There have been various instances of metal and rock bands turning to mythology and fantasy for inspiration over the years. Led Zeppelin famously sang about the dark lands of Mordor in Ramble On, and referenced Greek mythology in Achilles Last Stand. Iron Maiden’s Flight of Icarus is another well-known example.
With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey one of the biggest cinematic events of the year, there’s a chance that this could inspire more mythological metal in the coming years.
Metal Has Already Embraced The Odyssey
It wouldn’t be out of the question for metal bands to jump on the hype surrounding Nolan’s new film release, as The Odyssey has already been adapted by metal bands in the past. One of the best examples of this was when Symphony X released The Odyssey in 2002, and showed how Homer’s epic could be retold in musical form.
The title track on the album was 24 minutes long and told the story of Odysseus’s 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. The interesting thing about the song was how it divided the story into diverse musical sections, each focusing on a different part of the journey. It’s one of the band’s best-known works and demonstrates perfectly how metal is well-suited to adapting ancient epics.
This isn’t the only example of metal using Homer’s works as inspiration. Manowar turned to The Iliad with their song Achilles, Agony and Ecstasy in Eight Parts in 1992. They later turned their attention to The Odyssey with The Revenge of Odysseus.
Greek Myths Have Been Adapted in Other Forms of Entertainment
Greek mythology has survived for thousands of years thanks to it being adapted in various forms of entertainment, and there are other ways it has stayed alive outside of music. Film is one of the most obvious places, with Nolan’s Odyssey the latest in a long list of Greek myth-based movies that includes titles like Troy and Clash of the Titans.
It has also been a huge source of inspiration for games over the years, with many of the best jackpot slots game online titles using stories and characters from Greek mythology. The Age of the Gods series is one of the best examples of this, with the various titles focusing on some of the most famous deities of Mount Olympus.
The Monsters Are Ideal for Heavier Genres
With such a widespread interest in Greek mythology across all areas of entertainment, it would make a lot of sense for more metal bands to adapt these classic stories. There are so many tales that could be brought to life with heavy guitars, but the monsters are arguably the best options for metal fans.
Greek mythology is full of incredible beasts that metal fans would love to hear more about, such as the Cyclops Polyphemus or the Gorgon Medusa. If metal bands write songs about these characters, it will help even more people discover Greek myths.
Nolan’s Odyssey is likely to have an enormous impact on the wider entertainment industry and could inspire metal bands to revisit some of the best stories from Greek mythology. Many of these are perfect for epic, heavy tracks, as some bands have already shown in the past.
