Tolkien in modern music?
 

I sincerely hope that I am not violating nonsense rules with this, but I unintentionally found a modern group that sings songs based on the Sil and LOTR (The Books!). It is very obvious that 'Blind Guardian' has read the material and knows what they sing of. Most of what I have heard deals with Feanor's oath. Has anyone else heard much of them or found other similar groups?

I'm going to look them up immediately! How interesting! Thanks for the info!

Iarwain

P.S. Hmm.. I looked at the lyrics, very good. Then I heard the music. Not my type.

[ February 07, 2003: Message edited by: Iarwain ]

i don't really know any 'MODERN' music relating to Tolkien..

but if you like Led Zeppelin [Ramble On] or Rush [Rivendell] then you're in luck.

[ February 08, 2003: Message edited by: Sirithramiel ]

There's an Austrian band called Summoning that has very much focused on LotR. They have taken many lyrics of Tolkien, although it is hard to understand them sometimes, because they are more or less a black metal band. But they have developed over the years, and now they use horns, keyboards and other stuff, and there is no shrieking anymore.
The Album-titles are:
Lugburz

Minas Morgul

Dol Guldur

Nightshade Forests

Stronghold

and: Let mortal heroes sing your fame

It's worth downloading their songs (The Lugburz-album is not really one of my favourites).
One of their best songs is "Kôr", found on Minas Morgul.

Another (young) band that I know of is Battlelore, they are strongly Tolkien-related. The cover of one of their cds shows Morgoth. actually a picture of Alan Lee I think. They are more into Black/Death Metal, but the music is not that brutal, and they have a very good ballad called "the green maid" which reminds me very much of Luthien and Beren.

Nonsense rules? How are rules nonsense rules?

Sirithramiel,

You mean to tell me Led Zeppelin and Rush aren’t modern anymore? Thanks for making me feel so old. [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img]

Nonsense rules as in 'rules about nonsense' - not 'rules that are nonsense.'

However, this same topic has been discussed in about 3.5 billion threads.

As far as I know, Led Zepplin used quite a few M-E related things in their lyrics. Didn't they have a song called 'Misty Mountain Hop'?

Go here http://www.lordoftheringsshop.com/lo...udio.asp#music
and here http://www.tolkientown.com/shop/default.php?cPath=56_59
Lots of ME inspired music!(though not all modern sounding by the looks of them)

The songs really aren't that great, but there about LOTR, so who cares? Some of them are good but others are just plain bad. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

sorry, bill. i didn't mean it like that. led zeppelin AND rush are two of my favorite bands.

I came accross another prog rock band are so Middle Earth. They're from Germany, and *doh!* I can't remember what they're called!

reviews
 

For those interested in Tolkien-related music, also check out the Middle-Earth Music Reviews thread.

There are many people interested in music about Tolkien, and many who write and perform it. If you have music you'd like to recommend (or warn against!) please post a review there! There is a format at the top, just follow it when you post.

Grace and peace, --mark12_30

I just got done downloading most of Blind Guardian's LOTR themed songs, and some of Summoning's and Battlelore's songs and I have to say they are pretty good. So if you like heavy metal and love LOTR then I strongly recommend that you check out these three bands.

I must take the opportunity and push for one of my favourite bands: the finnish band Nightwish. I must admit that they're not a"tolkien-band" but the songwriter says that he has been inspired by the books, he's a real fantasy-fanatic. You should listen to Elvenpath, were they sing about the world of fantasy and LotR has a quite big part. There's also a song called Kinslayer, but I don't think it's about THE kinslaying...

Enya, who has done some of the music in the movies, is forever connected with Tolkien for me, and it was like that before the movies too. The first time I read the books, my dad listened to Enya in the background quite often. Since that, whenever I hear Enya I think of ME...It's pretty good music to listen to while reading LotR...

There is also a Lord of the Rings Symphony by the Dutch composer Johan de Meij. I know that Howard Shore is currently touring the world with his Lord of the Rings Symphony, but this one predates the movies by about 10 years and is quite nice. I know that it's not really the style of music this thread is discussing, but it is modern in that it was recently composed. It's in five movements, each titled after a character or a place in the story.

Blind Guardian ladies and gents!
 

I'm a huge fan of both Blind Guardian and Nightwish, and I'd just like to recommend BG's album "Nightfall in Middle-earth" for any metal fans out there, which is more less only inspired by the Silm, it's really excellent. And if you don't like metal you could download their song The lord of the Rings, which isn't especially heavy.
Nightwish aren't as obviously influenced by Tolkien as Blind Guardian, but they are, and besides, their music is great anyway (haha I've got concert tickets for July 24th, yeah!) :D

Hawkwind
 

A College friend of mine was/is really into Hawkwind, so one time he plays this old (1982) album of theirs called 'Choose Your Masques' which was decent enough, I guess. Anyway, my friend then claims that the first track is actually all about the Lord of the Rings. Sure enough the lyrics follow general themes from Wars of the Ring, but right at the end there is a really eerie sample that sounds so convincing that it may have even been lifted straight from a radio adaption of LoTR. Amongst some strange atmospheric noises it goes:

"I have come. But I do not choose now to do what I came to do..."

Like Hawkind, there are several other progressive rock bands named after Middle-earth and/or with songs about Middle-earth. There are bands called Gandalf, Iluvatar, Eru's something-or-other, and many others I can't recall immediately. I think my favourite song is a song by Camel titled 'White Rider' - guess who it's about...

the heaven within...
 

Ah, I was just going to say Nightwish! (definitely my favourite band at the moment). Apart from the obviously influenced Elvenpath (And Kinslaying may well relate to the kinslaying) there are LOTR references in Wishmaster, Crownless, End of all hope. And for me the song Away also relates to LOTR and fantasy in general, one only has to listen to the lyrics to understand why. And what makes it even cooler is that the majority of the members name Tolkien as their favourite author...as if that wasn't obvious enough. ;) - OT: vanwalossien, have loads of fun at the concert, I take it you're from Norway...lucky you! :)

I like Blind Guardian as well, from what little I've heard, and I agree it's got Middle Earth written all over it. I also get the impression that Rhapsody are also a bit Tolkien-influenced - can anyone relate to this?

I can't believe there's a band called Gandalf...lol, I find it funny somehow...

Im also a huge blind guardian fan. If anyone was looking to just download a few songs ME related, id suggest

- Lord of the rings (studio and live version)

- The Bard's Song (there are two versions, one called in the forest the other called the hobbit ) IN the forest is a mellow song with an incredible guitar lick for the intro! A very stairway- medieval feel to it

- Nightfall (one of my favorites by far)

- The curse of Feanor

- The Iron Hills

Most of the time you find prog metal bands who sing about these types of stories/ mythology. Listen to BG first, and if you're into it, I suggest trying these other bands:

-Rhapsody
-Hammerfall
-Kamelot
-Symphony X (very cool and musical!)
-Virgin Steel

And There is another band I've seen named "Isengard." For a long time now ive been searching for clips of their music, and trying to dl their songs, to no avail. So if anyone can get a hold of some of this music please give me a review on how they are! thanks!

The dream pop/shoegaze band Malory does a slow, hazy version of 'The Road Goes Ever On and On' - definitely worth a listen if you're having trouble sleeping.

The band "Hobbit" is fun. More or less seventies/ eighties style, Yes/ Foreigner/ Survivor...

Glass Hammer basically set ther songs in Middle-earth. :D One album deals with Aragron's journeys, another is a concert in Bree, etc.

I personally don't think heavy metal suits Lor of the Rings.( Ducks at tomatoes being thrown)

I think classical and celtic types of music fit better, plus Enya.

Because of Enya I got to learn about LOTR in the first place.

Lathriel--

Really! :cool: You learned about Tolkien from Enya? That's fascinating! What song? What drew you? What were your first impressions?

Tell me what the music did that brought you to Middle-Earth, I'm all ears...

--mark12_30

On the album Shepherd Moon there is a song called Lothlorien and it was my favourite song. One day I asked my mom about the name and she explained about the golden wood and told me that if I wanted to know more I could read LOTR. Of course I was too young at that time ( about 7) but when I was old enough I decided to read the book and learn more about LOTR. And before that I did read the hobbit.

In general I think classical music fits LOTR better because it is a book where older cultures are involved and heavy metal is a pretty new music type.

First time I read LotR I often lay in our sofa and my father played Enya at the same time...Since then I think of LotR everytime I hear Enya and I must say that it fits the story perfect. So if you want to create a good atmosphere (sp?) and get in the right mood when reading, play Enya in the background :)

speaking about music
 

[I]I have to comment on Howard Shore, I think he was the composer for the music of LotR, he did a fantastic job!

Lûthien Nénharma, you do bring up an interesting point. I tend to take Howard Shore for granted. Yet the more I listen to the soundtrack-- the vocal work, especially the sopranos, is effective and very enjoyable. It grows on me steadily.

(Welcome to the Downs!)

You know, i find it amazing that all these years after its publication, Lord Of The Rings is still inspiring people, especially musicians.

Interesting old thread...
 

I was just advised to buy a Battlelore album by my boyfriend who was convinced I'd love it. I could only find Third Age Of THe Sun but I love it!!!! It's kinda cheesy but great to listen too whilst in a Tolkieny mood but when Enya or the movie soundtracks won't do. I'm glad I found this old thread as I was just about to ask if anyone knew of any other LOtR inspired music...

I have to say that even if you're not in to metal at all, least of all death metal you should still check out the first song on the Album it's called Usvainen Rhun. It has a pretty female vocal and is sung entirey in Elvish. It's really nice and worth a little listen.

Our band just performed this for homecoming/family weekend in September. It was amazing, and it fit the books well. Plus we have an awesome music program...that always helps!

I remember playing the symphoney for band. It is still one of my favourite pieces for band even though the arangement we had was pretty simple. It actually got me to buy the CD.