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Black Riders Part I

by Heartscore

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Glass
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Glass I have never been this excited about heavy music since discovering Godflesh. Very special album. Bravo! Favorite track: There was a crimson clash of war.
wc_helmets
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wc_helmets I hear ...and Justice for All era thrash with off time rhythms and Zappaesque breakdowns all over this one. Above all, this is a fun record, with a lot of love given to the riffs and drum programming. It's epic, but not in a way that takes itself too seriously. The artwork is gorgeous as well. Wonderful collection of prog, thrash, and even a bit of punk. Favorite track: Once I saw mountains angry.
The Couch King
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The Couch King The cold programed drums hammer the earth with gods' thundering wrath as Chris sings the poems of Stephen Crane like a possessed prophet and Heartscore wields his guitar like a staff striking down the wicked. This is the sound of music steaming out from cracks in the earth from the hot pressurized depths. And the artwork by Wou-Wou is grand!
Lee Lucas
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Lee Lucas Well no doubt Judas Priest had their "Metal Gods" and Queen had their "Lap Of The Gods" but through Stephen Crane's inspirational words, I suppose you could say that HeartScore now has it's "Wrath Of The Gods". Metal meets King Crimson and Other Lines maybe the best way to describe the new direction of HeartScore's music and no doubt Dirk Radloff has unleashed the "BEAST" and it ROCKS HARD... Favorite track: Gods.
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  • Cassette + Digital Album

    Professionally made Cassette, all B&W with Inlay. The accompanying book and press release notes are included in the downlaod. If you want the real book as professionally printed hardcover you should consider to buy the Super Package Cassette.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Black Riders Part I via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 
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      €9 EUR or more 

     

  • Cassette + Digital Album

    Get the Cassette and a beautiful Hardcover-book, professionally printed on high quality paper, which contains all twenty poems of Stephen Crane, more than twenty illustrations by the artist Alexander Stanton known as Wou Wou and the wormling and liner notes about Heartscore and Stephen Crane.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Black Riders Part I via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      €19 EUR or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    High Quality CD-R, produced by a professional company (www.deine.cd/de/) Digifile 4 pages B&W with tracklist and credits. The Download includes a PDF-version of the accompanying book. If you want to have the beautiful physical book you should consider to order the "Super CD Package".

    Includes unlimited streaming of Black Riders Part I via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 
    Purchasable with gift card

      €8 EUR or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Get the CD and a beautiful Hardcover-book, professionally printed on high quality paper, which contains all twenty poems of Stephen Crane, more than twenty illustrations by the artist Alexander Stanton known as Wou Wou and the wormling and liner notes about Heartscore and Stephen Crane.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Black Riders Part I via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      €18 EUR or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      €7 EUR  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 22 Heartscore releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Edge Of Times, The final hug, Medusas head, Medusa's head, Sculptures, I can see for miles (The Who cover), Black Riders Part II, Beating around the bush, and 14 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      €45.50 EUR or more (35% OFF)

     

1.
In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial, who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. I said, "Is it good, friend?" "It is bitter -- bitter," he answered; "But I like it Because it is bitter, And because it is my heart."
2.
Mystic shadow, bending near me, Who art thou? Whence come ye? And -- tell me -- is it fair Or is the truth bitter as eaten fire? Tell me! Fear not that I should quaver. For I dare -- I dare. Then, tell me! (Stephen Crane)
3.
There was crimson clash of war. Lands turned black and bare; Women wept; Babes ran, wondering. There came one who understood not these things. He said, "Why is this?" Whereupon a million strove to answer him. There was such intricate clamour of tongues, That still the reason was not. (Stephen Crane)
4.
Behold, the grave of a wicked man, And near it, a stern spirit. There came a drooping maid with violets, But the spirit grasped her arm. "No flowers for him," he said. The maid wept: "Ah, I loved him." But the spirit, grim and frowning: "No flowers for him." Now, this is it -- If the spirit was just, Why did the maid weep? (Stephen Crane)
5.
I stood upon a high place, And saw, below, many devils Running, leaping, and carousing in sin. One looked up, grinning, And said, "Comrade! Brother!"
6.
Once I saw mountains angry, And ranged in battle-front. Against them stood a little man; Aye, he was no bigger than my finger. I laughed, and spoke to one near me, "Will he prevail?" "Surely," replied this other; "His grandfathers beat them many times." Then did I see much virtue in grandfathers -- At least, for the little man Who stood against the mountains. (Stephen Crane)
7.
Black riders came from the sea. There was clang and clang of spear and shield, And clash and clash of hoof and heel, Wild shouts and the wave of hair In the rush upon the wind: Thus the ride of sin. (Stephen Crane)
8.
Behold, from the land of the farther suns I returned. And I was in a reptile-swarming place, Peopled, otherwise, with grimaces, Shrouded above in black impenetrableness. I shrank, loathing, Sick with it. And I said to him, "What is this?" He made answer slowly, "Spirit, this is a world; This was your home." (Stephen Crane)
9.
Once, I knew a fine song, -- It is true, believe me -- It was all of birds, And I held them in a basket; When I opened the wicket, Heavens! They all flew away. I cried, "Come back, little thoughts!" But they only laughed. They flew on Until they were as sand Thrown between me and the sky. (Stephen Crane)
10.
A god in wrath Was beating a man; He cuffed him loudly With thunderous blows That rang upon over the earth. All people came running. The man screamed and struggled, And bit madly at the feet of the god. The people cried, "Ah, what a wicked man!" And -- "Ah, what a redoubtable god!" (Stephen Crane)
11.
A man saw a ball of gold in the sky; He climbed for it, And eventually he achieved it -- It was clay. Now this is the strange part: When the man went to the earth And looked again, Lo, there was the ball of gold. Now this is the strange part: It was a ball of gold. Aye, by the heavens, it was a ball of gold. (Stephen Crane)
12.
In a lonely place, I encountered a sage Who sat, all still, Regarding a newspaper. He accosted me: "Sir, what is this?" Then I saw that I was greater, Aye, greater than this sage. I answered him at once, "Old, old man, it is the wisdom of the age." The sage looked upon me with admiration. (Stephen Crane 1871-1900)
13.
There was, before me, Mile upon mile Of snow, ice, burning sand. And yet I could look beyond all this, To a place of infinite beauty; And I could see the loveliness of her Who walked in the shade of the trees. When I gazed, All was lost But this place of beauty and her. When I gazed, And in my gazing, desired, Then came again Mile upon mile, Of snow, ice, burning sand. (Stephen Crane)
14.
I met a seer 02:19
I met a seer. He held in his hands The book of wisdom. "Sir," I addressed him, "Let me read." "Child -- " he began. "Sir," I said, "Think not that I am a child, For already I know much Of that which you hold. Aye, much." He smiled. Then he opened the book And held it before me. -- Strange that I should have grown so suddenly blind. (Stephen Crane)
15.
Should the wide world roll away, Leaving black terror, Limitless night, Nor God, nor man, nor place to stand Would be to me essential, If thou and thy white arms were there, And the fall to doom a long way. (Stephen Crane)
16.
Gods 03:39
17.
Places among the stars, Soft gardens near the sun, Keep your distant beauty; Shed no beams upon my weak heart. Since she is here In a place of blackness, Not your golden days Nor your silver nights Can call me to you. Since she is here In a place of blackness, Here I stay and wait (Stephen Crane)
18.
God fashioned the ship of the world carefully. With the infinite skill of an All-Master Made He the hull and the sails, Held He the rudder Ready for adjustment. Erect stood He, scanning His work proudly. Then -- at fateful time -- a wrong called, And God turned, heeding. Lo, the ship, at this opportunity, slipped slyly, Making cunning noiseless travel down the ways. So that, forever rudderless, it went upon the seas Going ridiculous voyages, Making quaint progress, Turning as with serious purpose Before stupid winds. And there were many in the sky Who laughed at this thing. 
(Stephen Crane)
19.
"Truth," said a traveller, "Is a rock, a mighty fortress; Often have I been to it, Even to its highest tower, From whence the world looks black." "Truth," said a traveller, "Is a breath, a wind, A shadow, a phantom; Long have I pursued it, But never have I touched The hem of its garment." And I believed the second traveller; For truth was to me A breath, a wind, A shadow, a phantom, And never had I touched The hem of its garment. (Stephen Crane)
20.
In heaven 06:01
In heaven, Some little blades of grass Stood before God. "What did you do?" Then all save one of the little blades Began eagerly to relate The merits of their lives. This one stayed a small way behind, Ashamed. Presently, God said, "And what did you do?" The little blade answered, "Oh my Lord, Memory is bitter to me, For, if I did good deeds, I know not of them." Then God, in all His splendor, Arose from His throne. "Oh, best little blade of grass!" He said. (Stephen Crane)

about

Heartscore sets the dark poems of the famous american author Stephen Crane (1871-1900) to music. A daring combination of Metal with electronic drums and dramatic clear vocals lead to a mixture, which sound like a cross of Captain Beefheart, Black Metal and Wagner.

credits

released November 1, 2018

Chris: Lead Vocals (courtesy of studiopros.com)
Gdaliy Garmiza: Saxophone on "In the desert"
Dirk Radloff: Guitars, Violin, Choir, Programming, Mix

Russell Sinfield: Mastering
Alexander Stanton: Artwork and Illustrations

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about

Heartscore Bad Homburg Vor Der Höhe, Germany

Do you like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden or Manowar?
Heartscore, a German-italian studio-project (no live-shows planned) bring back the power of classic Heavy Metal paired with some Prog- and Thrash-Metal influences.

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