Metal bands with good lyrics

[CannibalKiller]

Anyone care to post a good set of lyrics from the bands they like? I'm scoffing at a fair few of these lists.

Cradle of Filth- The Promise of Fever:
In the beginning
Rimmed with wind and storm
A great black wrath of infinite math
Spat snarling into form
And there was Heaven
Lit up with precious stones
Each one could fall but for the rule
Of Faith and love and stronger thrones

And therein rose vast wonders
Affections to be seen
Fathered from the plundered
Reflections of a dream

Fogging into nightmare
For him whose place was set
With wayward stars that absent, marred
All creation with their theft

In the beginning
Bewinged and ringed with dawn
This favoured Avatar, enthralled
Swansongs from those that thronged this shore
With Gabriel and Michael
He shone with fierce intent
For loyalty, their joy to see
Him spur the hymns to heaven (sent)

For sculptured lips of seraphim
Whom fate then cruelly rent
(With sleight fingered strains of harmony)
Each note to grim portent

As grinning nimbus gathered
Over spires arabesque
For Him that blazed with holy praise
That for a jealous God was meant

Shining Feriluce
Lustrous scourge of fallen spirits
Basked in glory, flew
To lakes in sacred altitudes

Sweet haunting music swathed the breeze
With curling tongues that lapped the lead
As through thick mountain mist (with thoughts adrift)
Until at last, past grasping trees

He paused to draught forbidden streams
That whispered siren promises
To drown his thirst (for sports amiss)

These waters held secrets
Like raped Russian dolls
Wherein evil and good
Tore his soul for control

And drunk with the verse of desire's first words
The weight of the universe
Slunk in rehearsed

Horror in numbers too great to discern
The rotting of worlds to the conqueror worm
And love a rare orchid so fragile in bloom
Espied gasping breath under dark sheeted moons

Shining Feriluce
Reflected in jaded mirror
Climbing from the noose
Of time in divine servitude

And thus a strange new melody
Of will and wanton fantasies
Whetted by the veiled, seen
Danced from his ashen lips
In red dawn scores, the silver scream
Of truth and her deleted scenes
Was taken up as far, it seemed
As God, his words eclipsed

(Those waters hid visions
Like butchers in war
Perverting the course
Of life's blood evermore...)
In the beginning
Skinned well with gibbous tones
Of countenance and ignorance
In equal measures sewn
A marbled arc of Angels
Sworn to the morning star
Shared His pride and deep inside
Felt chill Shadows sweep their cards

 

[fps]

Always liked Cradle Of Filth's lyrics, great choice, the middle fingers are totally unnecessary, not sure what you're trying to say. I thought it would be a better thread if people shared the lyrics they really liked rather than just listing bands, cos some of them I think the lyrics are lame. The Milton and Lovecraft influences especially in Dani Filth's writing are just awesome.

I have been singing this song a lot recently. Originally I was never keen on the *turning this piss to wine* line, as it seemed too obviously anti-religious, disdainful of miracles. Now I see it as important in establishing the protagonist as a physical specimen, maybe out in the desert. The whole thing makes me think of a grim bleak Jim Crace book called Quarantine. Anyway, the lyrics are superb, I think.

Tool- H.

What's coming through is alive.
What's holding up is a mirror.
But what's singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine.

They're both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same.

The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately.

Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity.

The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.

And I feel this coming over like a storm again.

I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.

Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down.

And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.

I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.

And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It's all right.
I don't mind.

I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,

And considerately killing me.

 

[Opion]

I've always been fond of Opeth, Protest the Hero, Meshuggah's lyrics. The new Faceless has some awesome lyrics too (10 Billion Years). I'd have to say my favorite metal band to read lyrics from is SikTh, crazy ass stuff. Doesn't leave you walking away with a somber attitude like some bands do, but definitely makes you do a double-take.

 

[MythicSquirrel]

Sorry if they've been mentioned before, but, this.



"As we drown in doom
No one is coming back for you
I am the 21st century Jim Jones
I am the dog that told the son of Sam to kill
I will set the fires that make the ocean burn
I am the one who will poison the world, some day you'll thank me
We are wormwood, and I'm the mourning star
Dead bodies as far as the eye can see
I look to the gallows, my mother begins to cry
I spit upon the crowds, you're all going to fucking die
We are the kings and queens of tragedy
We are the brothers and sister dependent on the pigs of humanity
Just because you're breathing, doesn't mean that you're alive
Just because you're human, doesn't mean you have to die
Just because you're breathing, doesn't mean that you're alive
Just because you're human, doesn't mean you have to die
Your heart is a fucking liar, dead weight of the fucking world
We are oblivion, we are oblivious
Just because you're breathing, doesn't mean that you're alive
Just because you're human, doesn't mean you have to die
Just because you're breathing, doesn't mean that you're alive
Just because you're human, doesn't mean you have to die
As we drown in doom
No one is coming back for you
As we drown in doom
No one is coming back for you"

Gets me every time

 

[MrPepperoniNipples]

Anal Cunt?

 

[Saidincontext]

Pantera had the best lyrics i've ever read, on so many songs, phil is a damn genius, unfortunately nobody really takes time to check it out.

 

[otisct20]

I really like Vildhjartas lyrics, but my favorite is probably The Human Abstract

 

[theleem]

Death(Human and after)
Cephalic Carnage
Cynic
Emperor
Ihsahn's solo stuff

 

[Fat-Elf]

I like Linkin Park's lyrics.

Craaaawling in my skiiiiin..

 

[Saidincontext]

No Good (Attack The Radical) Lyrics
Artist: Pantera

In the states
There's a problem with race
Because of ignorant past burned fires
From evolution
We've been killing each other
I figure man should have it down to a science

No chance
Not for a minute
Not for a second
I won't be defensive
I'm straight out in my opinion
You'ld better listen to a man who knows what he is saying
I've seen your side
You run and hide for the mere fact that you feel inferior
Be superior
And know your interior

(Pre) Race, pride, prejudice
Black man, white man
No stand
Live in the past
We make it last
A hated mass
No solution
Mind pollution
For revolution

(Chorus) So low behold my eyes
This land of fools will rise
No good
For no one

You blame oppression and play the role of criminals
To rape and burn show progress is minimal
White hoods and militants you know it's such a pity
Living, breathing
Violence in your city

If one man
Had one home
In one world
Held live alone without variety
Full of anxiety
No one to point at, question
Or even talk to -- in his private grave
No matter what color
He wouldn't be saved from hell
He dwells
A closed mind playing the part of prison cells

 

[Don Vito]

Everyone hated it, but I love the lyrical styling's of Sonata Arctica's Unia.

 

[-42-]

Converge.

 

[DarkWolfXV]

Carcass has medical lyrics, which you could consider intelligent.
Recently i love Cattle Decapitation, especially Monolith of Inhumanity.



Murder the day, ring in the night
As I unfold my death bed down on the muddy ground
This soil is tainted
Every seeping wound unattended - infected
From the toils of man and his damning hand
A king has only to fall...

Weakening legs are breaking down
Punished, diseased, taking i tall...

Once we are freed, we'll starve again - instinctive mutation
Once we are bled, they'll start again - unnatural burden

Here in the garden
We know not what we do
Made to lie in pastures of filth
Left to die, guilty of nothing
If we were promised heaven
Then why are we in hell?

Murder the day, ring in the night
Screams slip through the door from the torture floor

This room to be a cemented tomb
Scraping raw my feet upon the bloodiest concrete
Death looms since conceived in the womb
Ever so slowly
Slows to a crawl on hands and knees and all

Dehumanization of a totally pathetic species (evolved feces)
Justified hatred for you humans
Justified vengeance on your worthless lives
Justified hatred for you humans
Justified vengeance on your worthless lives

Once we are freed, we'll starve again - instinctive mutation
Once we are bled, they'll start again - unnatural burden

______________________________________________________
The chorus is incredibly awesome and catchy, love it. I find myself singing it along with the video.

Also, try Demilich.

 

[Athor]

Sacred Reich
Lamb of God
Iron Maiden
In Flames
Deftones

 

[fps]

No Good (Attack The Radical) Lyrics
Artist: Pantera

In the states
There's a problem with race
Because of ignorant past burned fires
From evolution
We've been killing each other
I figure man should have it down to a science

No chance
Not for a minute
Not for a second
I won't be defensive
I'm straight out in my opinion
You'ld better listen to a man who knows what he is saying
I've seen your side
You run and hide for the mere fact that you feel inferior
Be superior
And know your interior

(Pre) Race, pride, prejudice
Black man, white man
No stand
Live in the past
We make it last
A hated mass
No solution
Mind pollution
For revolution

(Chorus) So low behold my eyes
This land of fools will rise
No good
For no one

You blame oppression and play the role of criminals
To rape and burn show progress is minimal
White hoods and militants you know it's such a pity
Living, breathing
Violence in your city

If one man
Had one home
In one world
Held live alone without variety
Full of anxiety
No one to point at, question
Or even talk to -- in his private grave
No matter what color
He wouldn't be saved from hell
He dwells
A closed mind playing the part of prison cells

unbelievable

 

[fassaction]

Misery Signals
I Am Abomination
Thrice
Brand New

 

[Dakotaspex]

Fleshgod Apocalypse
Hundredth (super positive message)
Harm's Way (REALLY good lyrics for a hardcore band)
Wretched
The Contortionist
Nile

For some reason, I LOVE Last Chance to Reason's lyrics, even if they are about video games. It just works.

 

[Mprinsje]

Tool, textures, screamoband orchid, converge

 

[epsylon]

Katatonia anyone ? Their lyrics are brilliant !
I'd say also Arcturus, Behemoth, Emperor (especially Prometheus), Leprous, and probably many other bands I've forgotten.

Oh.
And Primordial !
Pri-fucking-mordial. Their lyrics are brilliant, The Coffin Ships, As Rome Burns, Empire Falls. Lain With The Wolf, ... The combination of angry singing and epic lyrics (with groovy drums and supporting rhythm guitars) is what makes the strength of this awesome band.

 

[blaaargh]

Yeah, Primordial is the dankness.

I also really love Rosetta's lyrics. The first two albums (I believe) are a continuous story about an astronaut going to Europa... really awesome stuff.