September 2021

His run-in with the witch has heavy consequences for the wanderer, which are described in the song ‘River of death’. As he is on his knees and captured by the witch, ghosts and undead appear around him through the trees. The toxic air keeps filling his lungs, everything seems like an hallucination. The music starts with a threatening intro.

“All I can see is darkness, I feel the heavy air,” says the wanderer. The vines around his limbs have disappeared and as he slowly tries to stand up, he can feel his own weight pulling him down. High on toxic fumes, he looks around for an escape, while the evil draws closer.

Menacing voices fill his head with doubt, quite possibly conjured by the witch who has him trapped. “Don’t run, we’ll never let you leave!” they whisper in the chorus, trying to tempt the wanderer into giving up. He tries desperately to resist, keeping on his feet and trying to make sense of his surroundings in the darkness. A thick mist is preventing him from seeing clearly and the hallucinations seem to grow stronger with each step. “Give in to darkness calling you, death wins, no matter what you do,” they continue in the second chorus, followed up by the final push: “you know there’s no escaping here!”.

A struggle follows in the bridge. Sharp snares and a dark bass line make it sound frantic and desperate, like the wanderer is doing everything to prevent himself from believing their words and giving in. A voice starts singing; this time it seems to be the voice of the spirit. It yells with urge, egging the wanderer on in the outro of the song “Find the strength to resist, run as fast as you can or you’ll go down with them!” The voice repeats her words, trying to push him towards sanity.

Will he escape the claws of death, in the trap that the witch set for him? Will he reach his destination? Find out in the next ‘behind the music’ blog!

Lyrics:

All I can see is darkness
I feel the heavy air
I try to open my eyes
But they were never closed

Don’t run, we’ll never let you leave
Give in- to darkness calling you
Death wins, no matter what you do
You’re doomed, we’re coming after you

Their claws are tearing at me
I don’t know where to run
My feet are barely moving
Dark haze is blinding me

Time to spend your eternity
You’ll burn, feed us with enеrgy
Your soul never meant to bе free
You know there’s no escaping here

Find the strength to resist
Fight the darkness calling
Run as fast as you can
Or you’ll go down with them

Read all the lyrics on Genius!

 

While his encounter with the sirens was a close call, we can safely conclude the wanderer has escaped. Sadly, as we dive straight in to the tenth song of the album, ‘Witchcraft’, this is a typical case of ‘from pillar to post’. ‘Witchcraft’ starts out strong, the sense of danger right there from the beginning. Our wanderer has reached a big, dark forest as the last light of day disappears, all the more reason to be weary of his surroundings.

“Don’t venture deep into the woods, or you’ll be lost forever” says the first verse. ‘She’ hides in the dark, waiting for the people who have lost their way through the trees. Her witchcraft is dangerous, especially once she finds her target. The music accompanying the first verse accentuates the danger perfectly.

In the pre-chorus, the voice of the witch sounds: “Your soul belongs to me, my magic will set you free!” and it’s followed with a threat of her power in the chorus. “One spell and I will have you down on my knees, you will bow beneath my power!” she screams. The wanderer is frantic, trying to make his way through the woods as fast as he can. She hasn’t found him yet, but his surroundings indicate she’s definitely getting closer. Some kind of spell is already upon him and it’s like breathing in toxic fumes. The branches of the trees are coiling closer, and the air feels heavy. The wanderer is slowly losing his vision, while the voice of the witch keeps repeating in his head. He tries to focus on the path ahead without getting too distracted, using it like a lifeline to get through the forest. As the music hits the bridge, it’s clear it did not help much. The menacing choir and melody line seem to predict something is creeping up to him from behind and this is exactly what happens in the third verse.

Thorny vines of red roses wrap around the wanderer’s legs to pull him to his knees, and he silently pleads to the gentle spirit for help, but his voice gives him away. The witch’s manic laughter fills his ears soon enough. Her voice comes closer and closer as she creeps towards the sound, her laughter echoing through the trees as the last chorus starts. “As you see I now have you down on my knees, you will stay with me forever!”

Is this the end for the wanderer or will he survive his run in with the witch? Stay tuned for the next ‘Behind the music’!

The day is turning into night
The darkness taking over
Don’t venture deep into the woods
Or you’ll be lost forever

She waits, she hides there in the dark
Lures lost souls with her magic
Her evil spells are dangerous
It may cost you your freedom

Your soul belongs to me
My magic will set you free

Once I find you there is no more turning back
I will conquer in the darkness
One spell and I will have you down on your knees
You will bow beneath my power

Her whisper haunts you as you walk
You should not move much further
You know what danger lies ahead
But you seem so enchanted

The trees cast shadows on your path
Their branches coiling closer
The air is heavy with decay
It slowly blurs your vision

The thorns are grazing at your skin
Red roses foul and bloody
Their vines will pull you to your knees
When you come near her cottage

Her voice is burning you alive
And as the wind is howling
You close your eyes in silent prayer
But then she screams with laughter

Now I’ve found you there is no more turning back
I will conquer in the darkness
As you see, I now have you down on your knees
You will stay with me forever

Read all the lyrics on Genius!

 

‘Golden light’ was not only a promise, but also a warning. “Look beyond the dark,” indicated there was still darkness ahead and the wanderer had clearly seen it as he stood upon the mountain. The first challenge ahead would be a raging sea, where something dangerous awaits him below the surface of the dark waters. Let’s dive into ‘Sirens call’!

The song immediately starts with a bewitching voice, soft but insistent, luring the wanderer towards the water. Three pairs of glowing eyes stare up at him from below the surface, the water too dark to see clearly who or what they are. “Their voices will slowly take control of your mind,” sings the voice, ringing from ear to ear. Like predators, the creatures await their chance in curiosity, wondering what their prey may do while their melody slowly lulls him to obedience.

In the chorus, the creatures speak directly: “Seek our voices as we call upon you, we’re hiding in the dark of the waters below,” with the promise of giving the wanderer everything he wants and to make all his dreams come true. The melody of the song is infectious- just enough to make the listener feel a sense of what the wanderer may be feeling. While the sirens continue singing, the wanderer is watching from the edge of the shore- enchanted.

‘We’re waiting for you, come to us’ the voices sing, hoping to convince him; to take him into the deep. The music swells, as if the sirens are charging to catch their prey, breaking the surface of the dark waters. There is no indication whether they succeeded, the sound eventually fading to just a softer, more distant siren’s vocal.

Did the wanderer escape? And if he did, what other challenges will await him? Find out in the next Behind the Music!

Can you hear them calling, their voices
Will slowly take control of your mind

Curious to see if you’ll follow
While singing their divine melody

Seek our voices as we call upon you
We are hiding in the dark of the waters below

Come to us, find us now
We are waiting for you
Let darkness take you
We’ll grant you all that you crave

You cannot resist, it’s enchanting
They promise you the life of your dreams

Sink into the waters, they’ll take you
Your tragedy is their victory

Read all the lyrics on Genius!

 

What adventures lie ahead for the wanderer once he reaches the top of that mountain? This week is all about ‘Golden Light’, which is the answer to that question. The second ballad of the album is more hopeful compared to its predecessor and it’s laced with comforting words and the promise that the wanderer’s challenging journey and his battle with the darkness will soon be rewarded with paradise. It’s a needed promise; the wanderer is finally ready to face his fate, and this may be his final push to journey on.

The song starts with a sweeping, yet soothing tune of both piano and electric guitar, leading to the first verse. “There is a place beyond the heart of the darkness, where all the hurt and pain is gone and forgotten.” Says the voice, which can be interpreted as the spirit guide speaking to the wanderer. Imagining he has reached the top of the mountain, he now has the ultimate view across the strange kingdom and, with that, a chance to see the path he must take to reach what the spirit promised.

She promises blue skies and golden sunlight, a place of happiness and warmth, but for that the wanderer must look beyond the dark. Before him lies a perilous path: a raging sea, a dark forest and an abandoned village obscured in the shade of the tall trees. He must make it across to reach his destination and the spirit is urging him that he is strong enough to make it. ‘Let the idea of the paradise that awaits you soothe you, may it be your strength when the journey gets tough,’ the chorus narrates. ‘Do you feel the last golden light of the setting sun warming your skin as you stand here? That same sun will shine upon you when you make it to your paradise.’ “Golden light, it shines upon you now.”

The second verse is basically a metaphor of the phrases ‘time heals all wounds’ and ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’. Though these phrases could be broadly interpreted, in their core they ring true to a lot of people. The only way to heal is to keep moving forward, to tend to your wounds and to find comfort in things that mean a lot to you. Pain, fear, anger and sadness teach us valuable lessons and allow us to experience joy, happiness and love more deeply.

With the wise words of the gentle spirit, his newfound strength and the promise of something beautiful, the wanderer is preparing his journey towards the paradise he had been looking for. Keep an eye out for the next blog to find out what he encounters along the way!

There is a place beyond the heart of the darkness
Where all the hurt and pain is gone, and forgotten
Where skies are blue and where the sunlight is golden
Painting all that you see in beautiful colours

The flowers whisper in the soft breeze of summer
Along a pathway leading into the garden
It’s where the children play in echoes of laughter
Where time is standing still, thе seasons unchanging

Open your eyеs, look beyond the dark
Eden awaits, let it soothe your heart
Take in the light, put your soul to rest
Spirit of life, heal the wounds of time

Golden light, it shines upon you now

With darkness fading there is so much to live for
Just like the soil is the most fruitful with ashes
Let your heart bloom just like the flowers of Eden
The gentle breeze will calm the storms that still haunt you

Follow the path inside, along the green meadows
See all the promises fulfilled as you wander
The spirit’s waiting at the edge of the water
For you to wash away your deepest of sorrows

Read all the lyrics on Genius!