an exploration of the cliche term "rising from the ashes"

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featuring examples from myspace band bios, album reviews, and popular blogs.

an excerpt from Indiana based indie band Native's myspace:

"In all honesty and avoiding lengthy metaphorical comparisons (well, not completely), [the current dudes in Native] arose from the ashes of their previously burned attempts, swept off the ashes and decided continue onward."

guess "arising from ashes" is like going to the beach,
you gotta sweep that shit off before you get in the van.

arise from ashes, take shower, continue onward:

an excerpt from Londan based cliche-core band Capitals's myspace:

"Formed from the ashes of Norwich heroes [band] Days Ago come Capitals; muscular, punishing and musically insane." -NME


 an excerpt from Lord Choronzon's review of Destroyer 666's album Defiance:

"Thank fuck that Destroyer 666 have arisen from the ashes of immigration and given us, the unsuspecting Australian and international metal community, this album in all it's majestic evil and brutality." -Encyclopaedia Metallum

phoenixes are definitely one of the most metal birds to ever not exist

consider this bold statement: how can a phoenix cry if it's always on fire?

an excerpt from some shady cached megadeth wikipedia site lacking a source:


"As Dave Mustaine said, "Megadeth is slowly rising from the ashes."

an excerpt from Jordan Richardson's review of Pretty. Odd. by Panic at the Disco:

"And that’s just it. This emo band or former emo band could have quite easily played the MCR card and gone all Black Parade on our asses. The idea that they didn’t is instantly flattering and it helps that their attention to crafting beautiful melodies seems to have risen from the ashes of pretentiousness." -Blogcritic Music (alleged "sinister cabal of superior writers")

a list of kinds of ashes covered in this article:

1. ashes of Norwich heroes Days Ago
(good thing Capitals isn't a metal band or i might have taken this literally)
2. ashes of immigration (wtf?)
3.ashes of pretentiousness (mind blown)

is it a good idea for bands to align their brand with the phoenix?


are writers of band bios trying to mystify the musicians with this phrase?


how does one capture the essence of something in a piece of writing?


what other cliche terms are used to describe bands?

will music writers one day rise from the ashes of cliche descriptions?