Track By Tracks: DieveNoire - The Story Of A Gunslinger (2026)

About the album (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

DieveNoire’s debut album, The Story of a Gunslinger, takes the listener back to an old-style New West, with most of the songs portraying the journey of an outlaw. Each song is styled appropriately to fit its narrative.

The introduction begins with the tribal and simplistically written “Gunslinger in Black,” which continues into “The Spell of White Oleander,” carrying on the story introduced in the previous track. The album fluctuates between energetic, driving songs, emotional ballads, and engaging chant-driven tunes, all while telling the story of the Gunslinger’s travels and his eventual death-row tale, from which he ultimately escapes.

Within the lyrics, there is also his admirer, who follows in his footsteps while being secretly watched over by him in disguise. The character of the Gunslinger eventually becomes a metaphorical and imaginary journey experienced by the woman herself.

The album’s tracks are intentionally not arranged in chronological order, prompting the listener to create their own interpretation of the story, visually set in an old-world landscape filled with bullets, alcohol, and the pursuit of a wanted outlaw who constantly challenges the law.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Preacher – Gunslinger’s Story Part 5:

The most dynamic and fastest track on the album, “Preacher,” opens the record by immediately throwing the listener into the middle of the Gunslinger’s story, leaving no doubt about the blasphemous direction of the album. A woman chasing the outlaw encounters a priest who invites her into a church, a decision that later proves to be his own mistake.

Musically, the song is a driving rock ’n’ roll creation with rhythms reminiscent of 1970s rock, but delivered with a modern heavy-rock approach. Chugging guitar riffs and powerful, rhythmic drums make it a simple yet effective anthem. This song depicts another location in the woman’s search for the Gunslinger and follows the New Orleans chapter of the story, which appears later on the album.

2. To the Gallows – Gunslinger’s Story Part 6:

A slower-tempo yet still heavy, rock-driven song, “To the Gallows” features powerful vocal performances in the choruses and softer, storytelling verses. It describes the Gunslinger’s time on death row and his eventual escape despite the crowd chanting for his execution.

The woman following his journey finally speaks up, pleading for his life and offering herself in his place, having realized her emotional connection to him. While the song continues the Gunslinger’s narrative, its chorus also serves as a message of empowerment for the listener.

“Oh yeah, don’t let them own ya, follow your own way, f*** what they say” reflects a personal mantra of Lariyah’s, encouraging perseverance regardless of obstacles. This mindset became the foundation of the song’s theme.

3. Gunslinger in Black – Gunslinger’s Story Part 1:

The first release by DieveNoire and the beginning of the concept album, “Gunslinger in Black,” was originally intended as part of a solo project by Lariyah. It served as a showcase of the vision for what was to come.

However, after years spent in the rock and metal scene, she realized it was impossible not to expand the project and involve a full band. As a result, this song remains the most stripped-down and humble piece on the album.

Lariyah incorporated her Slavic roots through chanting in the chorus and combined them with dark, emotional vocals describing the Gunslinger’s first appearance in a tavern. This is the moment when the woman narrating the story sees him for the first time.

4. Streets of New Orleans – Gunslinger’s Story Part 4:

Inspired by Lariyah’s love for the city of New Orleans and its unique atmosphere, this song follows the woman’s search for the outlaw through the city. It describes the sights she encounters, including voodoo practitioners and ravens circling overhead, creating a mystical and enchanting world that captivates her.

The ballad’s songwriting is intentionally composed to emphasize the vocal storytelling while highlighting beautiful guitar riffs and tasteful lead guitar work. Its style is easily comparable to 1980s power ballads, making it a perfect fit for the song’s atmosphere.

5. The Graveyard Song – Gunslinger’s Story Part 7:

This is one of the eeriest songs on the album, filled with whispers, whistled melodies, and ghostly vocals. The band’s performance is intentionally restrained to place focus on the voice and its plea to be accepted into the underworld after death.

By this point, the woman’s search for the Gunslinger has come to an end due to exhaustion, giving the song a haunting sense of finality.

6. Morning Star – Gunslinger’s Story Part 8:

To many listeners, this song appears to be a gentle acoustic ballad featuring dual guitars and soft bass lines, expressing love and devotion to a loved one. However, those who delve deeper into the lyrics will discover that it is actually a plea for death to embrace the soul of the narrator.

“Come to me, come closer to my arms” is not directed toward a lover but toward eternal rest itself. “Enter my realm, let me wipe this fear away” serves as the response from the underworld.

Every lyric in this ballad was inspired by a dream Lariyah experienced while in a coma following her 2015 accident. Having briefly experienced clinical death before being revived, she drew heavily from that experience when writing the song.

“Sync with my soul as the ravens circle low” describes her vision of herself fading away and being placed into a coffin, contrary to what many listeners may initially interpret as a romantic embrace.

This is the most personal and meaningful song in her repertoire. Lariyah considers it the true ending of The Story of a Gunslinger, raising questions about the Gunslinger’s identity. Was he a real person, a spirit, or simply a metaphor? Was the journey truly about him, or about her search for answers regarding life and death?

7. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’:

A tribute to Nancy Sinatra’s iconic song, this cover was something Lariyah considered essential. In her view, it perfectly complements the album’s themes of rebellion, individuality, and refusing to conform to society’s expectations.

The strength and attitude represented in Sinatra’s original performance fit naturally within the album’s spirit. Musically, however, this version bears little resemblance to the original. It is significantly slower, infused with a modern blues-rock feel, and built around a foot-stomping groove that invites participation from anyone listening, whether they know the original song or not.

8. Spell of White Oleander – Gunslinger’s Story Part 2:

Continuing the story from “Gunslinger in Black,” the woman watching the outlaw in the tavern becomes enchanted by him despite never having directly interacted with him.

White Oleander, one of the world’s most poisonous flowers, is left behind by the Gunslinger for a woman he meets in the tavern. The song is a beautiful ballad that explores the emotional impact of witnessing this powerful moment and the feelings it awakens within the narrator.

Heavy guitars emphasize the song’s sentimental qualities, while increasingly dynamic vocal performances draw the listener deeper into the magic of the experience.

9. Throughout the Night – Gunslinger’s Story Part 3:

Another emotional ballad, “Throughout the Night” features memorable guitar melodies and soft vocals interwoven with powerful lyrical moments. It explores the Gunslinger’s inner numbness and resentment toward the world around him.

In this song, unlike others where he rides a horse, he rides a motorcycle, providing a more modern interpretation of the Gunslinger archetype. It serves as a symbolic gesture of defiance against the world and a commitment to living life on his own terms.

The song gradually builds in intensity, creating a beautiful musical progression that encourages listeners to close their eyes, forget their troubles, and leave their burdens behind.

10. IDGAF – Gunslinger’s Story Part 9:

This song serves as the conclusion of the outlaw’s journey. The woman who has spent so much time chasing the Gunslinger has finally abandoned her pursuit and come to recognize the flaws of the world and the people around her.

After struggling with alcohol and repeatedly promising herself she would stop, she feels her fate drawing near and ultimately gives up trying to please others or hide who she truly is.

Lariyah wrote this song during one of the lowest periods of her life, when she had lost faith in good fortune and stopped caring about the opinions or expectations of others. It is a true bar song, built on the belief that all one really needs is a guitar and good company to celebrate whatever time remains.

With its simple rhythm, driving energy, and crowd-participation chants centered around the infamous phrase in its title, it stands as one of the album’s most engaging and memorable tracks.

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