Description

THIS IS A LITERAL, NARRATIVE, AND DISCIPLINED ALBUM ABOUT GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA, AN ITALIAN VISIONARY PREACHER FROM THE LATE MIDDLE AGES. HIS PROPHETIC SERMONS ARE HERE USED AS LYRICS WHICH TELL OF FLORENCE BECOMING A NEW ROME AND NEW JERUSALEM. IF CITIZENRY EMBRACED EXTREME PIETY, THEN ALL THE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY AFTER A PERIOD OF CATACLYSM. HIS MESSAGE LIKEWISE QUICKLY SPREAD IN POPULARITY, ALLOWING HIM TO INSTITUTE A BRIEF DEMOCRATIC-THEOCRACY WHERE FLORENCE WAS CONSTITUTIONALLY RULED BY A LARGE CITIZEN COUNCIL OF HIS REACTIONARY FOLLOWERS. GOD WAS KING, AND SCRIPTURE LAW IN THIS REPUBLIC. THEY WOULD BURN ART AND OTHER SINFUL POSSESSIONS IN THE STREETS DURING A BONFIRE OF VANITIES. CHILDREN ACTED AS SECRET POLICE ENFORCING MONKISH PUBLIC CODES, PUNISHING BAD BEHAVIOR, AND COLLECTING INIQUITOUS VALUABLES FOR THE FLAMES. PARTICULARLY DEVOTED SUBJECTS CALLED WEEPERS WAILED WHIPPING THEMSELVES INTO A FRENZY DURING PROCESSIONS. EVEN POLYPHONIC AND ORGAN MUSIC WAS BANNED; ONLY PLAINCHANT ALLOWED. SAVONAROLA’S FEW SURVIVING CHANTS, INCLUDING THOSE SUNG AROUND THE FIRE, CAN BE HEARD HERE AS WELL. ALTHOUGH HE TOO WOULD BE BURNED AT THE STAKE FOR DEFYING A CORRUPT POPE, HIS WORLDVIEW REMAINS STRONG ENOUGH TO CONQUER.

For fans of Deathpile, Slogun, and Dodssang Tempel

Limited to 90