“Tightrope” is the second single and opening track from the upcoming Soliloquium album “Upheaval” (out on Oct 23rd). Amazing to have the talented Toni Hatakka (Hanging Garden) as guest vocalist on track. I hope you dig it!
Listen: Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube
“Tightrope” lyrics
Pain reigns merciless
In its education
Dredge the excess
Uncover the depths
What’s within reason
And where’s the overstep?
For all it takes to feel alive
For all it takes to wonder
Somber nights and passing headlights
Snowflakes crystalline
Lost myself in music notes
A long gone touch of fingertips
It waits for no-one
In wordless urgency
Balancing the tightrope
In a waking dream
A rush of blood to the head
Thousand thoughts dilapidate
Into deep unchartered waters
Exposed to every element
This existential haze
Is it all in passing?
It waits for no-one
Wordless, yet urgent
Balancing the tightrope
In a waking dream
Soldier of the sideline
Tempter of fate
Dreary awakening with bloodshot eyes
Winding paths in the dim
The twisted reverie, the foregone truth
Haven in the firing line
Line-up
Stefan Nordström – guitars, vocals, lyrics
Henrik Ekholm – bass
Xines – drums
Toni Hatakka – vocals
Mixed and mastered by Jari Lindholm.
“Tightrope” meaning and themes
Living on the edge to feel alive isn’t exactly a new topic in metal, or music overall for that matter. I need my kicks and my highs now and then, but am I willing to pay the price? Also, when is it too much? There’s certainly a romance – even a sense of nostalgia – to throwing all reason out the window.
The actions and the thoughts can help you uncover new sides of yourself, but they can also trap you in your own inner world a little too much. Guest vocalist Toni (Hanging Garden) works as a romantic new wave counterpart in his clean vocal parts, perhaps trying to warn me of the danger and temptation of drowning in past times and indulgences.
Can the chaos be a haven, is it only illusion, or is everything just a grayscale whatever you do? I can’t say I’m really finding any answers in this song, but at least I’m asking the questions. Let’s see if it’s something you guys can relate to. I hope so!
“Tightrope” influences
The main parts of these songs are actually almost 10 years old. There’s a strong Finnish doom metal influence here, especially from my old favorite band Ghost Brigade. I wanted to create a song driven by the big old repeating riff, much like their song “Suffocated”.
I’m also pulling out an old trick Swedish progressive metal band In Mourning uses a lot in their songs: sing the growl part clean in a calm part later in the song. This track can really do wonders if you do it right, and hopefully we did here.
Physical CD and digital music pre-order
If you dig the song, there are two ways to pre-order the new album:
Order the physical CD from my label Meuse Music Records
A digital pre-order on Bandcamp (best way to support me directly)
Either option makes a huge difference and allows me to focus on music and music content instead of grinding other work in the name of mindless capitalism. Thanks in advance!
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