I chose “The Silent Epidemic” for the “Soulsearching” song analysis because it’s the most important song. It’s not the most famous, catchy, or possibly even good, but the topic is something beyond what I previously touched upon. Let’s dive into the song and what I think about it today.
About me – deathdoom.com, music and more
- Stefan Nordström
- Musician, songwriter, content creator, digital freelancer
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Bands: Desolator, Soliloquium, Ending Quest, Ashes of Life, Trees of Daymare, The Ashen Tree
- Social: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Listen to “The Silent Epidemic”
“The Silent Epidemic” lyrics and themes
Taking part, serving the eye
Scrambling to uphold a hollow mask
Self-sacrificed, with a burning hunger
You are nothing to them
Cursed walks of life, cast to the sidelines
Residual abandon
Never knowing where the disease ends
And the person begins
Slam the doors on the brittle and pale
Forging pathways through blood and shame
Shield your existence, for so you’ve been told
Scream and shiver in echoing halls
Condemned to silence for the smallest of scraps
Yet they don’t give an inch of their world
A sickness lingering beneath, you’ll never know their riches
Only in pretense will arms be open, silent epidemic
Suffer for their ways
You’ve been told, you’ve been deemed
Labeled and packaged for their ease
Your search for balance, purpose and control
Life-long endeavors remain untold
Leaving no mark from your lifeless world
Seamless observers from window panes
Had all the stories of the world to tell
But no-one to listen, from the outside looking in
Mental health has always been a theme that lingered here and there in Soliloquium’s lyrics, but “The Silent Epidemic” is my first full-on dive into it. Society and life rages on; how about those people who are not allowed to participate on the same terms, being left with nothing but their own sheltered existence and echo chamber? Material and spiritual success can only be a dream.
It’s very much a lament, lacking solutions, hope or even reflection. It reaches beyond my own trials and ideals, looking at the broder picture. I think the previous song I analyzed, “The Discarded”, was the first step in this direction. I’m generally looking to make empathetic music that connects with people on a broader level, so you can definitely expect more of this.
“The Silent Epidemic” musical ideas and influences
Musically, we’re definitely in progressive/melodic death/doom metal territory. The combination of lengthy passages, dynamic tempo shifts and attempted hooks brings In Mourning to mind, a band I greatly admire. Adding the cello brings some extra drama that definitely helps with atmosphere.
My favorite part is when the song shifts from the disorganized part to the clean vocal chorus and end. Henrik Ekholm (thanks!) put down some banger guest vocals here, carrying the song perfectly. I also like the guitar melody that repeats in the break and under the chorus. The icing on the cake is how the previous growl part comes back to trade off with the clean vocals and guitar melodies. Pretty much as progressive as Soliloquium ever got.
Would I change anything about the song today?
No, in many ways it’s one of the songs I like the most, but I can see why many listeners don’t see it the same way. It has a rather bloated song structure, with many starts and stops and a late payoff. It’s definitely not as catchy as any of the singles, looking more to progressive metal than doom metal. I’d try to spice up my singing parts a little, otherwise I’m very happy with it, especially its message.
Do you like “The Silent Epidemic”? You can get the digital download here and there’s also merch with some of the song lyrics available in the merch section. Support means a lot for my music and content!
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