Virgin Steele - 'Spiritual Warfare' (official music video)

Pentheus:
You’ll drink the blood from my black blade
You are the product of my hate...
I am the One who lies in wait
I am the Lord of your Estate
I am the God you desecrate
I am your King...

Dionysus:
I ripped the pain from shattered lives
I drove the lightning through your eyes
I am the voice of living rage
I am the lion on the stage
I am the one you’ll never cage
I am YOUR King!

Criminal procreation sharing the gift of fear
Chemical copulation Death is forever here

WARFARE!!! WARFARE!!!

Holiness dies in the Soul Of the Sun
Holiness dies in your Eden
Hell is a House where the Mystery’s plain
Heaven requires a fee of pain...

Hold the tongue and still the heart
So no one fears “the grand upstart”

Death’s an Imperial Maiden no longer quite humane
Scorpion condemnation Death is Forever blame

WARFARE!!! WARFARE!!!

Holiness dies in the Soul Of The Son
Everything dies in your Eden
But Fearless & Proud like the Eagle untamed
Who never looks back when he preys!
I am...

Righteous falls, Hell and glory
Noble Meanings gone astray.... HEY!
Virgin brides, fatal sisters
There will be no long goodbyes.... cries
Raped in rags your opinions sphere of influence declines
You’re a lost empty statement thrown away...

Pillaging congregation invading my domain
Infernal replication sampling every frame
Plagiarized…adulation hiding behind disdain
Evergreen protestation punishment’s all a fucking game
Soul burning inquisition wounds that will never heal
Death is an aspiration sharing a hoarder’s zeal
Venomous implications bearing disorder’s seal
Life is an accusation fighting for one last meal

The Emperor’s evicted the slaves will be crowned
The Artists afflicted and buried with their sound...
...with their sound…but remember...
Every moment that you cherish comes from my stolen sun...

A Devil on his Throne will not leave his God alone
Drunken Furies mindless seers

WARFARE!!!

Holiness dies in the Soul Of The Son
Everything dies in your Eden
Primitive forces unleashed by the strain
Sad relics bearing your name

Righteous falls death and glory,
Noble Beings gone astray prey!
Virgin cries soulless whispers
There will be no more replies and that’s wise...
Murderous applications credit limit’s been declined
Fight ‘till death cruel enslavement Rage release!!!

Το μακρινό 407 π.Χ. ο Ευριπίδης βρίσκεται στην Πέλλα της Μακεδονίας, στην αυλή του βασιλιά Αρχέλαου και γράφει την τραγωδία "Βάκχαι" ("Βάκχες"). Η τραγωδία αυτή διδάχθηκε (παίχτηκε δηλαδή) μετά τον θάνατο του δημιουργού της. Αποτελούσε τριλογία μαζί με τα έργα "Ιφιγένεια εν Αυλίδι" και "Αλκμαίων ο δια Κορίνθου".

Ο (γιος του Δία και της Σεμέλης) Διόνυσος φθάνει στην Θήβα, με μορφή ανθρώπου, για να επιβάλει την λατρεία του και εμφύσησε "ιερή μανία" στην μητέρα του βασιλιά, την Αγαύη, στις θείες του (Ινώ και Αυτονόη) και σε πολλές άλλες γυναίκες της Θήβας, οδηγώντας τις μαινάδες (τις "Βάκχες" δηλαδή) στο όρος Κιθαιρώνα.

Ο βασιλιάς Πενθεύς (ή Πενθέας), αποφασίζει να στραφεί ενάντια στις μαινάδες. Συλλαμβάνει τον Διόνυσο, ο οποίος καταφέρνει να ελευθερωθεί και με σεισμό καταστρέφει το παλάτι. Στην συνέχεια ο Πενθέας μεταβαίνει στο βουνό, αλλά εκεί οι μαινάδες (και πρώτη - πρώτη η μητέρα του, Αγαύη, η οποία έμπηξε το κεφάλι του Πενθέως στο κοντάρι της, νομίζοντας μέσα στην ιερή τρέλα και έκστασή της ότι ήταν κεφάλι λιονταριού), τον διαμελίζουν.

Η Αγαύη επιστρέφει θριαμβευτικά στην πόλη, αλλά ο Κάδμος την κάνει να συνειδητοποιήσει τι έπραξε (ότι δηλαδή σκότωσε τον γιο της κι όχι κάποιο λιοντάρι). Το έργο κλείνει με την εμφάνιση του Διονύσου ως θεού και το μένος που πέφτει στην περιοχή.

Αυτή είναι -σε πολύ γενικές γραμμές- η περίληψη του (εμπνευσμένου από τον μύθο) έργου του Ευριπίδη, το οποίο αποτελεί και την βάση του νέου δισκογραφικού πονήματος των Virgin Steele, με τον David DeFeis να μας λέει σχετικά:

«The album deals with the concept of duality. Where something is both one thing and its opposite simultaneously. It obviously has to do with Dionysus and, as the title suggests, his “Passion” or suffering, and his coming to Thebes to avenge the slander of his mother, as well as punish the King of Thebes for denying his worship there. But that being said, more is going on.»

"The Passion of Dionysus" ο τίτλος και έχει προγραμματισθεί να κυκλοφορήσει στα τελειώματα του πρώτου καλοκαιρινού μήνα. Πρόκειται για το 18ο full length album στην μεγάλη (από κάθε άποψη) καριέρα της μπάντας του David DeFeis...

Δελτίο τύπου: «At a time when cultural innovation is being side-lined as never before and many unusual forms of music are succumbing to the temptation of the commercially more lucrative mainstream, Virgin Steele are the shining silver lining.

For over 40 years, mastermind David DeFeis has kept one of the most imaginative bands in the power metal genre on track with his excellent songwriting and charismatic voice. At the same time, DeFeis has never stopped evolving as a composer, musician and producer, updating his symphonic-tinged sound with exciting new influences.

He has already accomplished this many times over with classics like ‘Invictus’ (1998), ‘The House Of Atreus I & II’ (1999/2000) or ‘Visions Of Eden’ (2006). In his current album ‘The Passion Of Dionysus’, DeFeis surpasses himself in his unbridled creativity.

Eight years after the acclaimed studio opus ‘Nocturnes Of Hellfire & Damnation’ (2015), DeFeis' brilliant signature manoeuvres the album through a gripping parable about control and freedom, creating another highlight of the Virgin Steele career.

‘The Passion Of Dionysus’ will be released on 30 June 2023 via Steamhammer / SPV as a digi-CD (including a poster), as a gatefold double LP and in digital form. Virgin Steele will also release three singles in advance.»

Band: Virgin Steele
Country of origin: United States
Location: Long Island, New York
Formed in: 1981
Lyrical themes: Mythology, Life, The Unconquerable Spirit
Years active: 1981-present

Video: "Spiritual Warfare"
Video created by: Ingo Spörl
Album: "The Passion of Dionysus"
Type: Full length
Release date: June 30th, 2023
Label: Steamhammer
Format: CD, 2 vinyls, Digital

Track listing:
01. The Gethsemane Effect 07:08
02. You'll Never See The Sun Again 09:20
03. A Song Of Possession 5:51
04. The Ritual Of Descent 12:41
05. Spiritual Warfare 7:50
06. Black Earth & Blood 2:24
07. The Passion Of Dionysus 8:09
08. To Bind & Kill A God 8:18
09. Unio Mystica 9:15
10. I Will Fear No Man For I Am A God 8:46