02 by Sail Productions in Korea and following shortly afterwards with releases in Europe (by Lucretia Records), Russia (by CD-Maximum) as well as the remaining territories.
After the release of "To Travel For Evermore", Erik and the band got really busy with interviews and promotion, but unfortunately they never made it out on tour. Instead Erik soon composed the material for the third disc, "Far From The Madding Crowd", which they recorded in Jailhouse Studios with Tommy Hansen in the summer of 2003.
This time the band found a new singer in Nils Patrik Johansson from the Swedish band Astral Doors (and also featured in Lions Share and Rickard Andersson's Space Odyssey). Nils Patrik is the perfect fit for Wuthering Heights, with his great vocal range, sometimes reminding of Russel Allen, Jorn Lande or even Ronnie James Dio. Erik handled the bass on the recording himself.
"Far From The Madding Crowd" is less progressive and more melodic than "To Travel..." - in many ways it is more of a classic hard rock album with big inspiration from Thin Lizzy to be found throughout the album - but it's still very much what you would expect from any Wuthering Heights release. This time the band have injected even more of the folk-music roots into the songs, and the album functions lyrically as the last part of the trilogy about the lonely wanderer.
The media and fans loved this amazing album, released in December 03 by Toshiba-EMI in Japan, followed by Sensory Records in USA, Hellion Records in South America and Locomotive Music in Europe in January 2004.
In 2004 Wuthering Heights went through some line-up changes, as Andreas Lindahl jumped in on keyboards (instead of Rune Brink), Martin Arendal took the place as lead guitarist (instead of Henrik Flyman) and Teddy Möller joined as bassist.
The band performed the first gig outside of Europe ever, at the prestigious ProgPower Festival in Atlanta, GA, USA in August 2004. The response was overwhelming and a LIVE CD was recorded which was later on released as a bonus disc with the US release of the 4th album, serving as a document of this great event.
In the summer of 2005, the band did their first gig on European soil in many years, as they played the Park Rock Festival in Sweden iin front of a very enthusiastic crowd. Some of the band´s performance was even broadcast in Swedish primetime TV. At this gig Toke Skjønnemand stood in for Martin Arendal, who unfortunately had to take a couple of months off from music to nurture his injured hand.
During 2005 Erik began composing the 4th disc, "The Shadow Cabinet". Deciding to go with the same line-up as they performed with in USA 2004, Wuthering Heights was not only rejuvenated, but also experiencing a better internal harmony and friendship than ever before.
During the spring of 2006 the album was recorded using 4 different studio settings throughout Denmark and Sweden, and mixed once again by Tommy Hansen at Jailhouse Studios.
"The Shadow Cabinet", released in October and November 2006, (through Soundholic, Locomotive and Sensory for Japan, Europe and USA respectively), stands as the album that solidified Wuthering Heights' status as one of the most interesting bands to emerge on the international heavy metal scene in recent years.
After 3 years of silence from the Wuthering Heights camp, the time has come for the 5th album, "Salt", to be released. With the same line-up as on "The Shadow Cabinet", Erik and the boys have created their absolutely strongest album to date.
"Salt" sees the band moving into new conceptual territory as the whole thing takes a somewhat maritime twist. While writing the lyrics for the album, Erik found that the imagery of the sea was a great vehicle for his increasingly dark tales of personal and global armageddon. And consequently the music has traded some of its celtic delicacy for the rawness of the sailor´s tunes. The title "Salt" sums up many different aspects of the album´s lyrics - from salty seawinds to salty tears, from the salt of the earth to the salty taste of whisky! And musically the band delivers these "shanties from hell" with burning intensity. Never before has the end of the world sounded this uplifting.
Current Members
ERIK RAVN - GUITARS
NILS PATRIK JOHANSSON - VOCALS
MARTIN ARENDAL - GUITARS
TEDDY MÖLLER - BASS
ANDREAS LINDAHL - KEYBOARDS
MORTEN G. SØRENSEN - DRUMS
Former Members
John Sønder : guitar 1989-1990
Morten Birch : bass 1989-1994
Kenneth Saandvig : drums 1990-1998
Martin Røpcke : guitar 1991-1992
Jannik B. Larsen : guitar 1992-1994
Troels Liebgott : vocals 1993-1996
Tim Christensen : keyboards 1993-1996
Tim Mogensen : bass 1994-1995
Louise : violin 1994-1995
Rune S. Brink : keyboards 1996-2004
Morten Nødgaard : vocals 1996-1997, drums 1998-2000
Kasper Gram : bass 1996-2000
Kristian "Krille" Andrén : vocals 1998-2002
Peter Jensen : guitar 1999
Henrik Flyman : guitar 2002-2004
Discography:
1999 - Within
2002 - To Travel for Evermore
2004 - Far from the Maddening Crowd
2007 - The Shadow Carbinet
2010 - Salt
2007 - Roaming Far From Home (Bootleg)
Tears
Wuthering Heights Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But this child had to become a man
His own crops to sow
And 'neath the shade of sanity
Their bitter taste would grow
With false pretence were written
The articles I signed
All that I designed
If this bitter taste of anger could be washed away
Maybe I could trust the promise
Of another day
If only I could...
Cry, cry
Salty tears on dusty ground
Inner screams that make no sound won't echo
Wish that I could cry, cry
Fertile tears on barren soil
No longer trying to recoil
But rather learning to enjoy
Life as it be
Tears of anger make a man of me
I long for a time ere the mysteries were solved
As the blanks on the map were filled
The blanks in our hearts were growing
Now that all roads lead back here
There's no point in going
I want to master more
Than just staying afloat
I long to write a tale that differs
From what others wrote
If this sense of longing could be washed away
Maybe I would meet the challenge
Of another day
If only I could...
Cry, cry
Salty tears on dusty ground
Inner screams that make no sound won't echo
Wish that I could cry, cry
Fertile tears on barren soil
No longer trying to recoil
But rather learning to enjoy
Life as it be
Tears of longing make a man of me
There's no way to cut the Gordian Knot
Of past webs entangled
The cry inside you try to fight
So free breath is strangled
We might only have our berth onboard this vessel once, no more
Would that I could cut the ropes and finally leave the shore
Seems to me that we must walk the plank with open eyes
And not for shattered hearts of men
Do the seagulls cry...
Cry, cry
Salty tears on dusty ground
Inner screams that make no sound won't echo
Wish that I could cry, cry
Fertile tears on barren soil
No longer trying to recoil
But rather learning to enjoy
Life as it be
Tears of sorrow make a man of me
The song "Tears" by Wuthering Heights talks about the struggles that the singer has faced in life and the emotions that come with them, particularly anger and longing. The first verse talks about how the singer had to grow up quickly, with bitter experiences shaping their character. They signed up for something that didn't quite turn out as they had planned, and that experience left a bitter taste in their mouth. The chorus talks about how the singer wishes they could cry, but somehow, the tears won't come. They long for release from their emotions and try to find a way to reconcile with life as it is.
The second verse talks about the desire to master more, to write their own story, and not just stay afloat. The emptiness and longing inside them can only be washed away if they find a way to move forward. However, they feel trapped in their circumstances, unable to cut free from past webs, and struggling to breathe. They realize that they have only one chance in life, and they must take it. The bridge talks about the importance of facing the harsh realities of life with open eyes and not dwelling on the pain of shattered hearts.
In summary, the song speaks to the human condition of struggle, loss, and the desire to move forward. It recognizes the importance of mastering our emotions, being present in the moment, and taking a chance on life.
Line by Line Meaning
Grimly I recall a child who greeted life with open arms
Looking back, I remember a child who embraced life with enthusiasm
But this child had to become a man
However, that child was forced to grow up quickly
His own crops to sow
He had to take responsibility for his own life
And 'neath the shade of sanity
But unfortunately, that responsibility came with its own set of challenges
Their bitter taste would grow
These challenges became increasingly difficult to face
With false pretence were written
I was deceived with lies and false promises
The articles I signed
I agreed to something without truly understanding the consequences
Once aboard, to nothing came
Once I was committed, there was nothing to gain
All that I designed
My dreams and aspirations fell apart
If this bitter taste of anger could be washed away
If I could let go of my anger and bitterness
Maybe I could trust the promise
Perhaps I could have hope for the future
Of another day
And believe that there is a chance for something better
Cry, cry
I wish I could cry
Salty tears on dusty ground
To release my emotions and let them fall like tears on barren soil
Inner screams that make no sound won't echo
To express myself and have those feelings validated
Wish that I could cry, cry
I long to be able to release my emotions
Fertile tears on barren soil
To find joy even in times of struggle
No longer trying to recoil
To stop running away from my problems
But rather learning to enjoy
And instead learn to find happiness in the present moment
Life as it be
To accept things as they are, without expectations or regret
Tears of anger make a man of me
My experience with anger and frustration has shaped me into the man I am today
I long for a time ere the mysteries were solved
I yearn for a simpler time
As the blanks on the map were filled
When the world wasn't fully explored or understood
The blanks in our hearts were growing
But at the same time, people felt more fulfilled
Now that all roads lead back here
However, now we're faced with the reality of our lives
There's no point in going
And there's no escaping the challenges we face
I want to master more
I want to achieve more than just survival
Than just staying afloat
I strive for more than just getting by
I long to write a tale that differs
I aspire to create something unique and meaningful
From what others wrote
To have a perspective that stands out from the rest
If this sense of longing could be washed away
If I could let go of my yearning for something more
Maybe I would meet the challenge
I might be able to face the obstacles in my life
Of another day
And have hope for the future
There's no way to cut the Gordian Knot
Some problems are too complex to be easily solved
Of past webs entangled
Some issues are deeply rooted in our past
The cry inside you try to fight
We struggle to express our emotions
So free breath is strangled
And it feels like we can't breathe
We might only have our berth onboard this vessel once, no more
We might only have one chance in life
Would that I could cut the ropes and finally leave the shore
If only I could break free from my past
Seems to me that we must walk the plank with open eyes
But we must face our problems directly
And not for shattered hearts of men
Not just for the sake of avoiding pain or heartbreak
Do the seagulls cry...
Life is not always easy, but we must face it head on
Tears of longing make a man of me
My yearning for something more has helped me grow and learn
Cry, cry
I wish I could cry
Salty tears on dusty ground
To release my emotions and let them fall like tears on barren soil
Inner screams that make no sound won't echo
To express myself and have those feelings validated
Wish that I could cry, cry
I long to be able to release my emotions
Fertile tears on barren soil
To find joy even in times of struggle
No longer trying to recoil
To stop running away from my problems
But rather learning to enjoy
And instead learn to find happiness in the present moment
Life as it be
To accept things as they are, without expectations or regret
Tears of sorrow make a man of me
My experience with sadness and grief has shaped me into the man I am today
Contributed by Addison B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pornegon
The lyrics, the writing, I've never seen anything like that before and I doubt that I ever will. It's amazing.
Balnazzar Dreadlord
I agree !
Robert Lumpkin
my fav song \m/ true metal
ROO TREINLAVERY
🤘🏻