Shadows Fall: Thoughts Without Words
I’m more of a cookie monster vocals type of death metal but I’ve have liked Shadows Fall since hearing them years back at the Palladium when they were opening up for much larger bands. They have bands opening for them now though. Anyway, I’ve been listening to a bit more of them mainly because people have mentioned how they have a “Buddhist” inspired lyrics.
So I went out checked out some stuff, and although I haven’t found a song that specifically mentions Buddhism, I did find this one particularly interesting. The song is titled “Thoughts Without Words”, I’ve posted the video and lyrics below.
To me the song seems to be about meditation… what do you think?
Having awareness but no true sense of self
You find yourself enslaved in chains of earthly wealth
The unending chatter that plagues the mind
Confusion will be all that you findChaos reigns in an untamed mind
Still question all i know advancing foward
This fallacy i have disownedYou must quench the yearning and false desire
Only balance will elevate you higher
You must train the body and the mind to serve
Envisioning thoughts without words
Chaos reigns in an untamed mindStill question all i know advancing foward
This fallacy i have disownedEncaged in a world that fear creates
You must release yourself and liberateI am seeking the way…
In their 2004 album “The War Within” there was only one song that i could find that DIDN’T have lyrics that make clear reference to Buddhist concepts. That would be “Ghosts of Past Failures”. As for the rest, I’m not talking about “could be interpreted as being Buddhist”, but obvious references to Buddhism. Not necessarily exclusively Buddhist, but definitely Buddhist. From the topics touched on, i would guess the guys have been checking out Vajrayana Buddhism as a source of inspiration. Don’t have time right now, unfortunately, but I can explain the examples in few of there songs from this album later.
Wow, great to hear. Sent you an e-mail, would love to hear your breakdown on the album…
They have another obviously Buddhist inspired song called “The First Noble Truth”.
As reality washes away the faded memories of daylight
This is my escape
Realization of my mind’s own deceit
Perception Slips away
Lulled into a fools paradise
Words mislead again
the agony of imaginary sins and fears
truth of suffering
Buried dreams that shadow me, I feel it’s all been wasted (Dreams that shatter me)
Break my dreams to free my soul because I won’t even notice (Dreams to free my soul)
Disintegration of the ego with this mind creates
False idea of self
The cessation of continuity and becoming
True enlightenment
Buried dreams that shadow me, I feel it’s all been wasted (Dreams that shatter me)
Break my dreams to free my soul because I won’t even notice (Dreams to free my soul)
Someone free me from heaven torn asunder
full of empty promises to be there if I wonder (Alone and wandering)
Will not remain enslaved
This world’s transparency
I see right through
I walk alone
As reality washes away the faded memories of daylight
This is my escape
Realization of my mind’s own deceit
Perception Slips away
Buried dreams that shadow me, I feel it’s all been wasted (Dreams that shatter me)
Break my dreams to free my soul because I won’t even notice (Dreams to free my soul)
Someone free me from heaven torn asunder
full of empty promises to be there if I wonder (Alone and wandering)
Extinction of thirst
Extinction of desire
Extinction of hatred
Extinction of illusion
This is absolute.
Nice pick up there mate. Reading the lyrics would definately indicate to me that it is about meditation. Love the song too, but no chance of meditating after listening to it, got me too amped!
Yeah… I moved out in 2001 so I hit maybe the first 3…. but like you I’ve seen many shows there… mostly upstairs though because they were too small for the downstairs…. sounds like you’re more into bands like Cryptopsy and Death?
yeah, more like those bands. I grew up listening to early Carcass, Entombed, Dismember, Death, etc… The band I was in for a while recorded a version of The Philosopher for a Death tribute album. Loved that song…
Nice… did you grow up in Worcester Nate? I grew up in Lowell and have been to many a N.E Metal Fest at the Palladium. I remember seeing Shadows Fall before Brian Fair joined them from Overcast.
I still like Overcast better!
Bows,
Shindo
Nah, I grew up here on the Cape. Been going to shows in Worcester though since I was a kid. Have been to many shows and then when they started the Metal and Hardcore Fests I went to the first few of them, they seemed to be to commercialized after a while though.