Above Mere Mortals:
Pure metal! A classic album opener that gallops out of the gate! Proudly influenced by Manowar and Maiden and infused with that unmistakable DeLucie sound. The Crescent Shield is alive and the metal warriors ride high!!
Slaves to the Metal Horde:
This is one of the first songs we wrote. It’s been around for so long that it had different lyrics at one point. However they were too similar to “Above mere mortals.” Dan came up with the idea to set it to “War of the worlds” by H.G. Wells (which we both are fans of). It all clicked. Filled with chromatic verses and soaring, catchy choruses, this is a great song to do live. You also gotta love that title!
Rise of the Red Crescent Moon:
One dusk perched high above the LA basin staring toward the sea, I saw the rarest of sights. A red crescent moon. It was a mystical moment. It was hovering and smiling just above the horizon. The simple yet heavy mid to slow riff came to me in an instant. Soon vocal melodies and even phrases of lyrics came to me just as quick. The moody yet catchy style of the song worked well with simplicity of the idea.
Burn with Life:
A blistering tune that never lets up from the get go. Real power metal riffs here coupled with great drumming. The lyrics run with the attitude of the song. Never stop burning the great fire that is life!
The Last of my Kind:
Every good metal record need one great epic and this one is it! Set during the time of Earth’s dusk, this is a tale of the last man on earth who tries to repopulate the planet by way of strange methods and ends up failing. With Maiden and King Diamond influences, Dan DeLucie’s masterpiece of shifting themes, riffs, tones backed by fierce drumming and dramatic vocals, fits the bill to deserve the namesake of the album.
North for the Winter:
The last song written for the record. One of my personal lyrical favorites. So much is said through so little. With heavy and light melodies that weave in and out of each other, this sad yet thought provoking tale about the wrong choices we still tend to choose, leaves a lasting mark on the listener. Purposely placed after “Last of my kind”, it serves as a delectable dessert after a grand epic.
The Path Once Chosen:
Definitely the most positive song on the record. Both musically and lyrically. Written in E major, this up-tempo yet still heavy rocker will be very popular in any country that likes good soccer crowds with flags waiving back and forth. The title and lyrics refer to the age old theme of choosing your own path in life and not stepping in the footprints of others. Sail your own sea and leave no wake. We hope to make this a crowd pleaser!
The Great Devoid:
One of Dan’s heaviest locomotive riffs! The “other epic” of this record will raise a few eyebrows lyrically. This one deals with the forbidden topic of “No gods, only science and logical proof of the universe.” To me it seems like that the one thing religious people fear more than devils or other religions…is the absence of any god at all. The vocals are angry and heartfelt. The chugging verses crescendo into passionate choruses that scream to tell of a truth nobody wants to acknowledge.
Unfinshed Ashes:
Short, sweet and pissed off! One of the rare times where the vocals and guitar riffs in the verses are paralleled work like a charm! Also a killer solo from Dan. The song’s message is quite clear. If your going to burn us to nothing but ashes, make sure we are dead and cold or we will rise again to claim our vengeance!
Await the Champion:
A smooth heavy riff that shoots straight through the heart! This one is more of a rocker. Another great live song that is more fun with an enthusiastic chanting audience. Going back to those classic gladiator/Manowar-ish themes, this talks about two great fighters who are equally matched. The winner is never really revealed for it is the spirit of human competition that is the most interesting.
The Passing:
Two riffs and a vocal line that was first formed on the beaches of Galveston TX late at night, 15 years ago. A very sad, moody and dramatic song that is mostly feel and my one greedy vocal splurge. Great soloing and guitar themes layer this somewhat simple yet heavy number. The lyrics are partially inspired by the movie “Poltergeist”. The rest is a sprinkle of my own nightmare madness.