Hey, I posted the question about the songs originally in the Chat box but I was encouraged to make a thread about it so I'll expand upon the question. I'm really interested to know the background of the songs. After hearing that Oliver is very interested in history and stories and the album tracks are mostly based on historical events or other stories. So here are the questions:

What is the background behind each song of the album, what story is it based on and if you will can you give a small summary on what the story is about?

Also, the title Melanchorium, what does it mean? I cannot find a definition for the word.

'Gods Of Vermin': About the tendency in man to dominate others. Take some small employee at a company, kicking at the ones even lower than him.

'Dead Man's Shadows': Mainly referring to the shadows of the dead Nazi leaders, which don't vanish and re- envoke the old, evil spirits in some dumb brains.

'Fall Of Byzanz': About the fall of Byzanz/ Konstantinopel/ Istanbul by the hand of Mehmet, the conqueror.

'Wintersmith': Based on the book by great author Terry Pratchett

'Sanatorium Song': Told from the perspective of the inmate of an asylum. The idea came from a story of a friend of mine working there.

'Melanchorium': A general reflection of introverted emotions.

'Third Moon Rising': Well, the end of a relationship...

'The Piper': Based on the fairy tale of the Piper Of Hamelin (Rattenfänger von Hameln)

'Wheel Of Guilt': Reflecting the inability or refusal of war generations to admit their crimes (like Germany - 2nd world war, Turkey and the Armenians, America and the Indians etc. etc. etc.)

'A Blind Man's Resolution': This one is about the tendency of governments to control the citizens by surveillance.

I think I knew a few of this from interview, but not all of them. Thanks for putting it together!

I really need to re-read the lyrics now.

I didn't know some of them..thanks! ...but what about 'Fallen family' and 'Belial's tower'?

They don't have a story/meaning. Just random words Oliver put together.

ahahah oh great!

Right. I forgot those.

'Belial's Tower': About the prophet Jesajah and the demon Belial. Lots of my personal imagination involved here.

'Fallen Family': Reflecting modern society and the loss of a spiritual fundament.

Thanks a lot for your explaination

Cool thanks for the insight.

Concept songs, great

Thanks!!!