So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Sound is ripping through your ears
The deafening sound of metal nears
Your bodies waiting for his whips
The taste of leather on your lips
Hear the cry of war louder than before
With his sword in hand to control the land
Crushing metal strikes on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees for the phantom lord
Victims falling under chains you hear them crying death pains
The fists of terrors breaking through now there's nothing you can do
Hear the cry of war louder than before
With his sword in hand to control the land
Crushing metal strikes on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees for the phantom lord
The leather armies have prevailed the phantom lord has never failed
Smoke is lifting from the ground the rising volume metal sound
Hear the cry of war louder than before
With his sword in hand to control the land
Crushing metal strikes on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees for the phantom lord
Fall to your knees
And bow to the phantom lord
The deafening sound of metal nears
Your bodies waiting for his whips
The taste of leather on your lips
Hear the cry of war louder than before
With his sword in hand to control the land
Crushing metal strikes on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees for the phantom lord
Victims falling under chains you hear them crying death pains
The fists of terrors breaking through now there's nothing you can do
Hear the cry of war louder than before
With his sword in hand to control the land
Crushing metal strikes on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees for the phantom lord
The leather armies have prevailed the phantom lord has never failed
Smoke is lifting from the ground the rising volume metal sound
Hear the cry of war louder than before
With his sword in hand to control the land
Crushing metal strikes on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees for the phantom lord
Fall to your knees
And bow to the phantom lord
Lyrics submitted by fennsk, edited by RyanWolfeh
Phantom Lord Lyrics as written by James Alan Hetfield Dave Mustaine
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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Phantom lord is one of the best metallica songs. As previously stated by the Judicious CJF, ita a about a monster symbolizing heavy metal