Released September 21st 2007
Cover by Anthony Clarkson
Drums and Guitars recorded at Tony Nesci's
Bass and Vocals recorded by Darren Thompson at Soundhouse Studios
Photo by Jay Hopkins
Mixed by Anj at Soundhouse Studios
Mastered by Neville Clark at Disk-Edits
Produced by Ricky Boon and Darren McLennan

Listen to streaming full-length MP3 samples here:

Metal-Temple (USA)

Grigoris on 2007/09/13

Aussie extreme Metal: for many many years the only band coming to mind was the excellent MORTAL SIN and only. Since the mid-to-late 80s the ever-growing extreme Metal scene of Australia saw countless bands developing their own aggression and - even if the whole country/continent is not that famous in ’donating’ quantity in Metal music, it is essential to be said that most bands seem to put lots of ’twisted’ work in their Metal madness; THE HARROWED - undoubtedly - being among them.

Previously acting under the FURY moniker (5 private CDs released), they decided to alter their name to THE HARROWED in 2005. The quintet’s mainman, Ricky Boom, has lost his eyesight but does not fall short of writing excellent tunes for the band, assisted by a set of equally skilled musicians with similar thirst to envision THE HARROWED’s aim for neckripping Death (with lots of Thrash) Metal. Signing to Massacre Records, their first full length sees a set of nine tracks full of aggressive riffs enriched with both ’evil’ and ’melodic’ solos. Still, don’t expect to hear something full of atmosphere or gothic romantism. THE HARROWED love the Thrash-to-Death US Metal sound and proceed to writing short and in-your-face tunes.

The album may lack duration - who was bothered by the 28 minutes of "Reign In Blood" back in ’86/’87, anyway? - but is full of energy, hostility and outrage. The drums are killers, full of breaks and double-bass outbursts while the bass lines are fiery and scorching. As pre-said, and taking a closer look to typical (of the genre) tunes like "Profile Unknown", "Dark Bliss" and "Wisdom From The Flesh Of The Fallen", you cannot avoid but noticing the efficiency in the guitars’ crossfire, with tons of MORBID ANGEL-ish riffs interacting with DEATH-isque harmony breaks and KATAKLYSM or SUFFOCATION riff-full verses. The vocals of O’Neil are rather ’angry’, with enough of aggression and limited evilness, while he certainly holds strong throat and lungs by singing nonstop.

Featuring a superb production (everything is crystal clear in here), "The Harrowed" is certainly a ’must’ ’for new-school’ Death/Thrash Metal fans; it has lots of balls and notable instrumentation. To extend, even old-school Thrashers may love this album since it definitely holds a ’classic’ aura, a prominent mix of the past and present. "The Harrowed" is a ’thumbs up’ album by no means. Take your chances and let your ears be grabbed by this Aussie monster.

P.S. 1: You like simple yet ample instrumental songs? Take "The Voyage" as an example.
P.S. 2: The cover artwork is made by Anthony Clarkson (KATAKLYSM, LEGION OF THE DAMNED, EXODUS, BLIND GUARDIAN etc)

4.5/5

Igel Metal (Germany)

CD-KRITIK:
The Harrowed ist eine Australische Thrash Metal Band die unter dem Namen Fury bereits fünf Alben veröffentlicht hat. Durch zahlreiche Besetzungswechsel der Band um den seit einigen Jahren blinden Gitarristen Ricky Boone hat die Band ihre Musik sehr vielfältig Entwickeln können, so waren einige Releases zum Beispiel stark vom Power Metal beeinflusst.
Jetzt versuchen the Harrowed mit neuem Label, neuem Namen und neuer Platte sich ihren Platz in der internationalen Thrash Metal Szene zu sichern.
Und das dürfte ihnen mit ihrer neuen Scheibe „Forbidden Art“ auch gelingen – das Stück ist ein Meisterwerk das seinesgleichen sucht. Die Songs sind geprägt durch wunderbar hartes Riffing, knallhartes und schnelles Drumming und das Shouting Mick O´Neils, und formen eine Thrash-Walze, die alles überrollt was sich ihr in den Weg stellt.
Das besonders Auffällige ist jedoch, das die Songs auch von einer anderen Richtung geprägt sind. Die Soli sind auffälig melodisch, eigentlich untypisch für Thrash, jedoch beweisen The Harrowed hier dass sie es verstehen Elemente aus anderen Metal-genres einfließen zu lassen, ohne sich dabei aus dem Konzept bringen zu lassen. Tatsächlich erinnern einige der Soli, sowie die instrumentale Ballade „The Voyage“, stark an Powermetal, jedoch verbinden sich die Melodien auf eine selbstverständliche Art und Weise mit der kompromisslosen Härte der Stücke und kreieren so Ohrwürmer ohne Ende, und auch die stimme O´Neils fügt sich nahtlos in dieses Klangbild ein.
Alles in allem ein mehr als gelungenes Werk der Australier, erstklassiger moderner Death-Thrash ohne Kompromisse!

Fazit:
Wer auf Old-school Thrash und auch modernere Sachen wie z.B. Legion of the Damned steht, sollte unbedingt mal reinhören!

4/5!

True Metal (Italy)

The Harrowed
The Harrowed
2007, Massacre/Audioglobe
Thrash
Pubblicata in data: 02/10/2007

Debutto in casa Massacre Records. I The Harrowed, combo australiano, è qui infatti ritratto alle prese con i suoi primi nove pezzi ufficiali.

Sinceramente la prima cosa che mi viene da dire in merito a questa release è una nota di demerito: l’etichetta, trattandosi di un gruppo misconosciuto, avrebbe potuto corredare il promozionale di qualche notizia a loro riguardo. Invece no. Niente, se non il dischetto, privo di copertina (stampata a grandezza-francobollo sul cd), di line up e via dicendo.

Il cd però, eccettuate le intromissioni vocali inserite dalla label per ricordare che di promo si tratta, è veramente convincente. Trattasi di un massacro continuo che si protrae nel corso di tutto il full length. Quello che succede è però frutto di menti che operano con cognizione di causa. Nulla è lasciato al caso, e non è riscontrabile nessuna ingenuità nè al primo, nè arrivati al decimo ascolto. Anzi, come il buon vino, anche The Harrowed più il tempo passa più migliora in maniera direttamente proporzionale all’assimilazione.

Solo un puro e distruttivo thrash metal estremo, ai confini col death. Non solo però, perchè i ragazzi in un impianto bello aggressivo e prepotente inseriscono degli assoli ragionatissimi e melodici, capaci di arricchire ulteriormente i pezzi.

I tratti distintivi sono quelli poc’anzi citati, e ciò che preme di sottolineare è che gli Australiani mostrano una verve tostissima, e pur senza innovare niente riescono nell’impresa di non ricordare nessuno in particolare, ma anzi, di risultare personali. Ritmicamente belli veloci, inseriscono dei cambi di tempo repentini che danno un ulteriore tocco di dinamismo in più ad una musica che, come già si sarà intuito, scorre senza annoiare mai.

Punto a loro favore è anche la voce, dotata di una timbrica aggressiva e calda. Non ci saranno grossi cambiamenti nelle linee vocali, ma il singer svaria con grandissima nonchalance tra lo screaming e il growl là dove è richiesto, mentre dal punto di vista strumentale le accelerazioni brusche sono sottolineate dal blast beat del drummer Ricardo Vozzo (a questo proposito è splendido il lavoro che fa su The Inner Thread).

Inutile soffermarsi più di tanto sulle singole canzoni in questo caso, in quanto il lotto di pezzi presenti su The Harrowed è un blocco unico, da assaporare nella sua interezza per percepirne a fondo la violenza e la melodia. Volendo citarne qualcuno, rimarranno subito impressi Summoning The Eternal per lo splendido assolo, l’intensa strumentale (The Voyage) dai toni morbidi e raffinati. Non da meno è, infine, quello posto in coda, Torpor. Quest’ultimo perchè stilisticamente un pelo differente dal materiale fino a lì ascoltato. Lo studio strutturale della canzone è fondamentalmente diverso: più cadenzato, pare un cingolato. Con la caratteristica però di avere un refrain che è schizofrenico, scandito dalle urla laceranti del singer. Un pezzo a chiare tinte hardcore, quello old school però. Con l’aggiunta di una declamazione che non è dissimile da quella di “slayeriana” memoria che va ad infarcire Skeletons of Society (vedere Seasons In The Abyss). Un episodio fortemente pregno del thrash che fu, ma anche dello studio e della tecnica tipici del death metal.

Inutile davvero continuare, sarebbe solo la ripetizione del concetto all’infinito. Il full length dei The Harrowed è per me stato davvero una grande sorpresa, e come tale mi sento di consigliarlo a chiunque ami il metal di matrice estrema. Avrà modo così di ascoltare musica magari non innovativa, ma di spessore, questo sicuramente sì.

80/100

Nedermetal (The Netherlands)

The Harrowed - The Harrowed
Geschreven door Mug — Tuesday, 25 September 2007

The Harrowed - The HarrowedOntstaan uit het Australische Fury, dat al vijf studio albums op de markt heeft gebracht, is hier het debuut onder de naam The Harrowed. Daar ik niet bekend ben met het vorige werk van de band beperk ik deze review tot deze, ik mag wel zeggen, ver-assende thrash/death schijf. Ik ben dus wel benieuwd wat men onder de naam Fury heeft uitgebracht,want dit is gewoon een klasse plaat.

Al bij de eerste klanken krijg je inderdaad de indruk dat deze band al wat langer aan de gang is, de cleane productie en de kwaliteit van band en zanger liegen er niet om. Profile Unknown, de opener,is een lekker agressief nummer waarin zanger Mick O’Neil zichzelf de openbaring van deze band mag noemen; wat een heerlijk hardcore-achtig geluid komt er uit die man zijn strot. Hij brult de longen uit zijn lijf maar blijft verstaanbaar tussen het muzikale geweld. De snelheid zit er lekker in en eigenlijk is het enige rustpuntje op deze cd het instrumentale The Voyage waarna na 8 nummers het laatste nummer alweer uit de speakers knalt. Veel te snel zou ik zeggen want de pret duurt maar krap 34 minuten en dat is ook nog inclusief een bonustrack.

Het zal mij niet verbazen als deze schijf bij meerdere thrashfanaten in de jaarlijst staat want die worden dit jaar niet al te veel verwend.Eindelijk weer eens een productie die een glimlach doet verschijnen op mijn gezicht, het eerste wat ik na het veelvoudig beluisteren van dit juweeltje ga doen is op zoek naar wat ouder materiaal,want dit smaakt naar meer!!

Score: 92/100

Metal Heart (France)

“The Harrowed” est le premier album du groupe de death métal australien The Harrowed chez Massacre Records. Un death métal teinté de thrash aux riffs agressifs, directs mais mélodiques, avec également des soli mélodiques. Les morceaux se succèdent les uns aux autres, rapides, efficaces et directs… les atmosphères et les morceaux ne sont guère variés… dommage. Le chant n’est pas très varié non plus…. Entre chant et hurlement…. Le tout agressif comme il faut !!!

Les 9 morceaux de cet album sont directs et efficaces et ils bénéficient d’une bonne production.

Si vous aimez le métal extrême vous aimerez cet album.

Chroniqué par Béa.

“The Harrowed” is the first album from the Australian death metal group The Harrowed with Massacre Records. A death metal tinted with thrash with aggressive, direct but melodic riffs, with also melodic soli. The tracks are following one another, fast, efficient and direct… the atmospheres and the tracks are not really varied… too bad. The vocals are not much diversified neither… between singing and shouting… the all is aggressive as needed!!!

The 9 tracks of this album are direct and efficient and have the benefit of a good production.

If you like extreme metal you will like this album.

Reviewed and translated by Béa.

Lords of Metal (The Netherlands)

Koen: The Harrowed was formed in Australia by rhythm guitarist Ricky Boon. He is the main song writer and remarkably has been blind (!) for a number of years. The Harrowed originally went under the moniker Fury, and released five independent CD's under that name entitled 'Fury' (1997), 'Stigmatised' (2000), 'Slavekind' (2001), 'Blood, Sweat & Iron' (2005) and 'Forbidden Art' (2005). They also contributed to various Dwell Records releases like: 'Megaded : A Tribute To Megadeth', 'Demonic Plague : A Tribute To Death', 'Church Of The Devil : A Tribute To King Diamond', 'Jump In The Pit : A Tribute To Testament' and 'Suicide In Venice : A Tribute To Suicidal Tendencies'.
Apart from Boon, the current line-up consists of Darren McLennan (lead guitars), Ricardo Vozzo (drums), Daniel Wall (bass) and Mick O'Neil (vocals). The cover artwork on the self-titled record was submitted by Anthony Clarkson (Blind Guardian, Kataklysm, Exodus, Legion of the Damned and so on). The band blends old and new school thrash with touches of death metal and some power metal influences. The CD contains nine songs which are dominated by hostile riffs and forceful vocals among with a punishing blend of harsh breaks and all-out melodic guitar solo's…well worth banging your head to. Not too original though but well worth checking out!
Warning: Those who bought Fury's 'Forbidden Art' record back in 2006, don't have to bother about this release, because 'The Harrowed' in fact is a re-release of that particular album with one bonus demo track entitled 'Torpor'.

Rating: 78/100

Metal Invader (Greece)

THE HARROWED come from Australia and they have been active since 1993 under the name Fury, which they changed after having released 4 self financed albums in order to enter the mainstream music business.
“The Harrowed” is a combination of thrash and death with some (whatever)core elements. Among the typical structured thrashcore and the rhythmic riffs you can listen to a few Metallica – like cuts and some Pantera – like passages. The songs are solid and quick without any intention for grandiosity. The band wants to be remembered for its fast and heavy tunes and that is obvious all throughout the 32-minute duration of the album. The deep vocals come from the hardcore scene and give an extra tone of aggressiveness in the already tight music. Melodies are not absent and whenever they appear they brighten the outcome. Some of the solos are kind of poor, but the quality of the riffs is far better without being something that much original. One fact that you should bear in mind though is that the main guitarist and songwriter of the band, Ricky Boon, has been blind for years! Special reference should be made for the instrumental song of the album (“The Voyage”) that is a plain yet really interesting composition. Many blastbeats and growls complete the set of this release whose cover was made by Anthony Clarkson (Blind Guardian, Kataklysm, Exodus etc.).
Using the basic ingredients THE HARROWED created an album above average the can give you a respective amount of bpm (bangs of head per minute) while listening to it.

Reviewer: Nikos Patelis

Rating: 3.5/5

Powermetal.de (Germany)

Ich dachte eigentlich immer, SLAYER kommen aus den USA und nicht aus Australien. Zumindest kommen solche Assoziationen auf, wenn man einen Opener wie 'Pofile Unknown' um die Ohren geballert bekommt, mit treibenden Riffs und darüber einer Tom-Araya-mäßig röchelnden Stimme. Zunächst unter dem Namen FURY gegründet und von sich Reden gemacht, legen die umbenannten THE HARROWED eine recht ordentliche Granate als Debüt vor. Auch 'The Thread', 'Chrysalis Torn' und vor allem das zwar kurze, dafür aber stellenweise etwas vertracktere 'Wisdom From The Flesh Of The Fallen' geben mächtig Gas. Und würden noch mehr zünden, wenn auf der vorliegenden Promo nicht manch Kerry-King-ähnliches Solo oder mancher lang gezogener Urschrei von nervigem Massacre-Records-Gelaber überquatscht würde. Was einen fast davon abhält, der Scheibe mehr als einen Durchgang sein Gehör zu schenken.

Dann würde man allerdings manches verpassen. Die Truppe um den inzwischen erblindeten Bandgründer und Hauptsongwriter Ricky Boon kann nämlich nicht nur Gas geben, sondern ihrem thrashigen Death Metal auch manch experimentellen Anstrich verleihen. So finden sich in 'Dark Bliss' und 'Another Scar' auch einige Rhythmusspielchen wieder. Ein kleiner Höhepunkt ist 'Summoning The Eternal', in dem sowohl die Gitarrenmelodie im Refrain als auch das Solo an den ursprüngliche Power-Metal-Einschlag der Band erinnern. Das E-Gitarren-Instrumental 'The Voyage' lädt zum Träumen ein, während Sänger Mick O'Neil im Bonustrack 'Torpor' mit abgedrehten Schreien auch mal den Devin Townsend in sich raus lassen darf. So verbinden die Australier auf ihrem Debüt so manchen SLAYER-Abgucker mit viel eigenen Melodien und manch frischer Idee. Zwei Dinge stören allerdings noch: Die mit 34 Minuten etwas arg kurze Spielzeit und der etwas arg getriggerte Doublebass, der sich bisweilen wie ein lautes Klicken anhört.

Anspieltipps: Profile Unknown, Summoning The Eternal, Wisdom From The Flesh Of The Fallen

metal.de (Germany)

Ich muss ja zugeben, dass ich mit Ausnahme von DESTRÖYER 666 und MORTIFICATION nicht allzu viele Death-Bands mit dem fünften Kontinent in Verbindung bringe.
Doch genau daher kommen FURY und präsentieren der geneigten Hörerschaft nunmehr bereits ihr fünftes Studiowerk. Angefangen haben sie vor fast zehn Jahren mit einer Mischung aus Power- und Thrash Metal um sich nun mehr und mehr dem Death zuzuwenden.
Das neue Opus “Forbidden Art” kombiniert somit in der Tat traditionellen Heavy Metal (v.a. in den Soli) mit Thrash und 90‘er-Jahre-Death (in den Basisriffs). Das scheint zunächst unspektakulär. Doch weit gefehlt: Ricky Boon, der Leadguitarrist und Hauptsongwriter der Band, spielt dermaßen gute Licks, Hooks und Soli (zum Teil mehrere pro Track), dass die Augen tränen, und zwar vor Freude…
Im Opener “Profile unknown” begleitet Boons Gitarre den Refrain auf eine Weise, wie man das früher mal bei HEXX, FORBIDDEN oder TRAUMA gehört hat… Das Basisriff von “Inner Thread” strotzt von vorpreschendem Groove, die Soli sind erneut phantastisch. Überhaupt, was Ricky Boon abliefert, ob traditionell verspielte Schnörkel, tonnenschwere Thrash-Riffs oder schwedisch-nordische Melodiebögen, das alles hat Klasse. “Summoning To Eternal” wird von einem tollen melodisch-harten Refrain gekrönt und ist mein Fave der Scheibe, “Dark Bliss” tönt mir vom Gesang her zu SEPULTURA- oder EKTOMORF-lastig, wartet aber wieder mit einer aggressiven transparenten Gitarrenarbeit auf, die ihresgleichen sucht und auch von Genregrössen kaum zu toppen ist.
Hervorzuheben ist auch das tolle kristallinklare Instrumental “The Voyage“, in dem Ricky Boon die Tonleitern rauf und runter schwebt, ohne jedoch in technische Frickeleien a la Friedman/Becker abzudriften.
Alle Songs von FURY sind von einer aggressiv-anklagenden Stimmung durchzogen, was sich auch in den durchdachten Texten widerspiegelt, die nichts mit den üblichen Metzeleien am Hut haben, sondern sich mit Verlassenheit, Einsamkeit und Allmachtsphantasien auseinandersetzen: das Sezierbesteck auf dem Cover gibt es vor, es geht ans Eingemachte, den Blick ins Innere gerichtet. Eine grosse Rolle im Hinblick auf die außerordentliche Tiefe von Text und Musik könnte in diesem Zusammenhang auch die Tatsache spielen, dass Ricky Boon aufgrund einer schweren Augenerkrankung seit einigen Jahren erblindet ist und diese traurige Erfahrung in seine Musik einfließen lassen dürfte.
Wo Licht ist, muss naturgemäß auch Schatten sein: so klingen mir die Gesangslinien bisweilen zu hardcore-lastig, zu gleichförmig, sie können mit dem grandiosen Gitarrenspektakel nicht immer mithalten. Wenn, wie in dem besonders gut geratenen “Summoning Eternal”, der Gesang variabler gestaltet, d.h. mit Klarstimme und harrschem Gekeife angereichert wird, kommt das den kompakt aufgebauten Songs sehr zugute. Das hätten FURY ruhig öfter machen können, da dadurch das Songmaterial wesentlich eigenständiger wirken würde. Ein weiterer kleiner Kritikpunkt besteht wie so oft in den klackernden Drums, hier hätte ich mir mehr Transparenz in der Produktion gewünscht. Minuspunkte gibt es auch für eine vollkommen unleserliche Tracklist im Booklet sowie die Spieldauer von knapp 30 Minuten.
Letztendlich jedoch überwiegt jedoch das positive; das unglaublich inspirierte Gitarrenspiel Ricky Boons macht aus dem Gesamtwerk ein gutes Death-Thrash-Hardcore Brett, dass Puristen und Old-School-Maniacs durchaus antesten sollten.

Punkte: 7/10

Ondalternative (Italy)

Ottimo esordio per gli australiani The Harrowed che giungono al traguardo del primo full length direttamente con la tedesca Massacre Records grazie ad un disco che non tradisce la loro giovane età lasciando invece trapelare degli spunti riflessivi di notevole interesse. Il platter su cui si adagia una voce che ricorda oltremodo l’immenso Phil Anselmo sentito negli ultimi Pantera è costituito da un death thrash giocato prevalentemente a velocità fulminanti, frammezzato da breakdown ponderati sapientemente per far prendere fiato al momento giusto all’headbanger di turno.

La nota di colore che rende degna di menzione la proposta dei cinque aussie è costituita prevalentemente da aperture melodiche scandite da lead affilate su cui riescono a resistere alla tentazione di adagiarsi sul classico incedere di un cantato pulito swedish style preferendo invece mantenere la linearità di un feroce scream teso a inasprire momenti chestrizzano l’occhio a sonorità power. Nove brani tirati senza cali di tensione per poco più di trenta minuti di disco, in cui un violento e credibile death thrash si mescola senza perdere peso o attendibilità con aperture melodiche mai eccessivamente patinate, aggiungendo una nota di colore a una proposta musicale che cerca di formare una propria voce originale e fuori dal coro.

Un disco che mette in luce una band ancora grezza e sostanzialmente primitiva nella scelta di determinate soluzioni armoniche, i soli cromatici ne sono una manifestazione, e ritmiche,ma che lascia trapelare doti tecniche valide e un’apertura mentale indispensabile per produrre lavori di qualità. Un voto sulla fiducia, sperando in una futura conferma

Aggiunto: 06-10-2007
Recensore: Drugo
Voto: 3.5/5

Agony Zone (Sweden)

Australiens coolaste dödsmetallband heter Sadistik Exekution. Inte The Harrowed.

Lyrics are © 2001, 2007 The Harrowed and used by permission.

PROFILE UNKNOWN
Music: Boon
Lyrics: McLennan

Place me in a corner as black as all the deeds I've done
A need to feed on paranoia to create the scars I've worn
You seek to look inside my mind and trace the path I chose
I'm still safely hidden within the brittle ghost of old

CHORUS:
The one thing you'll never truly know is why
You'll never have the courage to really look inside
For within lies your greatest fears a reflection of your past
I am what you once were, before you donned this mask

Fighting the beast within by destroying the taint of others
You've taken your first step towards my domain's darkness
The further you look inside my mind the easier it is to stay
The more comfortable you become now you join the decay

CHORUS 2:
You've created an image of me in your head and now I'm here to stay
An apprentice of your own demise, revelling in your decay
Trapped within your darkest mind I struggle to escape
Mend a broken spirit I forge onwards with all my fucking hate

---

THE INNER THREAD
Music: Boon/McLennan
Lyrics: McLennan

Cradling indecision, I writhe awake at night
Craving definition, of the spectres in my life
I view all of you with contempt, without knowing why
The way you slide into nothingness defies a stable mind

CHORUS:
Evolve in thought or perish in mind
I resist the change you force upon me
The last of a proud and ancient race
What’s left of my past is but a dream
Evolve in thought or perish in mind
Desire – the inner thread that tears me apart
Stable mind within design
Awakened feelings I’ve longed to ignore

I’m falling through a spiral of placid razor thoughts
Longing for substance I cascade down tortured steps
Memories dragging across my mind spill doubts onto my flesh
An innocence spent and lost, I cling to what is left

Evolve in thought or perish in mind
I resist the change you force upon me
The last of a proud and ancient race
What’s left of my past is but a dream
Evolve in thought or perish in mind
Desire – the inner thread that tears me apart
Stable mind within design
Set me free

A hope of reliving better times though I know the moments lost
The lesson learnt long ago, at such a vicious cost
Striving to redefine myself and retain some purity
Never did I desire to cheat my destiny

Reaching out I find nothing
There’s a circle of fear around me
Ostracised through being true
I didn’t want this decision

---

SUMMONING THE ETERNAL
Music: Boon
Lyrics: McLennan

A tentative strike leads to an all-important juncture
The focal point where minds collide and drift away
View the sublime qualities of all who stand opposed
Then tear it all down to no avail

Systems are in place to close and contain
Sealing the world within from entropy
Crippled by the weight of expectation
I slowly strive to continue my craft

PRE-CHORUS:
By taking this path
Tension is my way
Powers that taint me
As I drink from the depths

CHORUS:
Fragments slide, slow and stutter, trying to grasp what I can’t perceive
Clutching at what is intangible, a fleeting instant, a broken oath
The shadow grows darker still; only pieces remain of the whole
Broken fragments are all I have to work with, bleeding inside my mind

Crawling through the crumbling chaos
Tranquillity is merely an illusion
Imprisoned by my own talents
I can no longer stop myself

From summoning the eternal

---

CHRYSALIS TORN
Music: Boon
Lyrics: McLennan

Synthesised, your way is ours and it’s a liquid vision of a crystalline world
Within a tube your world is formed, a chrysalis that shapes your thought
Spawned into being a scientists dream, a recipe for human torment
Why you were born you’ll never know, pity they forgot to remove the soul

CHORUS:
Caged in nothing but an empty void
To keep us safe from ourselves
An awakening truth they tried to ignore
The madness of those reborn

Engineered as a tool of conformity, instinctively knowing when to bow
Your father, the master, the mentor, all synthetic proteins without a choice
An automaton with a hidden past, soon to rise and take the day
A creature whose soul survives, Father, Master, Mentor, Slave

The weak will always serve the strong, as we breed our armies of death
You tried to play creator and got it wrong, when we are finished there will be nothing left
In your haste towards perfection it became impossible for us to be killed
Irony is the law of reality for the strong will always rule

---

DARK BLISS
Music: Boon
Lyrics: McLennan

A turmoil of emotion rages within all voyages on the fair road travelled
Alone in the wilderness I wonder why I've collected nothing but regrets
Discarding all hopes of peers I've stumbled my own way
In bitterness I find my strength the resentment of my past

CHORUS:
There's comfort within betrayal
The lashing winds of judgment scrape
All innocence from my skin
Strike another chord of dissent
That's all that it will take
There's majesty within this dark bliss

Elsewhere within a mystic’s dreams is the man I wish I was
The one that took the chances offered despite what could be lost
In a way he is my enemy as he's achieved all that I've dreamt
If only I could reach the heights of the me you've never met

---

ANOTHER SCAR
Music: Boon
Lyrics: McLennan

Crawling towards the leper I ask him for forgiveness for I am the source of all decay
Life within me a shattered wasteland I now despise myself in every way
The supreme achievement of the blackest science I stand as a tribute to all who have past
What would they think if the truth was revealed if they got to see behind the mask

CHORUS:
I return to my realm, my sanctuary,
Where I reign with fear
My home a temple within my mind
Always to be alone
I return to my realm, my sanctuary,
Creating threads of decay
Darkness growing closer still,
Hiding behind my eyes

A temple I adorn to suit my needs, who knows what each day will bring?
A challenge is all I seek, but be warned I play by my own rules
A temple I have desecrated another scar is what I choose
To suit the twisted mind inside, try and you'll see I don't play to lose

Today I go back to my domain

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THE VOYAGE
Music: McLennan

(Instrumental)

---

WISDOM FROM THE FLESH OF THE FALLEN
Music: Boon
Lyrics: McLennan

Rending flesh, waste, and carnage
Dissolving the weaknesses within me
Gaining wisdom through ritual slaughter
Only the brave go forth
Existing on a demon whim
Aspects of my victim
Taking life to fuel my soul
Within dreams of tortured flesh

CHORUS:
Striving to writhe among a myriad of lies
Bow to the judgements of my ancestors
Consuming the strength of all my foes
Wisdom from the flesh of the fallen

A pyramid of dreams lost in fire
The way of prevailing destiny
Floating void of conscious thought
Lead my darkness back to me
Whispering skies forging fires
Drawn within from without
Consume or perish fast
Into the world of the absolute

---

TORPOR (Bonus Track)
Music: Boon / McLennan
Lyrics: Boon / McLennan

A silent scream in a timeless void
Thousands of minds that live as one
Symbiotic life in a torpid state
Trapped in a dying sun

Torpor
Torpor

Awaiting it’s time, it draws so near
Thousands of hearts begin to beat
Long dead thoughts begin to stir
Face to face they will soon meet

The emerging of the end is now beginning
Decaying wasteland that’s left of the old
Thousands of minds join from within
Stagnation diminishes now the rebirth unfolds

Awakening of a destiny
Another life begins as one
The shattering of normality
Future reality still to come