Beyond Dawn was a Norwegian band composed of Espen Ingierd, Petter Haavik, … Read Full Bio ↴Beyond Dawn was a Norwegian band composed of Espen Ingierd, Petter Haavik, Tore Gjedrem, and Einar Sjursø. Initially playing an unorthodox style of avant-garde doom metal, their sound gradually evolved through stages of experimental pop, gothic folk, psychedelic, and ultimately airy electropop. They are described on their official website as "Norway's Best & Least Selling Act", which most likely insinuates Beyond Dawn's distinct artistic integrity being connected with their relative lack of commercial success.

After two demo tapes in 1990 and 1991, the band were picked up by French label Adipocere Records, which made possible the band's first two commercial releases, 1993's Up Through the Linear Shades 7" and 1994's Longing For Scarlet Days EP. In 1995, Beyond Dawn released their critically acclaimed full length debut Pity Love on Candlelight Records. Soon after, the band began work on an album intended to be a departure from the doom metal music they were becoming known for, but their record label was less than pleased with the band's drastic change in sound and they were soon in search of a new label. They eventually signed with Misanthropy Records and released Revelry in 1998 to more critical praise. Beyond Dawn eventually resumed work on the would-be 1996 album and, after adding additional material and overdubs, released In Reverie in 1999 on Eibon Records, which would also be reissued in 2005 with two bonus tracks included. During the latter half of 1999, they released Electric Sulking Machine on the Peaceville label, which soon became a favorite amongst fans and remains sought after due to its limited pressing.

Due in part to the limited commercial success of Frysh, the band went on hiatus in 2003 to focus on other projects. Some time later, several tracks from Frysh were remixed by various electronic and EBM artists and released in the form of the double LP We're Down With Species of Any Kind in 2005. The band remains on an indefinite hiatus.

Strange Relief
Beyond Dawn Lyrics

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Here I can smell the rain
And the city underneath 4 a.m.
It makes no difference to me
It's all below my feet
If desire was a reasonable friend
I would be imaging this
But Saturday has left a vacuum up here
I'm just glad I left

I tried to adjust to it
The violence had me erected but none the less cold
Walking up the stairway eleven floors into the apartment
And well inside another world

However deep your empathy goes
It's hard to get carried away
By drunken confessions

I feel a strange relief knowing
I have ruined everything

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Beyond Dawn's song "Strange Relief" are filled with a sense of detachment and distance from the world below. The singer describes the rain and the city sounds but makes it clear that they are not affected by them. They are above it all, isolated and removed. The sentiment is continued in the next stanza as the singer describes their cold heart and difficulty connecting with others. The violence they refer to may be either physical violence or emotional violence in their relationships.

The third and final stanza reveals the true source of the singer's relief: they have ruined everything. This could be interpreted in a few ways. Perhaps the singer has caused destruction in friendships, romantic relationships, or family bonds. Or, it could be a commentary on societal norms and expectations. The singer is relieved to have rejected or failed to meet the expectations placed upon them by society. They are free to be disconnected and detached from the world without fear of judgement.

Overall, the lyrics of "Strange Relief" portray a feeling of disconnection and isolation from the world below, which leads to a sense of relief in relinquishing societal expectations and turning away from relationships that have proven violent or unfulfilling.

Line by Line Meaning

Here I can smell the rain
The singer can smell the rain at their present location

And the city underneath 4 a.m.
The singer can hear the sounds of the city at 4 a.m.

It makes no difference to me
The time of day does not affect the singer

It's all below my feet
The artist is elevated above the rest of the city

If desire was a reasonable friend
If the artist's desires were practical and attainable

I would be imagining this
The singer is enjoying their current experience

But Saturday has left a vacuum up here
The singer feels vacant or empty after their experience on Saturday

I'm just glad I left
The artist is glad that they left their situation on Saturday

I tried to adjust to it
The artist attempted to adapt to their situation

The violence had me erected but none the less cold
The artist was alert and tense in the midst of violence, but still felt detached

Walking up the stairway eleven floors into the apartment
The singer recounts their ascent up a tall building

And well inside another world
Upon entering their destination, the artist felt a significant change

However deep your empathy goes
Despite how much one may empathize with the singer's situation

It's hard to get carried away
It's difficult for the listener to truly understand the singer's experience

By drunken confessions
Despite the singer being intoxicated when they express themselves

I feel a strange relief knowing
The artist experiences a unique feeling of comfort

I have ruined everything
The artist acknowledges that their actions have led to negative consequences

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EINAR SJURSO, ESPEN INGIERD, PETTER HAAVIK, TORE GJEDREM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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