The band's journey began in January 2000 when guitarists Johan Blomström and Tobias Olsson, along with original vocalist Niklas Svensson, formed the group under the moniker "Stigmata." Two demos, "Painreceiver" and "Tribute to Chaos," were released by 2002, with the latter catching the attention of Italy-based Scarlet Records. As a result of this new record deal, the band officially adopted the name Blinded Colony. In 2003, they self-produced their full-length debut album, "Divine," released on Scarlet Records with additional distribution in Japan through Soundholic Records. The band later amicably parted ways with Scarlet Records, marking the introduction of new vocalist Johan Schuster.
Blinded Colony took charge of their musical destiny, opting to record their second full-length album, "Bedtime Prayers," independently in 2006 at their home studio, SoundPalace. This decision aimed to preserve the band's organic sound while sidestepping external influences. The album featured tracks like "In Here," "Need," "Aaron’s Sons," "Bedtime Prayers," as well as the singles "Heart" and "Once Bitten, Twice Shy." Their promotional efforts included using online platforms such as Myspace, Helgon, and Garageband. The band collaborated with director Thomas Tjäder (In Flames) for music videos, planning to captivate audiences not only sonically but also visually.
Blinded Colony's commitment to their unique sound and refusal to succumb to Swedish metal clichés set them apart. Their determination led them to share stages with international acts like Hammerfall, Dark Tranquillity, Evergrey, and Mercenary. With their Pivotal Rockordings worldwide debut slated for January 12th in Europe and January 9th, worldwide, Blinded Colony embarked on a European tour in early 2007, poised to make a significant impact on the global metal scene.
The band wrapped up the 'Outcasts Over Europe' tour, supporting Ektomorf and former Scarlet Records label-mates Kayser, again, in 2007. They have also shared stages with notable acts like Sonic Syndicate and Dark Tranquillity.
In 2010, Blinded Colony changed their name to The Blinded and began a new discography.
My Halo
Blinded Colony Lyrics
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I've scrubbed myself 'til bleed
I cannot make the tiniest mistake, 'cos you'll stab me
You turn lambs to murderers
What? Who shut the light?
My halo used to shine all bright! But now...
I've dug out myself in search of worms way deep inside
Clean, I can never be
Perfection
I hunt but will never catch
Hypochondria, I make a monster of myself because of forbidden fruit
What? Who shut the light?
My halo used to shine all bright! But now...
I've dug out myself in search of worms way deep inside
What now?
My halo used to shine
all bright, but now it seems that it's lost its luster. The singer is addressing someone who they believe is going to die soon, and they are obsessively trying to make sure that they don't make any mistakes that could lead to harm. The line "You turn lambs to murderers" implies that the person they are addressing has the power to corrupt the innocent--that they are dangerous.
The singer seems to feel a tremendous amount of pressure to be perfect--"I cannot make the tiniest mistake", "Clean, I can never be, perfection". They also seem to struggle with some kind of anxiety disorder--"Hypochondria, I make a monster of myself because of forbidden fruit". The line "What now?" suggests that they are at a loss for what to do next--perhaps they have exhausted all their resources in trying to be perfect and now they are left with nothing.
The repeated line "My halo used to shine all bright!" adds an extra layer of meaning to the song--perhaps the singer used to be someone who was admired and respected, but now they feel like they have lost all of that. They have "dug out" parts of themselves in search of "worms way deep inside"--maybe they feel like they have to go through this painful process of self-examination in order to find some kind of redemption.
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.