In 1998, on a mailing list, I heard about a band, Virgin Steele, and an album, “Invictus”, which was supposed to be very good. “Fine,” I thought, “let’s hear it”.
Years later, I have all of Virgin Steele’s discography, it’s one of my favorite bands, and David DeFeis is, in my opinion, one of the best singers out there - certainly my favorite among the 10 in “Avantasia”. Initially, I thought VS sounded like Manowar… but they’re different, very different. Much more epic, with huge classical influences, and with a lot more keyboards, too. Oh, and thoughtful lyrics, some concept albums, and a passion for Greek mythology. What’s not to love?
Inspired, in part, by the poem of the same name by William Ernest Henley, “Invictus” also continues - and completes - a story Virgin Steele began in “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, part 1″, and which was continued in “part 2″ (although those were not concept albums like Invictus is). It is a story of rebellion and defiance, against uncaring, arrogant gods - epitomized by “the Godhead”:
You are a thorn in my side
I am the rock upon which you will break
Freedom or Death, you decide
For in the end there is no meaning to find
Only the raging sea
and I will be there at the door
But, no matter what (and unlike what we usually see in the real world, where people bend over to any kind of authority or threat of force), humanity stands defiant:
To honour the questions we ask
Greatness is granted to those who betray
I am the last of my kind
Heaven and Hell exist inside us we’ve found
Drown in your raging sea
for I will be there when you die
Great for when you’re feeling down, too - and completely unlike all the “poor little me, I’m so sad, I suffer so much” lyrics of mainstream music.
This is not my favorite VS album - that’s both parts of “The House of Atreus”, VS’ interprepation of “The Oresteia” -, but it was the first album of theirs I had, and no other album I know means “defiance” as much as this one. Add the great keyboards, drums and vocals, and you get what is, in my opinion, a classic.
No related posts.
Subscribe to this blog
You couldn’t be more right! Invictus is an excellent album, but I would go further with The House Of Atreus, and say that that is magnificent. You’re right also in that they are far superior to Man-O-War.
I disagree with you on one point though. DeFeis isn’t just “one” of the best singers around - he is the best!
(As a recommendation of a singer who comes close to DeFeis, check out “Distant Tides” by Matt Moliti’s Dark Empire).