The attributes that are associated with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy are commonly aligned with certain principles and ideologies that heavy metal bands live by. Since JRR Tolkien imagined his vast and grandiose Middle-Earth and the fantastical happenings therein, many musical projects have drawn on his pen for inspiration, lyrically and musically.
This is a form of escapism, to a time where things were centred more on honour, valour, magic, chivalry, monarchy as opposed to the growing apathy of modernised society. Very similar to the reading experience, the artists mentioned in this article wished to re-create and dwell on Tolkien’s creations and nuances.
Imagining the scope of the battles at Pelennor Fields and Helm’s Deep or the various magical creatures and locations can invoke an urgency to create art based on said experiences. Huge amounts of visual art from paintings and cartoons to epic movies have been created to bring Tolkien’s words alive.
Don't Ramble On About Tolkien!
Musically this has taken many forms across the years since the inception of the books in the 1950’s. Led Zeppelin were fuelled by Tolkien lore and wrote many songs about the adventures of hobbit, dwarf, elf and man alike, for example “Ramble On” and “The Battle Of Evermore”
Not long after bands like Zeppelin, Sabbath and Deep Purple had become rock gods, a band named Cirith Ungol who were part of the NWOBHM revolution, aptly took their moniker from the dark guard tower in the realm of Mordor, where Frodo Baggins is held captive after being subdued by Shelob the wicked spider.
Nomenclature To Rule Them All
The Massive German metal band Blind Guardian often turn to Tolkien when it comes to their material. The 1998 album Nightfall in Middle Earth (which is regarded to be one of their best) clearly takes its name from Lord of the Rings, and creates their own tale of fantasy but still largely in the Tolkien manner of things.
Hardly surprising that the most occult, evil, cold and ominous form of metal would take some of its titles from Tolkein’s world. As the author’s imagination was so spectacular, he fathomed many evils and dark beings and places, all with perfectly crafted sinister sounding names.
A plethora of artists have formed under Tolkien inspired banners, names such as Cirith Gorgor, Isengard, Sauron, Nazgul and Amon Amarth have all been plucked from the pages of The Lord of The Rings. Even the controversial Varg project Burzum used to be known as Uruk-hai after the menacing super-race of orcs.
The most widely known black metal band with a name from Tolkien’s tomes would be the longstanding Norwegians Gorgoroth. Named after the foul and acrid plain of Gorgoroth within the mountains that cordon off Mordor from the rest of Middle-Earth, this is a very appropriate name for the prickly and arcane music of the band.
The ritualistic and slow black/doom of Austrian band Summoning is draped in Tolkien styling. For a perfect introduction to the band, try the song “Khazad Dúm” from the remarkable album Dol Guldur. The flute and marching drum introduction could very easily be background music to every day relaxed life in quite towns in Middle-Earth, and the solemn riffing with harsh vocals emanate the dangers and mystery of the darker side of the tale.
As expansive as Tolkien’s worlds and wonders were, the use of his work is almost as widely spread, proving a massive influence on the arts and to a great extent the heavy metal sphere. Bands must exercise caution however as use of Lord of the Rings as a thematic base can be viewed as an easy way out of productive weakness and cliché.
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