Benedictum is a US female-fronted heavy metal band which released its 1st a… Read Full Bio ↴Benedictum is a US female-fronted heavy metal band which released its 1st album in 2006.

Following in the footsteps of such legendary bands as Warrior, Rough Cutt and Psychotic Waltz, BENEDICTUM are San Diego, California’s latest and mightiest ambassadors to the world of heavy metal.

Conjuring the power and mystique of early Rainbow and classic Savatage yet forging a sound that is uniquely their own, BENEDICTUM’s stylish, epic brand of metal delivers on all fronts: Awesome riffing, fierce rhythms, strong melodies, shredding leads and delicate textures converge at the crossroads of tradition and 21st century innovation topped off by what is truly one of the most extraordinary voices in metal, courtesy of Veronica Freeman, whose pipes have to be heard to be believed.

BENEDICTUM came to the attention of Dio guitarist Craig Goldy who was impressed enough with what he heard that he turned the group on to long-time friend and former band mate, Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken, Dio). Equally blown away by the bands raw talent and untapped potential, Pilson took on the role of producer and recorded BENEDICTUM at his Los Angeles area studio, with ZuZu Recording production partner, former Warlock bassist Tommy Henriksen, sharing mixing duties.

The result of this collaboration was the incredible debut CD “UNCREATION”. Selected by Classic Rock magazine UK as one of the top bands to watch in 2006 and now selected by Rock Hard Germany and Classic Rock UK as one of the top 50 albums of 2006, BENEDICTUM are laying it down in a big way! After coming off of a successful tour with the legendary Doro Pesch, BENEDICTUM followed up with "Seasons Of Tragedy" produced by Jeff Pilson.

Prior to commencing work on their third album, Dominion, the band underwent significant lineup changes with only core members Veronica Freeman and Pete Wells remaining. Benedictum would also leave their original record company, Locomotive Music, and sign a new deal with Frontiers Records.Due to Jeff Pilson's commitments with Foreigner, main producing duties for the new album were handled by Grammy Award winning engineer/producer, Ryan Greene, whose credits include Megadeth and NOFX. Pilson and Craig Goldy would make guest appearances on the album as did legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo on the song "Bang". Continuing the tradition of covering at least one cover track on each album, the band cut "Overture" / "The Temples of Syrinx" / "Grand Finale" off of 2112 by Rush, which is featured as a bonus track.

New members Rikard Stjernquist (ex-Jag Panzer) on drums and Aric Avina on bass were recruited in 2012 to record their latest album Obey, released in November 2013.

Performers:

Veronica Freeman – vocals
Pete Wells – guitar
Aric Avina – bass
Rikard Stjernquist – drums

Studio albums

Uncreation (2006)
Seasons of Tragedy (2008)
Dominion (2011)
Obey (2013)

Shell Shock
Benedictum Lyrics

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Now my back's against the wall
I've had all I can take
My emotions deep inside like a dam will break
I need to breathe, someone to watch over me
Life is on the line and no time

I'm living the war, not like you
Rolling thunder passing through

I need a way to conquer the pain
Cause I've heard the bombs and I've felt the heat of the flame

Shell shock
We fight we die,
Shell shock
We don't ask why
Shell shock
We fight we die
Shell shock
Be it truth or lie

No one seems to understand allt hat we go through
But the enemy is marching forward
Survival's what I do
And I need to breathe
Someone to watch over me
Life is on the line that life is mine
I'm living the war not like you
Rolling thunder passing through
Will you help me conquer the pain
Cause I've heard the bombs
And I've felt the heat of the flame

Shell shock
We fight we die
Shell shock
We don't ask why
Shell shock
We fight we die
Shell shock
Be it truth or lie!

They say it's wrong, they say it's right
I am just fighting the fight
Try not to die everyday
But I know what I'm fighting for

This mighty nation sent me here
My duty to obey
When I come home after war
What will this nation say
You need to keep the promises you made to me
Honor on the line all the time

I'm living the war, not like you
Rolling thunder passing through
Will you help me conquer the pain
Cause I've heard the bombs
And I've felt the heat of the flame

Shell shock
We fight we die
Shell shock
We don't ask why
Shell shock
We fight we die

Shell shock
Be it truth or lie!

Overall Meaning

The song "Shell Shock" by Benedictum is a powerful tribute to those who have fought in wars, particularly those who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The song's lyrics are deeply emotional, expressing the struggles of soldiers who have had to endure the horrors of war. The chorus captures the essence of the song, repeating the phrase "Shell Shock" multiple times. The phrase "shell shock" is often used to describe the effects of PTSD, a mental health condition that affects some individuals who have experienced trauma, particularly those who have been in combat situations.

The first verse of the song begins with the line "Now my back's against the wall," which creates a sense of desperation and urgency. The lyrics continue with the singer expressing that they have had all they can take and that their emotions are threatening to break free. The second verse mentions that no one seems to understand what soldiers go through in war, which is a common sentiment among veterans with PTSD. The song concludes with a plea for understanding and recognition of the sacrifices that soldiers make when they go to war.

Line by Line Meaning

Now my back's against the wall
I'm facing a very critical and difficult situation.

I've had all I can take
I can no longer tolerate this situation, it's too overwhelming.

My emotions deep inside like a dam will break
I'm suppressing my emotions, but I know that if I don't let them out, I'll break down.

I need to breathe, someone to watch over me
I need to take a moment to collect myself and I need someone's support and protection.

Life is on the line and no time
My life is at risk and I don't have much time left.

I'm living the war, not like you
I'm experiencing the horrors of war firsthand, unlike those who are not in it.

Rolling thunder passing through
The sound of gunfire and bombs exploding is constant and overwhelming.

I need a way to conquer the pain
I need a solution to overcome the agony and trauma I'm experiencing.

Cause I've heard the bombs and I've felt the heat of the flame
I have been directly exposed to the devastating effects of war.

Shell shock
I'm suffering from Shell Shock (PTSD), a condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event or events.

We fight we die,
As soldiers, we fight and risk our lives every day.

We don't ask why
We don't question the reason for fighting, we simply do our duty.

Be it truth or lie!
Regardless if the conflict is just or unjust, we will face the consequence and suffer our wound.

No one seems to understand allt hat we go through
It's difficult for outsiders to comprehend the experiences that soldiers face in combat.

But the enemy is marching forward
The enemy is relentlessly approaching, and we must keep fighting.

Survival's what I do
My main priority is to survive and protect my fellow soldiers.

They say it's wrong, they say it's right
The morality of war is a very controversial issue, and people have differing opinions on it.

I am just fighting the fight
As a soldier, my role is to fight for my country and its values.

Try not to die everyday
I'm doing everything I can to stay alive on a daily basis.

But I know what I'm fighting for
I understand the purpose of this war and I believe in its cause.

This mighty nation sent me here
I'm a representative of my nation, and it's my duty to fight for it.

My duty to obey
I have a responsibility to obey orders from my superiors.

When I come home after war
When the war ends and I return home...

What will this nation say
What will the country think of my service and sacrifice?

You need to keep the promises you made to me
I expect the nation to keep its promises to take care of me and my fellow soldiers who are injured or emotionally damaged after this war.

Honor on the line all the time
My actions as a soldier reflect on the honor and reputation of my country and its military.

Contributed by Mackenzie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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