Nightfall on Middle Earth

For discussion of Dunedain culture, what it might have looked like and how it worked.

Moderators: caedmon, Greg

Post Reply
User avatar
Greg
Urush bithî 'nKi ya-nam bawâb
Posts: 4496
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:50 pm
Location: Eriador; Central Indiana

Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Greg »

Greetings, all!

I'm sure most of you by now have heard me rant and rave about how awesome Blind Guardian is. They're an epic/symphonic metal band out of Germany, with a serious thing for Tolkien. One of their albums, Titled "Nightfall on Middle Earth", is just that. An entire album dedicated to Tolkien. Track one, War of wrath, is actually the last conversation between Sauron and Morgoth in the last great battle of the first age. The cover shows Luthien dancing before Morgoth.

The album retells the events in The Silmarillion, beginning at the end:

1 In "War of Wrath", Sauron advises his master Morgoth to flee the triumphant Valar in the War of Wrath. Morgoth sends him away and reflects on the events leading up to his defeat.
2 In "Into The Storm", Morgoth and Ungoliant, fleeing from Valinor after having destroyed the Two Trees, struggle for the possession of the Silmarils.
3 "Lammoth" is the scream of Morgoth with which he fights off Ungoliant.
4 In "Nightfall", Fëanor and his seven sons mourn the destruction wrought by Morgoth, including the slaying of Finwe, Feanor's father, and swear to get revenge on him, in spite to the Valar's disapproval.
5 "The Minstrel" most likely its about Maglor, son of Fëanor, who composed the song "The Fall of the Noldor" based on the Kinslaying.
6 In "The Curse of Fëanor", Fëanor expresses his wrath and anger and relates the misdeeds he commits, especially the Kinslaying, in pursuit of Morgoth.
7 In "Captured", Morgoth addresses the captive Maedhros, Fëanor's son, and chains him to the Thangorodrim mountains.
8 In "Blood Tears", Maedhros relates the horrors of his captivity and his deliverance by Fingon.
9 "Mirror Mirror" recounts how Turgon, in view of inevitable defeat, builds the city of Gondolin, aided by Ulmo ("The Lord of Water").
10 In "Face The Truth", Fingolfin reflects about the destiny of the Noldor.
11 In "Noldor (Dead Winter Reigns)", Fingolfin recounts his Noldor army's passage from the icy waste of Helcaraxë, the prophecy by Mandos about the Noldor's fate and he reflects on his own and his people's guilt and foreshadows their ultimate defeat.
12 "The Battle of Sudden Flame" talks about the battle in which Morgoth breaks the Siege of Angband using his Balrogs and dragons.
13 "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)" is about Fingolfin riding to the gates of Angband to challenge Morgoth to a duel. Fingolfin wounds Morgoth seven times but is eventually killed.
14 "The Dark Elf" refers to Eöl who seduced Turgon's sister and fathered Maeglin, who would eventually betray Gondolin.
15 In "Thorn", Maeglin reflects on his situation and decides to betray Gondolin to Morgoth.
16 "The Eldar" is Elven king Finrod's farewell to his people, dying from wounds received in saving his human friend Beren from a werewolf.
17 In "Nom the Wise", Beren mourns his friend Finrod. Nóm means "wise" and was the name given to him by Beren's forefather Bëor.
18 In "When Sorrow Sang", Beren sings about his love to the Elven princess Lúthien and his death at the teeth of Morgoth's wolf Carcharoth.
19 "Out on the Water" refers to the last dwelling-place of Beren and Lúthien.
20 In "The Steadfast", Morgoth curses his captive Húrin who steadfastly refused to reveal the secret of Gondolin.
21 In "A Dark Passage", Morgoth ponders his triumph in the fifth battle. The song also relates the origins of the kindred of men and Morgoth's curse on Húrin to be witness to his children's tragic fate.
22 "Final Chapter (Thus ends ...)" concludes the album, speaking of Morgoth's victory by the "treachery of man" but also of the hope for a new day.
23 "Harvest Of Sorrow" is the bonustrack on the remastered version of the album. Túrin mourns the loss of his sister Nienor.

I'm linking a youtube playlist which, I BELIEVE has the entire album listed. It's intended to be listened to basically all in one sitting, as the tracks all flow together when listened to on CD, but the flow won't be there as youtube'll have to jump from one track to the next, etc. At any rate, I hope you all enjoy my personal favorite metal album of all time, and are pleasantly reminded of your own trips through the silmarillion as you listen. I'd recommend pulling up the lyrics so it's easier to follow along. Also, not every track is heavy by any means, as they dabble in renaissance-influenced music for their ballads, so if you don't like the heavy stuff, jump forward in the tracks and you'll find some calm ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOuu4Rp8 ... ety_mode=1

If you just want a taste of what they sound like, I'd recommend this, one of my favorite tracks, performed live (which includes the Sauron-Morgoth conversation from the War of Wrath!), Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlXZZIWN ... ety_mode=1
Now the sword shall come from under the cloak.
User avatar
Ernildir
Haeropada
Posts: 1089
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 3:02 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Ernildir »

I don't usually care for metal, but that was a pretty epic album. Thanks for sharing.
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Jon
Amrod Rhandir
Posts: 646
Joined: Mon Jun 21, 2010 11:52 am
Location: Cumbria

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Jon »

AWESOME!!!!

Life before Death.
Strength before Weakness.
Journey before Destination.
User avatar
Ranger of Arthedain
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 180
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:37 am
Location: Numenor
Contact:

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Ranger of Arthedain »

I had heard of them in the past, but didn't know if they were any good or not.


...I now have a new favorite band. :mrgreen:
When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Winter is almost upon us, it will be long and hard, but the North remembers and the wolves will come again.
User avatar
Greg
Urush bithî 'nKi ya-nam bawâb
Posts: 4496
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:50 pm
Location: Eriador; Central Indiana

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Greg »

They've been my favorite band for a long time now. They're awesome. I have friends who have seen them live, and people showed up (this is pre-LOTR movies, mind you) dressed like hobbits. They and their fans are some of the coolest people alive.
Now the sword shall come from under the cloak.
Cinead
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 257
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 12:38 am
Location: The Western Edge of Mirkwood...

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Cinead »

I had that album when it first came out! Great stuff....

Also their Night at the Opera album is killer!
Here I stand...unbowed, unbent, unbroken.
Cleddyf
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 243
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:40 am

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Cleddyf »

i'm listenting to war of wrath right now, its so awesome!!!!!!
i have a new favourite song :P
User avatar
mcapanelli
Haeropada
Posts: 757
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 1:48 pm
Location: New York, New York
Contact:

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by mcapanelli »

The singer looks like a Took!
Winter is coming
User avatar
Greg
Urush bithî 'nKi ya-nam bawâb
Posts: 4496
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2008 8:50 pm
Location: Eriador; Central Indiana

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by Greg »

Cinead wrote:I had that album when it first came out! Great stuff....

Also their Night at the Opera album is killer!
A Night at the Opera is awesome, their second most recent, A Twist in the Myth is fantastic as well, but Somewhere Far Beyond has to be my second favorite next to Nightfall on Middle Earth...it has the Bard's Song on it, which is a dead winner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_tORtmK ... ety_mode=1
Now the sword shall come from under the cloak.
User avatar
appalachianranger
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 138
Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 3:41 am
Location: Morgantown, WV

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by appalachianranger »

9900
Last edited by appalachianranger on Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." -King Solomon
User avatar
appalachianranger
Silent Watcher over the Peaceful Lands
Posts: 138
Joined: Sat May 14, 2011 3:41 am
Location: Morgantown, WV

Re: Nightfall on Middle Earth

Post by appalachianranger »

It's funny; Somehow I did not discover this masterpiece until very recently. After buying it about two months ago, however, it has become the default music for my commute. Somehow even the act of rushing into work to make the weekly staff meeting just seems much more awesome with the epic rhythms of the heavy metal bards!
My favorites are undoubtedly Nightfall, Time Stands Still, and Thorn. The intensity of the Exile of the Noldor, the desperate wrath of Fingolfin, and the utter wretchedness of Maeglin could not be more lovingly portrayed!
Somehow Blind Guardian managed to infuse metal and bardic music to make a gorgeous glimpse into Middle Earth which proves even fairy tales can rock!
Even the cover art is beautifully rendered, showing Luthien and Beren's infiltration of Angband in all its dark, deadly, terrifying, mysterious, sexy and mystical glory!
While I agree with most critics that the Silmarillion need never be made into a film (or film series), I have to say Nightfall on Middle Earth is the perfect contemporary musical tribute to Tolkien's tales of the First Age.
"As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." -King Solomon
Post Reply