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Jon Timbrook
Blog Post #11
So today I wanted to talk about a major influence of mine, and give a little insight and explain exactly what it is about the band Oh, Sleeper that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and gives me goose bumps almost every time I hear them. They have even brought me to tears one time while I was shopping in Kroger (not kidding).
Now most of you reading this I imagine have never even heard of the band Oh, Sleeper, so I have provided the link to the Wikipedia page that gives a very detailed summary of the bands formation, and details about their albums. In short, they are a Christian metalcore band that writes a majority of their material about spiritual warfare, which is a major reason I connect with them so much, and has been a major influence on my life and musicianship.
Some of their major influence on me has to do with the extremely intense and big guitar riffs, coupled with energetic drum patterns and frequent tempo changes, BUT a lot of it comes from their lyrical content. Their first album When I am God is the album that made me fall in love with the band, and one that I remember blasting in my room around my middle school age, and into my early high school days. But the album I want to share with you about is their second album Son of the Morning.
Son of the Morning was released in August of 2009 and is a concept album based on the final battle between the Devil and God. The lyrics of the album are very straightforward and paint a vivid picture of the end times through these musicians’ eyes. Do yourself a favor and listen to the whole album, and I encourage you to have the lyrics up if you have a hard time understanding screaming vocals. I wanted to share with you the lyrics to the final song on the album “the Finisher” which seems to be sang through the eyes of God, talking to the Devil.
“Do you mean to challenge me?
Because your speech is threatening to the writer of your history, through a future perverted by envy.
Your whisper may sway the weak, but when I speak it roars the sea.
Your challenge has been met, because with a breath I could snap your neck.
This won't be like the first time you tried, because my patience and mercy for you has run dry.
You've watered among my bride and started seeds to feed your throning flight.
I will sing to the world your storm is capturing and the angels will join me...
We will sing to a world reborn from suffering.
But mark my words, because if that tree keeps them from seeing me
I will burn off your limbs and you will never shade again.
You will bow at my feet or I'll rip out your knees and make of your face all the carnage you crave.
I am the Finisher and I am Forever.
I will sing to the world your storm is capturing and the angels will join me...
We will sing to a world reborn from suffering.
From the armories the angels sing. You will see them end this suffering.
From the armories the angels sing. You will fear them when they lift their wings.
They will sing to a world reborn.
They will sing as I cut off your horns.
I'll cut off your horns.”
I was listening to this Album in Kroger when I was in college and found myself tearing up to this song. I can’t even explain to you why, but it probably had to do with something emotional happening in my life, and hearing the vivid picture of God Destroying the Devil, who stands no chance against our maker! Gets me so excited to this day I had goose bumps just reading the lyrics… lol
The Album art is a pentigram that has the horn removed from it.... so freaking cool. Dehorn that pesky Devil!
Anyway, thanks for listening to my scatterbrained attempt to explaining something near and dear to my heart.
