They made one album, but Edling had already started working on a second album with a different line-up. However, due to the commercial failure of Abstrakt Algebra, Edling reformed Candlemass while taking with him some of the ideas for that second album, as well as drummer Jejo Perkovic. There, materialised on the Dactylis Glomerata album. And as such Abstrakt Algebra was over.
Mats Levén later appeared as the singer of the band Krux, another band by Edling, which has a similar take on the experimentation Edling started with Abstakt Algebra
Shadow Play
Abstrakt Algebra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The jester’s sardonic parade
Mannequin puppet your limping waltz
On my bedroom wall
Keep pretending, keep performing
The dreamer must stay awake
Shapeless riddles told by pompous rogues
Pantomime preachers present
Empty eyes staring, sunken eyes glaring
Drowned in a moment of truth
Hourglass ticking, a childs fingerlicking
Jigsaw puzzles and clay
Silhouettoes and gepettoes circling the face of my world
You point your finger, I break each and one
A handfull of reasons are gone
‘Cause you’re nothing
But a shadowplay
I am all
No longer astray
And I’m sick n’ tired of you
So get out my house
So get out my life
So get out of my head
So get out of the way
Taciturned teasers with tattooed tears
A play of shadows they give
A blindfolded sejour from Shakespeare to Marx
Directions vague and obscene
Comedies and tragedies
Spastic laughter I sense
A room, a scene, a private playground
The front-row ticket I’ve got
‘Cause you’re nothing
But a shadowplay
I am all
No longer astray
And I’m sick n’ tired of you
‘Cause you’re nothing, nothing
But a shadowplay
I am all
No longer astray
The song "Shadow Play" by Abstrakt Algebra is a complex and layered exploration of the human experience of feeling trapped and manipulated by outside forces. The lyrics convey a sense of being surrounded by dancing, shapeless figures of smoke and light, which could represent both the distractions and the illusions of everyday life. The jester's sardonic parade and the pantomime preachers are symbols of those who seek to deceive and control others through their words and actions.
The dreamer in the song is struggling to stay awake and see the truth in the midst of these illusions. The images of empty and sunken eyes, hourglasses, and jigsaw puzzles speak to the idea that time is running out and the pieces of the puzzle are not fitting together as they should. The silhouette of Gepetto, the puppet-maker from Pinocchio, is yet another symbol of how we can be manipulated by those around us.
Despite all of this, the singer declares that they are no longer astray and that they are sick and tired of the shadow play. They are reclaiming their power and declaring their independence from those who try to control and deceive them. Ultimately, the song is a powerful statement about the importance of self-determination and staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Dancing figures of smoke and light
Abstract and unclear images of movement and illumination
The jester’s sardonic parade
A group of foolish performers, mocking and sarcastic in nature
Mannequin puppet your limping waltz
A lifeless figure, controlled and clumsy in its movements
On my bedroom wall
Visually present only in the confines of the artist's personal space
Keep pretending, keep performing
Continue to feign and put on a show
The dreamer must stay awake
Despite yearning for a state of pretense, one must remain aware
Shapeless riddles told by pompous rogues
Confusing and nonsensical messages conveyed by arrogant and deceitful individuals
Pantomime preachers present
Preachers delivering their message in a manner that comes across as insincere and theatrical
Empty eyes staring, sunken eyes glaring
Lifeless and hopeless gazes, paired with malevolence and hatred
Drowned in a moment of truth
Overwhelmed by the realization of reality
Hourglass ticking, a childs fingerlicking
The passing of time, and the childish simplicity in understanding it
Jigsaw puzzles and clay
Toys and activities that require manipulation and reconstruction, but ultimately provide a sense of satisfaction
Silhouettoes and gepettoes circling the face of my world
Shadows and puppet masters, revolving around the singer's perspective on reality
You point your finger, I break each and one
Attempts to blame or accuse are met with defiance and strength
A handfull of reasons are gone
Justifications for actions are no longer present
‘Cause you’re nothing
The object of the artist's disdain holds no value
But a shadowplay
A mere illusion or game of shadows
I am all
The singer holds complete control over their thoughts and reality
No longer astray
No longer lost or confused
And I’m sick n’ tired of you
The artist has grown weary and fed up with the object of their frustration
So get out my house
Leave the physical space occupied by the artist
So get out my life
Disappear from the artist's existence
So get out of my head
Cease to occupy the singer's thoughts
So get out of the way
No longer obstruct the artist's path
Taciturned teasers with tattooed tears
Mysterious and emotionally distant individuals, with visible signs of sadness
A play of shadows they give
They contribute to the illusion of reality
A blindfolded sejour from Shakespeare to Marx
A journey through various belief systems and ideologies, without clarity or direction
Directions vague and obscene
Instructions or guidance that is unclear or inappropriate
Comedies and tragedies
Events and scenarios that straddle the line between humor and tragedy
Spastic laughter I sense
Uncontrollable and chaotic outbursts of mirth
A room, a scene, a private playground
An exclusive and personal environment for the singer to operate in
The front-row ticket I’ve got
The artist holds a position of prominence and influence in their own reality
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LEIF EDLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Light
awesome track. i wish it could be found on spotify.
lunarmist428
great band,,,great album,,,everythings great,,,damn epic
DAN BATALHA
VERY VERY GOOD !!!
Rodolfo O. Cárcamo.
Chakal! Pedazo de voz Mats Leven wn!
Rodolfo O. Cárcamo.
Así es compadre y del sure...Fucking Cheers qlo, Bottom's up!
Javier Toro
wena shchtmre, yo soy del norte y ke zaen
EnragedSephiroth
Rodolfo Obreque El mero Mats de ex Therion, chingonón!
Sorin Nicolae Dananae
So Awesome!
Methodius
Haha when I saw the title 'Shadowplay' I was expecting it to be a Joy Division cover 😅 Honestly, a Candlemass cover of that track would be badass.
Suicidal Grooves
Cool song!!!