While foraging around the internet we found out that today (22nd September) is Hobbit Day and this week is in fact Tolkien Week. In celebration we've picked out ten of our favourite tracks inspired by the man behind Middle-Earth.
Rush – Rivendell
From the 1975 album Fly By Night the title refers to the home of the Elves, which was impregnable even to Sauron. Neil Peart is known to be a Tolkien enthusiast.
Amon Amarth – Once Sent From The Golden Hall
The Swedish band’s 1998 debut album has references to Tolkien, and their name was taken from the Mount Doom when Sauron forged The One Ring.
Led Zeppelin – Ramble On
This is from 1969’s Led Zeppelin II. It is heavily influenced by The Lord Of The Rings, referring to Gollum and Mordor. And the opening line paraphrases the Tolkien poem Namarie. Other Zeppelin songs are also inspired by Tolkien, these include The Battle Of Evermore, Misty Mountain Hop and Stairway To Heaven.
Megadeth – This Day We Fight!
From the 2009 album Endgame, the title of the song is a direct quote from Aragorn’s speech, just prior to the final battle at the conclusion of Return Of The King.
Black Sabbath – The Wizard
From the band’s eponymous 1970 debut album, this was inspired by Gandalf. Geezer Butler says he was reading The Lord Of The Rings at the time he wrote the lyrics.
Blind Guardian – Nightfall In Middle-Earth
The band’s 1998 album is a conceptual piece inspired by the Silmarillion. There are also other songs from the German power metallers which owe their origins to Tolkien. Such as Lord Of The Rings, The Bard’s Song (In The Forest) and The Bard’s Song (The Hobbit).
Orange Goblin – Saruman’s Wish
This comes from their 1997 debut album Frequencies From Planet Ten. This is about the character of Saruman from The Lord Of The Rings. The album also has Lothlorien, based on the forest of elves which is significant in the same book.
Sabaton – Shadows
From the band’s 2007 album Metalizer, this is about the Nazgul, who are first mentioned in Lord Of The Rings and are part of Middle Earth folklore.
Nightwish – Elvenpath
This is on their 1997 debut album Angels Fall First, and it has a sample from Lord Of The Rings. Wishmaster, from the same album, also references Tolkien.
Summoning – Lugburz
The 1995 debut album from the Danish metalheads not only deals lyrically with Tolkien subjects, but the title even comes from The Lord Of The Rings. It’s the tower of Barad-dur.
BONUS: Leonard Nimoy – The Ballad Of Bilbo Baggins
Finally, a little light relief. This 1968 song is so bad, it stinks. There again, it’s so abysmal it’s very funny.
