The Kinslayer
Encyclopedia
The Kinslayer is the sixth single released by Finnish symphonic metal
band Nightwish
, was the first single from their third album, Wishmaster
, released online only.
The song was written by keyboardist/bandleader Tuomas Holopainen
and is about the Columbine high school massacre
, the dialogue in the middle of the song quotes the actual phrases between the killers and their schoolmates during the shooting. It features a dialogue between Tarja Turunen
and Ike Vil
of Babylon Whores
. It also includes a line from William Shakespeare
's "The Tempest
" which is said to be written by shooter Eric Harris on the page for Mother's day 1999 of his calendar. ("Good wombs hath borne bad sons.") It also features comments made by survivors on following interviews, this comments are part of an article released by Time Magazine.
The song also has references to the Dragonlance
series of fantasy novels. The line "Even the dead cry, their only comfort" is found in the book The Test Of The Twins, and the Kinslayer War was a major historical event in the Dragonlance universe.
, Argentina
, on July 21, 2000. Later, the video was released in the Nightwish's first DVD, From Wishes to Eternity
, as well as the video of "Sacrament of Wilderness
", also recorded live.
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, was the first single from their third album, Wishmaster
Wishmaster (album)
Wishmaster is the third album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on May 19, 2000 by Spinefarm Records.Wishmaster's sound continues the bombastic symphonic power metal approach originally featured on Oceanborn, albeit with more emphasis on atmosphere and melody versus powerful speed...
, released online only.
The song was written by keyboardist/bandleader Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
and is about the Columbine high school massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
, the dialogue in the middle of the song quotes the actual phrases between the killers and their schoolmates during the shooting. It features a dialogue between Tarja Turunen
Tarja Turunen
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
and Ike Vil
Ike Vil
Ike Vil is the keyboardist and singer of the Finnish deathrock band Babylon Whores, which he has been a part of since its founding in 1994.He made a guest appearance on the Nightwish song, "The Kinslayer".- References :...
of Babylon Whores
Babylon Whores
Babylon Whores is a deathrock and metal band from Finland, founded in 1994 by Ike Vil and Ewo Meichem. As of 2006, the band has released two singles, three EPs and three albums. Throughout the years, the band's music has evolved from a raw, punk-ish style to a more massive sound with complex...
. It also includes a line from William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's "The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
" which is said to be written by shooter Eric Harris on the page for Mother's day 1999 of his calendar. ("Good wombs hath borne bad sons.") It also features comments made by survivors on following interviews, this comments are part of an article released by Time Magazine.
The song also has references to the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
series of fantasy novels. The line "Even the dead cry, their only comfort" is found in the book The Test Of The Twins, and the Kinslayer War was a major historical event in the Dragonlance universe.
Personnel
- Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
– Vocals - Tuomas HolopainenTuomas HolopainenTuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
– KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen – Guitars
- Jukka NevalainenJukka NevalainenJukka Antero "Julius" Nevalainen is the drummer in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish and the Finnish progressive metal band Sethian.- Biography :He spent his early years in the city of Kitee...
– Drums - Sami VänskäSami VänskäSami Vänskä is the former bassist of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish.-Background story:He started playing bass as a private study. He has played in a few bands which have been mostly from the metal genre....
- Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Ike VilIke VilIke Vil is the keyboardist and singer of the Finnish deathrock band Babylon Whores, which he has been a part of since its founding in 1994.He made a guest appearance on the Nightwish song, "The Kinslayer".- References :...
- Spoken parts
Video
Nightwish released a promotional video for this song, the only for to promote Wishmaster, it was recorded live at Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, on July 21, 2000. Later, the video was released in the Nightwish's first DVD, From Wishes to Eternity
From Wishes to Eternity
From Wishes to Eternity - Live is a live DVD/VHS/CD by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was recorded in Tampere, Finland on 29 December 2000. The CD was released as a limited edition of 10.000 copies, available only in Finland. In the late 2005, Spinefarm managed to release it in Europe...
, as well as the video of "Sacrament of Wilderness
Sacrament of Wilderness
Sacrament of Wilderness is the second single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the first single from their album Oceanborn....
", also recorded live.