Now including the lyrics of all the songs of Do Or Die (1988)
This is a Fan Site dedicated to the thrash metal band Viking. Recently reunited, they are working in a new album, to be released this year. On this Blog I will put post all the updates of the band, so if you are a Viking fan share this page and spread the word!
domingo, 17 de junio de 2012
sábado, 16 de junio de 2012
Bad News
"Guys... We apologize for the delay. Ron was dealing with a throat problem for a couple of months, and then his mom passed away unexpectedly. We will be back on track as soon as he's ready to finish up the few vocals that remain to be recorded."
Ron, receive our most sincere condolences. We hope you will recover soon and return with the new album!!
Details of No Child Left Behind
Here I will post all the details of the new Viking album. This entry will be updated as soon as I know more details of the new album, so keep an eye to this!
Album name: No Child Left Behind
Artwork: Here's a sneak peek from the album cover: On the left is the original ink, on the right a preliminary quick color. In the center is where they are so far with the final coloring.
Release date: Coming Soon
Release date: Coming Soon
Tracklist:
First, it was looking like the final track list would be these 11 tunes:
First, it was looking like the final track list would be these 11 tunes:
"9:02 on Flight 182"
"Blood Eagle"
"Helen Behind the Door"
"A Thousand Reasons I Hate You"
"Debt to Me"
"Wretched Old Mildred"
"By The Brundlefly"
"An Ideal Opportunity"
"Turning The Tide"
"Princess"
Right now it's looking like the final track list will be these 9 tunes:
Right now it's looking like the final track list will be these 9 tunes:
"9:02 on Flight 182"
"By The Brundlefly"
"Blood Eagle"
"Blood Eagle"
"Debt to Me"
"An Ideal Opportunity"
"Eaten By A Bear"
"Wretched Old Mildred"
"A Thousand Reasons I Hate You"
"Helen Behind the Door"
Other interesting things: The songs on 'No Child Left Behind' are said to be musically close to Viking's 2nd album, Man of Straw.
"Wretched Old Mildred"
"A Thousand Reasons I Hate You"
"Helen Behind the Door"
Other interesting things: The songs on 'No Child Left Behind' are said to be musically close to Viking's 2nd album, Man of Straw.
TRACK BY TRACK DESCRIPTION (By Ron Eriksen):
1. "9:02 on Flight 182"
When I was 11 years old, I saw a 727 crash into my neighborhood, right by my house. Almost 150 people died, and it messed me up inside like no one can imagine. This is the tune that opens up the record, and sets the tone for the whole thing. It's got killer halftimes and stops and screams and everything you expect from a good Viking song.
2. "By the Brundlefly"
This one seems to be most people's favorite. The main riff is just as heavy as hell. It's written from the perspective of scientist Seth Brundle (from the movie The Fly) after he's teleported himself and is discovering he's suddenly got more strength, agility, and quickness. This is great, until he starts falling apart and looking like he's diseased or dying.
3. "Blood Eagle"
"Blood Eagle" is a fast tune that's written in the lyrical style of classic Viking. It's about the Nordic method of torturous execution called "the blood eagle." Here's the Wikipedia synopsis: "It was performed by cutting the ribs of the victim by the spine, breaking the ribs so they resembled blood-stained wings, and pulling the lungs out through the wounds in the victim's back." That tells you pretty much all you need to know, LOL! Lots of headbanging opportunities in this song -I think it's a killer.
4. "Debt to Me"
Every one of these tunes has been my favorite at one time or another throughout this project. But every time I hear the intro to this tune, I think "Yeah, that's freakin' heavy." This one is about someone's helplessness when they're in prison. Being tortured, physically and mentally, and the bitterness that results.
5. "An Ideal Opportunity"
"An Ideal Opportunity" has probably the most transparent lyrics I've ever written. I've struggled with major depression my whole life - it's just something that happens chemically and I've learned to recognize it for what it is. It's like a storm front that moves in and covers me in darkness for a few hours or a few days and then fades away and I'm fine. One day I decided that if I was going to have to put up with this crap, at least I could get a song out of it. The next time the storm started moving in, I started writing down everything I was feeling. Good screams and solos in this one, too.
6. "Eaten by a Bear"
This song actually replaced one I had slated for the album. Pretty late in the project, I read a news article titled "Teen Made Cell Phone Calls to Mother While Being Eaten by Bear in Siberia." It was the saddest and most tragic true story I can ever remember hearing. I thought, "This has to be turned into a Thrash song." Mike's bass playing in this intro is simple but perfect, and Gene actually throws in a couple of ridiculously fast blast beats as highlights, along with some crazy heavy playing. Lyrically, I switch the narrative voice around between different perspectives.
7. "Wretched Old Mildred"
The intro to "Mildred" is what I remember Heavy Metal doing to me when I was a teenager - being heavy as can be and continually building up. Of course in true Viking style, we jump into speed, and then give you brutal half-time parts to headbang to. The lyrics in this song are about Mildred Ratched, the black-hearted authoritarian nurse from the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
8. "A Thousand Reasons I Hate You"
Have you ever met someone you just hate from the minute you meet them? And everything they do and say and are just makes you seethe with rage? This tune is written about one of those guys. Most of these lyrics weren't even written down. We hit "record" and I started screaming about why I hate this person. Lots of cool riffs in this song, and a tempo change near the end that I almost turned into a second song called "The Boy Who Was Ignored to Death."
9. "Helen Behind the Door"
There was a time in my life when I had a stalker - a beautiful young woman who became obsessed with me. She'd been in and out of mental institutions, and actually ended up stabbing a guy who tried to keep her from getting to me. Needless to say, I lived with some paranoia about when she would show up and what she would do when she did. Once I was lying in my bed and looking at the open door to my bedroom. The door started to slowly swing closed, and there was this woman standing there with a huge knife. She started coming towards me, with that familiar expression of love and hate on her face. I didn't realize that I'd fallen asleep, so the whole thing felt very real and very horrifying. I still get chills thinking about it. This was the first tune I wrote when we decided we were making a new Viking album. Classic Viking intro of lots of riffs and parts layered on top of each other. Great speedy tune.
NOTE:If you click to the link on "Abortuary", you will hear a 1989 demo version of this song on Youtube.
Interview to Matt Jordan
You can read an interview to Viking's drummer and long time member Matt Jordan made on January 10, 2012 on the links below. On this interview, he speaks about the new album, and he says it is brutal, cannot wait for the release \m/
Lyrics
Warlord (Do Or Die, 1988)
Snatches a victim; slashes 'till death
Takes a human life and decapitates their heads
Throws the axes forward; watches them die
Blinded by hatred ... They're doomed to die
Cutting humans one by one
Leaving to die in their blood
Grabs another body - the knife sinks in
Spiteful fury ... To live a life of sin
The need to fight all rules him in every way
Warlord lives to kill every day
The blood on his blood on his hand satisfies barbaric lust
Warlord soon to strike
Warriors of death dressed to fight
Taking lives and destroying the night
Swinging the swords straight from hell
Taken by madness... Conquers the citadel
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
Watching lives fade away
Crushing underfoot those who pray
No regrets - torture will last
Taste his blade ... From the past
Hellbound (Do Or Die, 1988)
Merciless men - hateful victims
doing battle in the night
patriots rally to the cause
some just living to fight
few will win, but countless die
they will never see the sun rise
steal from the dead, desecrate
dead eyes have no sight
(Chorus)
Hellbound
Hellbound
Hellbound
countless souls falling to hell
eternally living their sins
a life of death and butchery
all watrriors pay in the end
blade strikes home - the world is black
cannot evade the capture
satan loves men who kill
and lusts eternal torture
(Chorus)
More to fight - the need to kill
you're just the devil's token
no time to turn wrong to right
the hourglass is broken
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
(Chorus)
Militia Of Death (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Ron Eriksen, James Lareau
Lyrics: Ron Eriksen
our sawtooth blades shines brightly in the morning sun
together are the power - this world ours before long
on a mission of hatred, we will trust on man
fierce as wolves we fear no one for a madman leads our clan
no time to catch your breath tonight for you will get no mercy
our superhuman colossal force surges unleashed desire
like the chariot of the reaper we will leave a bloody slaughter
now move on to conquer more - onward, enslave the virgin daughter
(Chorus)
Militia of death
Militia of death
Militia of death
Militia of death
splitting hemlets, splitting skulls, drinking the blood of ancients
slaves to their crown - to their throne - fall to spiteful power
our instruments of torture meet soldiers with their deaths
we take adandoned weapons - the dying take last breaths
(Chorus)
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
to their thrust is our parry - assaults come less and less
the enemy hurt and dying - from our blade's caress
the land we walk is brains and blood - full with mangled corpses
opponents of divine militia fall to hated forces
we have no friends, just victims - our enemies all gone
together are the power - this world is ours and strong
like the clash of thunder we did trust no man
fierce as wolves we fear no one, for madness is our clan
Prelude/Scavenger (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Brett Eriksen
Lyrics: Matt Jordan
the stench of roten meat
lies in the air
wreaks the smell of death
corpses bloody stare
eyes of glassy blood
lurking like the wind
waiting for another life
another life to end
dreams of blood and bowels
send sensations high
no meat to be found
nowhere prey to die
for scavengers wander
wander across the land
scanning for abandoned kill
scourching what they can
temptaions beyond extremes
existing but none shall ever see
sucking bone untill there's none
no wasted piece of meat
no time to feed their young
wait for tortured cries
a helpless victim
is the one that dies
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
scrapes the carcass clean
blood is everywhere
consumes every morsel
they'd rather die than share
Valhalla (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Brett Eriksen
Lyrics: Ron Eriksen, Matt Jordan
the viking lives - never dies
he is born with eyes beyond eyes
slashing back with only his sword
not slaying to be adore
the Viking needs to conquer all
until the day that he will fall
he will perish at the gods' command
but he must die with his sword in his hand
to go to Valhala - the promised world
where every weapon shines like pearl
battle rages night and day
endless combat - the Viking's dream
finally arrived to see
at last - the land of the free
valhalla
valhalla
valhalla
we live our lives born and free
we will die for victory
never complete untill all is ours
sail away at the midnight hour
it's time to go - yes, now we know
the gods call us - to battle we go
never look back - no second thoughts
no remorse for the men we have fought
and go to valhalla - the promised world
where every weapon shines like pearl
battles rages night and day
endless combat - the viking's dream
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
(Solo - Brett)
Burning From Within (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Brett Eriksen, Ron Eriksen
Lyrics: Mat Jordan, Ron Eriksen
eight hour hibernation
in a deep trance to lay
brain sedation causes
existence on a diferent plane
a body which is evil
inside deserves to burn
dreaming through the final day
blitzkrieg erosion
body fluids evaporate
carbon ash replaces
moist and mortal flesh
intestinal eruption
brittle bones splinter and break
corpse remaining falls
floor and form will mesh
(Pre-Chorus)
flesh dripping flames
pain so intense
cone of stench by name
multiplying cells
divide and ignite
like a cancer aflame
(Chorus)
Burning
burning
burning
burning
burning
burning
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
somnolence is ended
or maybe lasts eternally
body to ashes; ashes to dust
what once were eyes now cannot see
a soul of goodness in a man insane
fair about to turn
finally took the only way out
the brain the last to burn
(pre-chorus)
(chorus)
Berseker (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Brett Eriksen
Lyrics: Matt Jordan
waiting for the call of war
anxious for the call of war
set to destroy massivelly
kill and burn and kill some more
on the sea of hate
any land will do
victims now await
berserker conquer you
set to banish all mankind
catch and steal bodies within
we thrive on the taste of blood
so the slaughter now begins
me will die first
torture under will
women just for children
berserker love the kill
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
we grasp our batle axes
head where cities lie
killing everyone in sight
search on for more to die
kill again we can feel it now
all opur rage is from the core
violence is what powers us
charge forth to kill once more
(Solo - Brett)
Killer Unleashed (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Brett Eriksen
Lyrics: Ron Eriksen
demonic horror spells the end of your world
it was born in the darkness of ignorance
no swift death for you - only sufering will do
your murder will be long and torturous
a young boy you will never know
pull the key in the lock and opened the door
killer unleashed - death to you all
crippled and struggling, the world will fall
hellbent destruction to rip and tear
shadowed monstrosity soon to be there
created by evil, released on this night
the first became last and the dead came alive
(Chorus)
the evil upon the earth, demons arise
devour your body and soul
when the end is near, there's no disguise
doomed to the depths below
skies are blazing, all hell break loose
the world is at its end
souls plummet to hell, destruction begins
the killer is unleashed
(Solo - Brett)
i usurp your knowledge all the while
in the fire of chaos you will meet your end
lo, i am your destruction
and i am immortal - for the dead cannot die twice
the incantaions utered by one
set forth the evil that spares no one
killer stalking all form of life
even the wicked will feel its knife
always expanding from all it consumes
unleashed if is trully death in full bloom
the only escape died with the boy
revelations of a world destroyed
(Chorus)
Do Or Die (Do Or Die, 1988)
Music: Brett Eriksen
Lyrics: Ron Eriksen
i know you're taken with a burden
and you don't know your head from your tail
but if you're gonna do it, do it right
you've got to hit the head of the nail
(Chorus)
if it ain't worth dying for it ain't worth doing
aren't you tired of waiting in line?
take us to the top or straight to hell
do or die
make it or break it - that's our battle call
that's the way you've got to live your time
if you won't do it now, don't do it at all
wasting days is a moral crime
(Chorus)
(Solo - Brett)
(Solo - Ron)
make it or break it - that's our battle call
give it your best or you'll fail
if you won't do it now, don't do it at all
you've got to hit the head of the nail
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
White Death (Man Of Straw, 1989)
The stench of blood will permeate a thousand miles around
Know that the strongest one will be there within seconds
Gracefully horrifying, the fin cuts the water
Viciuos selachii is ready to devour
(Solo: Ron)
Tail pushing left and right, a living flesh disposal
An unfelt touch against its grain would shred a hand to ribbins
Megatons of crushing power exerted on three hundred points
Conveyor belt of teeth makes sure that all will feel...
(Chorus)
Time and tme again
He must prove his formidability
Preying on the unsuspecting ones
Only need to masticate
White Death
This has stood the test of centuries
Preying on the unsuspecting ones
Only need to masticate
White Death
(solo: Brett, solo: Ron)
His eyes roll back and upper jaw is thrust out and
Cutting skin so easily and thrashing side to side so that
Now the wound inflicted will finish started work so he's
Circling the bleeding prey until it is anemic
(Solo: Brett)
Foolish man lowers his steel shark cage and
Attempting to control what he cannot control
While a devil that creates its own hell waits below
Its surroundings become the feared domain...
Case Of The Stubborns (Man Of Straw, 1989)
Human life expentancy
No longer man a century
There are those that would
Cheat death if they could
Most who die just pass along
Assuming there's no choice at all
Some just do not realize
That there is sight in dead eyes
Th illusion of life
Created by ignorance
The end of life
Prolonged by chance
Death is cheated
By one man's insistance
Death depleted
Delayed advance
Expiration date is spent
And blood in veins turned sour
Many days ago we passed
Supposed final hours
Unused organs start to swell
Limbs begin to stiffen
Though life continues
Death advances
Avoidance of oblivion
(Solo: Ron)
(Chorus)
Grandpa Tolliver
Passed away one night
But he was like no other
He just refused to die
That stubborn old man
Not looking death in the eye
(Solo: Ron, Brett)
Death ripens, flesh rots
Rigor mortis, cane to walk
Animation from belief
Lips are blue
Still they speak
Denial is a medication
Oh to die, end our frustration
Vital functions cease to work
When will be believe?
(Solo:Ron)
(Chorus)
The Band
Original Line-Up:
 |
| Ron Eriksen - Vocals, rythm guitars |
 | ||
Brett Eriksen - Lead guitars
Actual Line-Up:  Ron Eriksen - Vocals, rythm guitars  Mike Gonzalez - Bass  Glenn Rogers - Lead Guitars  Matt Jordan - Drums* *On "No Child Left Behind", the drums are played by Gene Hoglan. |
Discography
Discography
1986 - Do Or Die [Demo]
1988 - Do Or Die
1989 - Man Of Straw
2010 - Man Of Straw [Re-release w/Bonus tracks]
Appears on:
1987 - Metal Massacre VIII
1988 - The Best Of Metal Blade Vol.3
Bootlegs, rehearsals and unreleased stuff:
Los Angeles, California - November 21,1986 [Bootleg]
Rehearsal & Live - June 1987 [Rehearsal]
Joshua's Place, Garden Grove, California - August 12, 1987 [Bootleg]
Fender's Ballroom, Long Beach, California - February 18,1989 [Bootleg]
Demo for unreleased 3rd album - 1989 [Unreleased Demo]
Do Or Die (Unauthorized re-release on CD) - Unknown year [Bootleg]
History
In 1985, Ron Daniel had become tired of playing in the southern California punk scene. He'd joined the band The Hags when their lead guitarist went to jail, and had enjoyed the notoriety that came with being in one of Orange County's most controversial stage acts. Billed as "Rock and Roll's abortion," the group was like a punk Black Sabbath with a genius sociopath at the mic. (Mark Dead regularly using surgically precise insults to provoke audiences towards violence against himself and the band.)
One night, when headlining a 12-band bill celebrating the grand reopening of a famous punk club, Ron was grousing to high school pals Matt Jordan and James Lareau about the scene, about having no creative control, and about the fact that this music was just too damn SLOW. He said he was ready to quit.
Matt was playing drums in Iron Maiden tribute band Barrier at the time. With no permanent singer or bass player, the future wasn't looking promising. Bassist James was playing with the Schuerman brothers in punk band Lethal Gene, but the band wasn't gigging enough.
Together, the three of them decided to dump their bands and form a new unit:Tracer (named after the visual effects LSD has on its user). They began writing tunes immediately. But even after auditioning half a dozen singers, the right vocalist couldn't be found. They temporarily borrowed Tony Vargas (L.S.N./Vermin) to produce a three-song demo entitled "Sudden Death," but the band was destined to dissolve.
Matt wanted to keep playing, and put an ad in the Recycler asking for musicians that were "into Slayer and old KISS." A guitarist named Brett answered the ad.
Brett Sarachek had come to L.A. from Kansas, and played in several metal groups with names that would later be recognizable: Blind Decree featured guitarist Glenn Rogers (Deliverance/Vengeance Rising/Hirax) and Mike Gonzales (Dark Angel), and The Hierophant had vocalist Julian Mendez (Heretic).
Matt and Brett decided to jam, and invited Ron to sit in. Starting with Slayer's "Black Magic," they played a few tunes that sounded tight. As a joke, Ron picked up the mic and belted out another Slayer tune. Matt and Brett were floored. They emphatically told Ron that they didn't need to find a vocalist. HE was the guy. Hesitant, Ron finally acquiesced. If they could find a bass player, they'd be up and running immediately. James was called, and in 1986, VIKING was born.
 |
| Opening for Dark Angel & Megadeth \m/ |
They started furiously writing new tunes and reworking some of the Tracer and Hierophant material. In a very short time, they had a setlist and started booking shows.
Then, Viking released two studio albums, Do Or Die (1988) and Man Of Straw (1989).
Although VIKING had a six-album contract with Metal Blade Records and an upcoming U.S. tour with Helstar, Ron knew that his new-found Christian faith would not withstand the temptations of the road. He quit the band in 1990 along with Matt Jordan, who had also recently become a Christian. With only two members remaining, VIKING immediately disbanded.
Brett, having replaced DARK ANGEL's Jim Durkin on a world tour, joined the band full time, and released "Time Does Not Heal" before exiting the band himself. In the meantime, Ron and Matt had moved to Oregon, and James pursued a career in sculpture.
Years passed and metalheads wanted a Viking reunion. Bootleg-editions of Do Or Die, reunion petitions online, and Viking decided to return in 2011, 21 years after their breakup. The new line-up is formed by Ron Eriksen, Matt Jordan, Glenn Rogers replacing Brett Eriksen and Mike Gonzalez replacing James Laureau, and they started working immediatly on a new album, No Child Left Behind, to be released this year, but Matt couldn't attend to the recording sessions and he has been replaced by Gene Hoglan. After the release of No Child Left Behind, the band want to play some live shows again. So, prepare for the Viking attack!!
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