The heavy metal bands who created their own fantasy world
(Image via https://twitter.com/HighCommandMA)
Some music does a remarkable job of transporting a listener to a faraway land, enabling them to take a break from the stresses of regular life in the process. In the same way elaborate fashion is an escape for many, music can represent a chance to avoid the mundanity of reality for artists and music lovers alike. Some bands have even managed to create their own fantasy world, particularly those in the heavy metal genre.
After all, society generally adores exploring a fantasy world. From JRR Tolkien’s lore-rich fantasy landscapes in much-loved books like The Lord of the Rings to games where fantasy intertwines with fun in a dazzling dance of colors, such as in Evoplay’s Season Sisters, it’s a genre that has always garnered attention. It, therefore, makes a great deal of sense that bands in the heavy metal sphere would create concept albums that contain strong doses of fantasy elements. Some top bands have done exactly that, composing a feast of music that is set in a fictional world that they themselves have devised.
Not only does this type of musical escape create unforgettable compositions, but it allows a fan of a particular band to explore an imagined world that has been created by their musical heroes. A package that works, let’s take a look at some heavy metal bands who nailed the creation of their own fantasy world.
High Command
If you’re partial to the odd bit of thrash metal, then you might’ve heard High Command before. The band doesn’t just smash the music they blast out, but the accompanying fantasy theme that is incorporated into each track is a masterstroke. The music comes first, according to the band’s lead singer, but a fantasy realm filled with warlords and heroes is soon established, all with the aim of elevating the tracks further and immersing the listener even more. High Command is a band who are great at telling the stories they come up with, with members like Kevin Fitzgerald, the aforementioned vocalist, clearly having a passion for all things fantasy.
Mountain Caller
A band that has recorded notable success, particularly in and around London, Mountain Caller’s creative juices were clearly flowing when they put together a selection of instrumental soundscapes that some people simply adore. To supplement their distinct sound, the band created a nameless protagonist who sees off fierce foes while embarking on an adventure through a destroyed civilization. With the album offering glorious eye-catching visuals to boot, Mountain Caller clearly enjoys showing off the fantasy elements they’ve created.
Stormkeep
(Image via https://twitter.com/VikingJared)
Unless you’re a passionate metalhead who studies the genre in great detail, then you probably won’t have come across Stormkeep before. A band that creates fantastical dungeon metal, they went one step further by fabricating a world called Othertime for their army of listeners to get stuck into. Featuring monsters and ancient ruins, the magical journey on offer through Tales Of Othertime, the name of the album, is truly captivating. In order to allow fans to immerse themselves in the band’s creation, the album even comes with a map.
Distant
A Dutch band with a solid following behind them, slam-infused deathcore music-makers, Distant, clearly enjoy the challenge of adding in some references to an unknown realm into their music. With a particularly strong focus on the story of Tyrannotophia, a hell-like destination that essentially symbolizes the end of the world as we know it, the downtempo tracks supplement the picture the band paints rather beautifully. Of course, the prospect of living in a hell-like landscape doesn’t appeal to many, but Distant make it seem incredibly normal.