After some early line up chan...ges, the band featuring Matt Racovalis (drums), Mark Palfreyman (bass/vocals), Mark Evans (guitar) and Scott Young (guitar) released their first full length album “Fluid Motion” in 1999, to great critical acclaim and thus the first step was made towards cementing themselves as one of Australia’s premier metal acts.
But it was 2004’s Eventuality release through Willowtip Records (USA) and Willowtip/Earache (Europe) that really began to garner attention from an international audience. As well as this, the album saw Alarum awarded with Best Australian Band, Best Australian Album, Best Australian Bassist and Best Australian Drummer at the 2005 Kerrang Australian Heavy Metal Awards
Their endeavours to bring their musical experience to a live audience have seen them share the stage internationally with some of the worlds finest in their field including the likes of Testament, Cynic, Zero Hour, Death Angel, Obituary, Dark Tranquillity, Lamb Of God, Cattle Decapitation, Arsis, Neuraxis, Gojira, Aghora, Anata, Psycroptic, Alchemist, Mortal Sin, Odious Mortem, Tangaroa and Job For A Cowboy. A particular highlight being travelling alongside Necrophagist on their USA “Carving North America’s Epitaph 2006” tour, which as well as playing at The New England Hardcore & Metal Festival, California Metalfest & Maryland Deathfest, this also saw Alarum being joined on stage in Florida by Atheist front man Kelly Shaefer where they performed “Piece of Time”.
Such a great reception was only to be met by a great many hurdles upon returning. Upon commencing writing for their follow up 3rd album, drummer Matt Racovalis and guitarist Scott Young parted ways with the band on amicable terms. This saw the band bring in the young up and coming drummer Rob Brens, and the band pushed forward on writing the 3rd album as a trio.
In 2008 Ryan Williams joined as live guitarist enabling to band to perform shows around Australia while Palfreyman, Evans and Brens continued the recording process.
Alarum's third album ‘Natural Causes’ was recorded with Theron Rennison at Rennisound Studios, Melbourne and is set for release Oct 18th, 2011. As well as a new album, the band also have a new lineup. With Mark Evans recently leaving the band, Ryan Williams has been instated as a full time member and Alarum have the pleasure of introducing guitarist John Sanders (Flatstick) aka Doug Steele.
The band is currently in rehearsal preparing to tour extensively to promote the new album and lineup.
Realization
Alarum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Present timing, decide
Between myselves, enclosed
You see, but not show like me
Or know what to hide
Within my walls I will accept
my waterfalls, understand
Washing me over like the ocean's tide
That place we visit in our minds
Inside this realm of imagination
Time split, coke is it
My anger ten times taller than your head
Rush to find pain here when you interfere
I knew that you could only be true
Manipulated by who?
Influence is obvious
Window of the soul
Where contact is made
We don't know or see
Until we realize
[solo - Evans]
The pilot of a mystery, surviving
The shoreline a sheath for crashing waves
Instinctive they will grasp
As they try to breathe
And become empty shells again
Washing me over like the ocean's tide
Walking through the gardens of our Earth
That place we visit in our minds
Inside this realm of imagination
Window of the soul
Where contact is made
We don't know or see
Until we realize
[solo - Young]
Reach in to find out in spirit, in being
A matter of love, a matter of change
The glass of the maker fastened by sand...
The lyrics of Alarum's song "Realization" speak of self-discovery, inner conflicts, and the struggle to find one's place and purpose in the world. The song begins with the singer acknowledging past regrets but emphasizes the importance of making the right choices in the present. The mention of being "between myselves" suggests a struggle with multiple identities or aspects of oneself that may not always be in harmony. The line "you see, but not show like me" implies that the singer feels misunderstood or unable to fully express themselves.
The song then explores the power of imagination and the different dimensions of reality that can be accessed through it. The reference to "time split" could mean the ability to manipulate time or experience reality in a non-linear way. The mention of "coke" is intriguing as it could refer to either the drug or to the drink, but in either case, it suggests an altered state of consciousness. The singer's anger is also mentioned, and their sense of superiority towards others is reflected in the line "my anger ten times taller than your head."
The lyrics then turn to the themes of manipulation and influence, questioning who or what is responsible for shaping our thoughts and behaviors. The "window of the soul" is described as the place where contact is made, perhaps referring to our interactions with others or with the deeper parts of ourselves. The song ends with the idea that true realization can only come from within, and that love and change are essential for growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes open, past regret
I am awake and aware of past mistakes and missed opportunities that I regret.
Present timing, decide
In the present moment, I must make a decision.
Between myselves, enclosed
I feel trapped in my own thoughts and conflicted about my own identity.
You see, but not show like me
Others may observe me, but they don't truly know what I'm going through or how I present myself.
Or know what to hide
I am unsure what parts of myself to keep hidden or reveal to others.
Within my walls I will accept
I must come to terms with my inner self and accept who I am.
my waterfalls, understand
I must understand and process my emotions, which can be overwhelming like a waterfall.
Washing me over like the ocean's tide
My emotions are like waves that come and go, and they can be as powerful as the ocean's tide.
Walking through the gardens of our Earth
Life is a journey that takes us through various experiences and settings, much like walking through a garden.
That place we visit in our minds
Our imagination can transport us to different places and states of being.
Inside this realm of imagination
Our imagination is a powerful tool that can create endless possibilities and alternate realities.
Time split, coke is it
Time is fragmented and feels like it is moving too fast, and maybe drugs are being used to cope with this feeling.
My anger ten times taller than your head
My anger is consuming and overwhelming.
Rush to find pain here when you interfere
When others interfere, it often leads to pain and distress.
I knew that you could only be true
Despite the difficulties we may face, I have hope that the people around me are honest and genuine.
Manipulated by who?
I question who or what may be controlling or manipulating the people around me and their actions.
Influence is obvious
The influence of external forces on our lives is clear and observable.
Window of the soul
Our eyes can show our innermost thoughts and feelings, or be a gateway to our soul.
Where contact is made
We make connections and communicate with others through eye contact.
We don't know or see
Sometimes we are blind or ignorant to the influence that others have on our lives until we are aware of it.
Until we realize
Only when we become conscious of certain realities can we begin to understand and navigate them.
The pilot of a mystery, surviving
We are all navigating through the unknown and trying to survive.
The shoreline a sheath for crashing waves
The shore can be a protection from the powerful and turbulent waves of the ocean.
Instinctive they will grasp
Our instincts compel us to hold on and cling to life, even when faced with immense adversity or challenge.
As they try to breathe
In the midst of struggle, we still need to take the time to breathe and find our center.
And become empty shells again
Despite our efforts, we may feel hollow or empty at times, as if we have lost a part of ourselves along the way.
Reach in to find out in spirit, in being
To truly understand ourselves, we must look inward and explore our own spirits and being.
A matter of love, a matter of change
Our personal growth and transformation often involve love, both for ourselves and others, and necessitate change.
The glass of the maker fastened by sand...
Our lives may feel like a delicate and fragile creation, held together by external forces and circumstance.
Contributed by Isaac N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.