The Power Cosmic
Encyclopedia
The Power Cosmic is Bal-Sagoth
's fourth album, released in 1999. The album was Bal-Sagoth's first with Nuclear Blast
.
This was the first Bal-Sagoth album to not contain a full lyric booklet (on their earlier releases, they would include a lyric booklet that contained not only song lyrics but an accompanying story by vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts
). The full version of the lyric booklet was initially featured as exclusive downloadable content at the band's official website, and was later released with the Russian sub-licensed edition of the album.
The primary story within the album is that of Zurra, a rogue demigod who is released from his imprisonment beneath the Mare Imbrium and searches space to reassemble the powerful artifact known as the Empyreal Lexicon. The song "Of Carnage and a Gathering of the Wolves" takes place in Darkenhold forest, a location last referenced in track 9 of the album Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule
.
"The Scourge of the Fourth Celestial Host" references Marvel Comics
hero The Silver Surfer battling the Fourth Celestial Host
. Within the lyrics, The Silver Surfer is referred to by the name Norrin-Radd, Thor
is referenced by mention of his "uru hammer", and Galactus
is referred to by the name Galan of Taa. The celestials Arishem
and Exitar, the watcher Uatu
, and Shalla-Bal
are also referenced within the song and lyrics. The album title itself, The Power Cosmic, is a reference
to the superpowers possessed by Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and was chosen primarily because Byron Roberts
is a great admirer of Marvel Comics
and particularly the works of Jack Kirby
, as mentioned in the 50th issue of the magazine "The Jack Kirby Collector".
Bal-Sagoth
Bal-Sagoth is a symphonic black metal band from Yorkshire, England, formed in 1993.Originally formed as an epic/symphonic black metal band with strong death metal elements, vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts took the name 'Bal-Sagoth' from the Robert E. Howard short story "The Gods of Bal-Sagoth"...
's fourth album, released in 1999. The album was Bal-Sagoth's first with Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast
Nuclear Blast is an independent record label and mail order record distributor with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States and Brazil. The record label was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Germany. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on to releasing albums by melodic...
.
This was the first Bal-Sagoth album to not contain a full lyric booklet (on their earlier releases, they would include a lyric booklet that contained not only song lyrics but an accompanying story by vocalist/lyricist Byron Roberts
Byron Roberts
Byron Roberts, also known as Byron A. Roberts, is the vocalist/lyricist and founder of the British symphonic extreme metal band Bal-Sagoth.Originally hailing from Yorkshire, England, and also holding full Canadian citizenship, due to many years spent living in Ontario and Quebec, Roberts graduated...
). The full version of the lyric booklet was initially featured as exclusive downloadable content at the band's official website, and was later released with the Russian sub-licensed edition of the album.
The primary story within the album is that of Zurra, a rogue demigod who is released from his imprisonment beneath the Mare Imbrium and searches space to reassemble the powerful artifact known as the Empyreal Lexicon. The song "Of Carnage and a Gathering of the Wolves" takes place in Darkenhold forest, a location last referenced in track 9 of the album Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule
Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule
Starfire Burning Upon the Ice-Veiled Throne of Ultima Thule is Bal-Sagoth's second full-length album, released in November 1996 through Cacophonous Records. This was the last album to feature Jason Porter on bass guitar, as he was replaced by Alistair MacLatchy in December 1996. As with the first...
.
"The Scourge of the Fourth Celestial Host" references Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
hero The Silver Surfer battling the Fourth Celestial Host
Celestial (comics)
The Celestials are a group of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters first appear in Eternals #1 and were created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
. Within the lyrics, The Silver Surfer is referred to by the name Norrin-Radd, Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
is referenced by mention of his "uru hammer", and Galactus
Galactus
Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus...
is referred to by the name Galan of Taa. The celestials Arishem
Arishem the Judge
Arishem the Judge is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.Arishem is one of two Celestials who have the right and ability to judge which planet's civilization will live and which will die...
and Exitar, the watcher Uatu
Uatu
Uatu, often simply known as The Watcher, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and designed by artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Fantastic Four #13 ....
, and Shalla-Bal
Shalla-Bal
Shalla-Bal is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:Shalla-Bal is the Empress of her utopian planet, Zenn-La , and was the lover of Norrin Radd. When the planet-eating Galactus came to their planet, Norrin Radd volunteered to become the herald of Galactus in...
are also referenced within the song and lyrics. The album title itself, The Power Cosmic, is a reference
Power Cosmic
The Power Cosmic is a fictional type of cosmic energy that appears in comic books published by Marvel, most commonly mentioned in stories involving the cosmic entity Galactus and his heralds...
to the superpowers possessed by Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and was chosen primarily because Byron Roberts
Byron Roberts
Byron Roberts, also known as Byron A. Roberts, is the vocalist/lyricist and founder of the British symphonic extreme metal band Bal-Sagoth.Originally hailing from Yorkshire, England, and also holding full Canadian citizenship, due to many years spent living in Ontario and Quebec, Roberts graduated...
is a great admirer of Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and particularly the works of Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, as mentioned in the 50th issue of the magazine "The Jack Kirby Collector".
Track listing
- All Tracks Written By Byron RobertsByron RobertsByron Roberts, also known as Byron A. Roberts, is the vocalist/lyricist and founder of the British symphonic extreme metal band Bal-Sagoth.Originally hailing from Yorkshire, England, and also holding full Canadian citizenship, due to many years spent living in Ontario and Quebec, Roberts graduated...
, Jonny MaudlingJonny MaudlingJonny Maudling is an English composer, keyboard player and former drummer for the band Bal-Sagoth. Maudling's primary instruments are Roland synthesizers when playing live. He comes from a musical family and was classically trained on piano from an early age...
& Chris Maudling.
- "The Awakening of the Stars" 1.30
- "The Voyagers Beneath the Mare Imbrium" 4.37
- "The Empyreal Lexicon" 6.02
- "Of Carnage and a Gathering of the Wolves" 6.00
- "Callisto Rising" 4.32
- "The Scourge of the Fourth Celestial Host" 6.39
- "Behold, the Armies of War Descend Screaming from the Heavens!" 5.54
- "The Thirteen Cryptical Prophecies of Mu" 5.12
Personnel
- Byron RobertsByron RobertsByron Roberts, also known as Byron A. Roberts, is the vocalist/lyricist and founder of the British symphonic extreme metal band Bal-Sagoth.Originally hailing from Yorkshire, England, and also holding full Canadian citizenship, due to many years spent living in Ontario and Quebec, Roberts graduated...
- vocals - Chris Maudling - guitar
- Jonny MaudlingJonny MaudlingJonny Maudling is an English composer, keyboard player and former drummer for the band Bal-Sagoth. Maudling's primary instruments are Roland synthesizers when playing live. He comes from a musical family and was classically trained on piano from an early age...
- keyboards - Mark Greenwell - bass
- Dave MackintoshDave MackintoshDave Mackintosh is the drummer for the British power metal band DragonForce. Mackintosh also appeared on power metal band Power Quest's debut album, Wings of Forever and The Power Cosmic and Atlantis Ascendant albums, by the symphonic black metal band, Bal-Sagoth.He is influenced by Neil Peart,...
- drums