Divided was the first track I'd completed for what would become 'The Old Anew' EP. I'd had the main riff/intro for a while whilst working with my previous band but nothing was done with it. Therefore, I kept it to one side. Whilst doing a song writing project for uni, I'd decided one of my songs wasn't exactly a favourite (it was very rushed and basic). So it was either hand in a less than satisfactory song, or continue writing one that could become a better one. You can tell what I chose to do...
Lyrically I'd been hearing at the time of writing about the current friction and chaotic history that'd been surrounding Northern Ireland with The IRA and The Troubles. I loved the idea of using facts and dates to reference the specific events to describe my own emotions regarding the situation (Eg. Prepared for peace or prepared for war, the car bombings during the 1998 period, and additionally England's involvement in the conflict). I've never considered myself a strong lyricist so I was very happy with how these came out, considering them my strongest lyrics to date.
Musically I was inspired by Monuments, Hacktivist (initially I'd planned to have the screams rapped) and Periphery (of course!).
From this track, I owe so much gratitude. It was my close friend Liam Gainsley, who heard the roughest of rough demo's (it was seriously shit), and tempted me to record it properly. And from there, I made up my mind to turn it into an EP.
As well as being a top notch producer, engineer, fellow beer consumer AND one of my closest friends, I wouldn't have brought that chorus to life if not for Callum Wimhurst of Headwires. As soon as I came up with that melody I knew I had to get his voice on my EP, and even on the demo he absolutely nailed it!
lyrics
Lyrics:
Nothing will change if we don't fucking wake up
Been caged by fear, so no one will try to step up
Surrounded by terror, by their blood and bombs
How many should die, before the storm will calm
They've taken our lives
They've taken our home
Our only right to freedom
We've seen it before
The struggle for more,
Prepared for peace or nuclear war
A truce is made
But built around hate
This isn't 1998
For better or worse
Been trapped in a hearse
We've become...
Divided
I've chosen life
Decisive
Not giving up this time
We're unguided
(All that I own
And all that I had
Was stripped from my home
The will turned to mad
A nation unguided
A country to mend
Two worlds collided
When will it end?)
You can't insult the dead
For they can't defend themselves
All of the crimson's been bled
Yet we can't protect ourselves
Nothing is certain, nothing has been foreshadowed
But boundaries of peace remain, between the hallowed
A battle of two, became a war among three
Loss of control, without a kings decree
A kingdom united
Yet short sighted
Ignorance ignited
Some want independence
Some want acceptance
Others don't want the presence
Innocents dying
Children are crying
Nobodies indemnifying
For 30 long years
Been nothing but tears
When will the conflict disappear?
A sense of frustration, with anticipation
The seams came undone
By a force with a gun, there is no way out
We're all filled with doubt
The clock's ticking down
Peace for sure will drown
Neglecting justice
Are we heartless?
They've taken our lives
They've taken our home
Our only right to freedom
For better or worse
Been trapped in a hearse
We've become...
Greetings earthlings! This page is dedicated to Epiphany, my progressive metal solo
project.
Over the course of my time playing guitar, I've felt the restrictions of playing in a band that naturally comes with their given style and sound. Through this project, I hoped to deliver my own varied style and performance with my creative control.
It's not a question of why, but a question of why not?...more
