Test Your Metal

SONG MENU:

1. The Eyes of the Realm
2. Passages of Courage
3. Test Your Metal
4. It's A Mystery To Me
5. Don't Tempt Me Fate
6. Sometimes I See A Star
7. A Plan for the Universal Happiness...
8. Dance With Me Tonight
9. Rescue
10. Mirror of Simple Souls

SONG CREDITS:

Lyrics: Drysdale/Gould
Music: Gould/Drysdale/Saitta/Strothers

Christy Campbell: lead vocals
Mandy Shelton: lead vocals (intro)
Eric Strothers; lead guitar
Michael Gould: guitar, vocals
Li’Anne Drysdale: keys, castanets
Anthony Saitta: drums
B.J. DeClue: bass
Robert J. Noles: acoustic guitar

Backing vocals: Gina Ronat, Mandy Shelton, Robert Noles, Michael Ray Gould, David Ronat.

Members of the Springfield
Chamber Chorus: Mandy Shelton,
Amy Francis, Stacey Luehrs,
Cristopher Brammer, Kelly Garrison, Adam Karnaghon, William Chiles,
Brad Groves.

John Dee and the agents of the realm infiltrate Castle Prague while searching for
a map key to the Gnothi Mechanism. They are betrayed by the illusionist Edward Kelley, and must fight their way out of the largest, most fortified palace in Europe.

Here we stand within the halls of liberty
Alabaster heroes line the walls
What killed their vision and sacrifice?
Blood freely given for those yet unborn

Knowledge is power and power corrupts
If you suspect it then step down from your throne
Once you were wide-eyed, intentions were good
How were you taken from what you wanted most?
The sentence is passed, your heart is a stone

We sit in judgment of the King and Queen
Those in responsibility
We sit in judgment of the ones who lead
We think we’d do better
but the test of metal is in the . . .

Fire claims the prison, the nobles escape
Show us your essence, of what are you made?
O spirit of man, are you metal or stone?

We sit in judgment of the King and Queen
Those in responsibility
We sit in judgment of the ones who lead
We think we’d do better
but the test of metal is in the fire

Power corrupts and kills our dreams
No one left to lead
Deaf are your ears now to our screams

We sit in judgment of the King and Queen
Those in responsibility
We sit in judgment of the ones who lead
We think we’d do better
but the test of metal is in the fire

All their life’s labors erased by your greed
What are we left with? No one there to lead
Where are the heroes? Dead are their dreams
Your hearts are hardened
Deaf to our screams!
Deaf to our screams!
Deaf to our screams!

COMMENTARY

This song began as a poem Li'Anne wrote while passing time at a pizza restaurant. She was unhappy with it (she said she hated it). Michael loved it and added the half-step guitar chords to it.

This song was recorded for 1991's limited edition Storm at Sea.

The beginning of this song was originally going to be without drums, but Anthony kept hearing drum parts that should be there. Michael just started recording and the tom parts Anthony wrote are now a highlight of the song.

Recording a contrapuntal choral piece with the region's finest classical a cappella choir? A dream come true.

Starting a heavy metal song with a quote from Francis Bacon? Somebody had to do it.

Having all your friends in a room yelling "Deaf to our screams?" as if they were a rioting mob of peasants? Priceless.

Also, MIchael always hears it as "Death to ice cream." Wars have been started over less.