About this time, Paul Curtis was becoming fed up with life in London, and decided to retire from music altogether. Lionel and Tony decided to bring childhood friend, Pete Southern, to fill the vacant. Also, while the band was in the songwriting process, "Pony Canyon" heard the direction they were heading and pressured the band to replace Ritchie with a more dynamic vocalist. This was a huge blow to the band, but after much discussion and soul searching, they agreed to look around. Tony agreed to continue as the main songwriter, while the band held auditions for over 50 singers. However, they couldn't find a suitable replacement.
At that time, Ivan was working some deals with Lance King in the USA, so he asked him if he knew about a suitable singer. Lance told him of a few candidates, and also offered himself to fill the role. Ivan was inmediately interested in King, and after hearing some demos, he was in. With King on board, the band released their second album, Book of Secrets, in 1998. The album was a huge success all over Europe and Japan, receiving rave reviews even from Bruce Dickinson himself.
After the success of their second album, the band returned to the studio to work on the next follow-up: Ten More Tales of Grand Illusion. At this time, founder and keyboardist Ivan Gunn was so busy working with his label, Anthem, that the band decided that he wouldn't be in the band anymore to work in his record company.
The band managed to strike successful deals with labels to distribute their albums in Europe and North America. While they were touring to promote their third album, Chris Dale left the band, and was replaced with perennial songwriter and former vocalist Tony Ritchie. The tour was deemed the most successful metal tour in Germany in recent years.
The band worked quickly with their fourth album and released Perfect Balance in 2001. With this album, the band started their first tour in the USA, opening for bands like Kamelot and Symphony X. During this time, the band started having some disagreements with Lance King, so in 2003, it was decided for everyone's best interest for them to part company. The band had already begun working in the follow-up to Perfect Balance, so they started looking for a new lead vocalist.
When time came for the band to audition new singers, the band had heard that John K (current singer of Biomechanical) was available. When John shared his ideas and the band listened to him, it was decided he was the perfect candidate. Heathen Machine was released in 2003, and turned out to be Balance of Power's best selling album to date. The band toured aggressively to support the album all over UK. Shortly after this, John K decided to leave the band and dedicate full-time to Biomechanical. This was an amicable decision, so the band kept on working in their next projects.
In 2005, the band released their first compilation of hits titled Heathenology. This package includes a DVD with live footage of the band, plus a collection of hits from their previous albums.
On July 20, the band announced that their new vocalist would be Corey Brown (from Magnitude 9, Section 16, and Psyco Drama). He has already performed several shows with the band, and they're all working together for the band's sixth album, to be released next year.
The Rising
Balance Of Power Lyrics
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Light turns to darkness hope to despair
The machine is rising the machine is rising
For me the light was so real a scar so hard to heal
Deception graced from blazing heavens eternal sin
Time stands forever unending dreams
Never Know the endning this is my fractured life
Heathen machine...
The lyrics of Balance of Power's song "The Rising" convey a sense of despair and hopelessness as the machine seems to be taking over, leaving behind darkness and deception. The first two lines of the chorus "The machine is rising the machine is rising" set the tone for the rest of the song, implying that something insidious is taking control. The singer's internal conflict is evident as he reflects on the light and hope that once existed, but now seems like a distant memory. The scar of the past is difficult to deal with and the deception has come from "blazing heavens," implying that even faith has been betrayed.
The verses of the song continue to portray the struggle of the singer as time seems to stand still and the dreams remain unfulfilled. The end is unknown and the future seems bleak as he confronts his "fractured life." The last line of the chorus "The machine is rising from within" indicates that the machine is not a physical entity but is something internal, symbolic of the singer's internal conflict and the struggle to maintain his own identity in a world dominated by the machine.
Overall, "The Rising" is a powerful reflection of the struggle between hope and despair, faith and deception, and identity and conformity. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of the future, but the singer's internal struggle suggests that there is still hope for defiance against the rising machine.
Line by Line Meaning
Light turns to darkness hope to despair
The once hopeful future has turned bleak and grim.
The machine is rising the machine is rising
An ominous presence is gaining strength, potentially becoming unstoppable.
For me the light was so real a scar so hard to heal
The singer had a deeply positive experience that has since been marred by a traumatic event.
Deception graced from blazing heavens eternal sin
A false sense of security was seemingly given from a higher power, leading to an endless cycle of wrongdoing.
Time stands forever unending dreams
The flow of time seems to be suspended, leaving the singer trapped within their own mind and aspirations.
Never Know the endning this is my fractured life
The uncertain future makes it difficult to plan for or imagine a fulfilling life.
The machine is rising the machine is rising from within
The ominous presence is not an external threat, but rather something growing and developing inside the singer themselves.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Randy C. Alpert, Andy W. Armer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind