Geek Speak – Heavy Metal and Literature, a Most Triumphant Pairing
by Daniel
I love heavy metal.
The energy. The sound. The themes. Every bit adds up to my favorite kind of music (after Latin Death Ska). But what I really love about metal, is how often bands tap mythology and literature for song influences.
Let’s look at a few of my favorites, which all go to eleven.
Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden (from Powerslave)
This song weighs in at a hefty thirteen minutes and change, and is based on the poem of the same name by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Steve Harris’ galloping bass line drives the first part of the song, but things slow down before getting back to the rocking and, or rolling.
The themes of being lost at sea, death and fate are all in Maiden’s wheelhouse, making this cut a classic. Maiden did not stop with Coleridge either, their song To Tame a Land from Piece of Mind is based on Frank Herbert’s Dune.
Creeping Death by Metallica (from Ride the Lightning)
Creeping Death is my favorite Metallica song. Hands down. Metallica takes a bible story, the Plague of the First Born from Exodus 12:29, and turns it into a balls out metal-fest.
You can’t but help to sing along to the “Die! By my hand!” chorus.
Mirror, Mirror by Blind Guardian (from Nightfall on Middle-Earth)
Bless Blind Guardian. Seriously. They based an entire album on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, which is a sort of Lord of the Rings history book.
Looking for more Rings songs? Led Zeppelin gave Gollum and Mordor a shout-out in Ramble On on EDIT: Led Zeppelin II, while Misty Mountain Hop and Battle of Evermore on Led Zeppelin IV also reference Tolkien’s works.
Blood and Thunder by Mastodon (from Leviathan)
Lastly, we have a concept album based on Moby Dick by Atlanta’s own Mastodon. Yes, a heavy metal album about a crazy, one-legged captain chasing a white whale–why did no one think of this sooner? Thank you, Mastodon. Thank you.
The “White! Whale! Holy! Grail!” chorus will be stuck in your head all day.
Do you have any favorite metal songs based on books or stories? Say so in the comments.
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Daniel J. Hogan is the geek half of Ginger and the Geek. He is a photoblogger and a writer. He has a vast collection of black t-shirts. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.
What about Metallica’s One that was inspired by Dalton Trumbo’s Johnny Got His Gun?
Good one!
I had that on my original list, but I decided to go with Creeping Death instead. Great song. For Whom the Bell Tolls is another good Metallica song based on a story, too.
Ramble On is from LZII, not LZIV. So there.
Fixed. I blame a combination of writing this at one in the morning and drinking too many Bad Santas. All those Roman numerals start to blur together.
Avenged Sevenfold’s Chapter Four is a great song about the story of Cain and Abel.
Haha, you don’t often find older “literature” than that.
Nice! I’ll check that one out
You can’t beat the Old Testament for source material.
Iron Maiden – To Tame A Land and Blind Guardian – Traveller In Time are both about Dune.
and the Demon’s & Wizards called Touched By The Crimson King is all based on Stephen King’s Dark Tower series
Good to know! Thanks!
Love ‘Leviathan.’ I just wrote a whole comparison piece about Mastodon and Melville:
http://litreactor.com/columns/white-whale-holy-grail
Literature + Metal is like chocolate and peanut butter!
I keep meaning to pick up Mastodon’s latest release. I heard the title track (I think) and enjoyed it.