Metromania
| Metromania | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | 15 June 1984[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1984 | |||
| Studio | Horus Sound Studio,Hanover,Germany | |||
| Genre | Hard rock,Prog rock,Space rock[2] | |||
| Length | 40:24 | |||
| Label | Harvest/EMI Electrola Heavy Metal Worldwide (UK issue) | |||
| Producer | Frank Bornemann | |||
| Eloychronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
"Metromania" | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [3] |
| ArtRock |   [4] |
| Music Street Journal | favorable[5] |
Metromaniais the twelfth studio album by the GermanrockbandEloy,released in 1984.
It is aconcept album,telling thesci-fistory of a futuristicdystopia,controlled and oppressed byartificial intelligence.The protagonist tries to find hope and prospect by writing music and lyrics on a rooftop.
The term "metromania"(Greek:μετρομανία) means amaniafor writingpoetry,especiallydoggerel.
The artwork is aRodney Matthewscreation, as were theUnited Kingdom-exclusive artworks of the projectPlanets/Time to Turn.
Synopsis
[edit]Rendition according to the album's lyrics[6]
Surrounded by oppressive machines and clueless people, the protagonist feels trapped and without perspective, but hope begins to grow within him, and he finds motivation to fight for escape. ( "Escape to the Heights", "Seeds Of Creation" ). Experiencing a spiritual uplift, he feels an unprecedented connection with nature, which guides him to express himself through poetry ( "All Life is One).
His creativity is expressed by singing one of his songs in front of a crowd. People are mesmerized and believe that he might be the messiah they are hoping for, but he categorically denies it ( "The Stranger" ). As a magical light fills his soul, it drives him to rouse the people towards a revolution against the oppression of man and the destruction of the environment by machines ( "Follow The Light" ).
Some renegade police officers organized into motorcycle-riding squads patrol during the night, terrorizing the citizens as the protagonist watches from his roof ( "Nightriders" ). While on the roof, he realizes that the only way to escape, the means to overcome all fear and doubt, and the path to his freedom, is intensive writing ( "Metromania" ).
Background
[edit]After the moderate success ofPerformance,Eloy decided to return to theirprog rockroots, while trying to keep the 80s vibe in their music. According to the band's leaderFrank Bornemann,audio engineerHarald Lepschies, who had previously worked with renown musicians likeHerbert Grönemeyer,played a key role in Eloy achieving the exact sound they had in mind.[7]
As the album was on its finalmixingstage, Eloy were invited to play a show at the famousMarquee Clubin London. The show was sold-out, and Eloy were asked to play a second night in a row, this time withBBC Radiobroadcasting the concert live. The second show was sold-out too, and amongst those impressed wereMarillion,who invited Eloy to join them on theirFugazisupporting tour. Eloy decided to decline the offer, as Bornemann had to work onMetromania's final mixing, while Arkona, Folberth and Matziol were working on theCode Name: Wild Geesesoundtrack.[7]
Reception
[edit]Metromaniafailed to enter theGerman charts,being the second Eloy album to do so sinceOceanfirst entered the charts in February 1978. According to Bornemann, sales were not as bad as indicated by its non-charting status, but they were still disappointing.[7]
Tensions returned within the band, as they seemed unable to catch the pulse of the times and at the same time maintain, at least partially, their prog rock musical identity. Exhausted and burdened with constant debates surrounding artistic positions and the band's future, they failed to find a common ground. Frank Bornemann took the responsibility to break up the band for a third time in late 1984, with the hiatus lasting until 1988.[7]
Track listing
[edit]Music by Eloy, lyrics by Martine Ryan and Andrew Ward, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Escape to the Heights" | Frank Bornemann, Mark Sarkautzky | 5:03 |
| 2. | "Seeds of Creation" | 4:28 | |
| 3. | "All Life Is One" | 6:28 | |
| 4. | "The Stranger" | 3:59 | |
| 5. | "Follow the Light" | 9:37 | |
| 6. | "Nightriders" | 4:39 | |
| 7. | "Metromania" | 6:10 | |
| Total length: | 40:24 | ||
Personnel
[edit]All information according to the album'sliner notes.[2]
|
Eloy
|
Additional Vocalists(In liner notes order)
|
Production
Artwork
|
References
[edit]- ^"Eloy - Metromania".Albumrock.net.Retrieved12 June2024.
- ^ab"Eloy – Metromania".Discogs.Zink Media, LLC.Retrieved12 June2024.
- ^Couture, François."Metromania - Eloy".Allmusic.RhythmOne.Retrieved12 June2024.
- ^Horyszny, Paweł."Eloy — Metromania".ArtRock.pl(in Polish).Retrieved12 June2024.
- ^Pierpoint, John."Eloy - Metromania".Music Street Journal.Retrieved12 June2024.
- ^"Metromania - Eloy".Genius.ML Genius Holdings, LLC.Retrieved21 June2024.
- ^abcdKuinke, Volker (2005).Eloy – Metromania(booklet)(in German).Harvest Records-EMI Electrola.pp. 3–4.Retrieved21 June2024.
External links
[edit]- "Metromania".Eloy official website.Retrieved24 June2024.
