When Onward finally disbanded in the summer of 2003, Grant and Delucie decided to convert their project into a full band. They completed the line-up with drummer Craig Anderson (ex-Ignite/Engine) and bassist Melanie Sisneros (ex-New Eden/The Iron Maidens/Sinergy), two veterans of the Los Angeles music scene.
Together, this foursome strives to bring forth energy-driven traditional/power metal to the United States. Crescent Shield brings forth high-energy guitar riffing/solos combined with melodic vocals and a solid metal backbone.
www.crescentshield.com
The Great Devoid
Crescent Shield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Such faith is respected for I also once did believe... but no more
Scream you'll hear no answers
Incantations give no cause
Pray to only nothing
No one will hear your asking thoughts
You futilely share
For ten thousand years there was something
Man felt so divine... invented
Slaves will build the temples
The priests will find a rule
Kneel in front of something
Created to fill the great void
That's always been there
What causes my living, dieing
How does my mind feel laughing, crying
I do not know the answers of questions to deep
Why must we find the answers that we'll never see
[Solo]
Look into space and it's pure blackness that you will find... not darkness
Look at the sky and you'll know it's the sun that makes light... not angels
Earth's core is made of fire
The clouds look heavenly
Hell is not below us
No one will find eternity
When our time is here
I must keep learning, feeling
Nothing will stop my yearning, loving
I understand the need to explain the unknown
I can feel the truth inside that brings me to this great divide
I will believe if science will provide the proof
Logic is all I deploy while resting in the great devoid
Holy wars we will fight
Who is watching?
Baptize, repent your penance
To their god untold
[Solo]
I must keep finding, seeking
Nothing will stop my final ending
I only feel the power from my inner mind
I now know the truth I'll hide that keeps you on the other side
Always believe, I'll never try to poison you
Logic is all I deploy while resting in the great devoid
The great devoid...
The song "The Great Devoid" by Crescent Shield is a philosophical inquiry into the human need to believe in something greater than oneself. The opening lines of the song suggest that people have blind faith in something that cannot be seen, but which they believe in all the same. The persona acknowledges that he too was once a believer, but no longer believes in blind faith. The chorus brings forth the idea that no matter how much the masses pray or invoke, they will receive no answers. The futile attempts of humans to seek answers to questions that are too deep are explored in subsequent lines. The song questions people's need to find answers to things we can never see and the belief in religion and its power to control people.
The second verse delves deeper into the theme of blind faith by positing that humankind has created gods to fill a void that has always been there. This is a reference to the innate human desire to understand and explain the unknown. Even though there is pure blackness in space, the clouds look heavenly, and there is no hell below us, humans continue to create faith in otherworldly powers. This starting line suggests that the persona is on a quest for answers and asks how his mind can feel joy, sorrow, and bewilderment. The song closes with the persona stating that he will always believe in logic and rest in the great devoid.
Line by Line Meaning
The masses are following something that they can not see... but believe
People blindly follow something they can't see, but still believe in.
Such faith is respected for I also once did believe... but no more
Faith is respected, but the singer doesn't believe anymore.
Scream you'll hear no answers
There are no answers even if you scream.
Incantations give no cause
Chanting won't give a reason.
Pray to only nothing
Praying is futile.
No one will hear your asking thoughts
No one will hear your prayers and thoughts.
You futilely share
Sharing is pointless.
For ten thousand years there was something
Humans have searched for meaning for thousands of years.
Man felt so divine... invented
Humanity created the idea of the divine.
Slaves will build the temples
People in power use others to build temples.
The priests will find a rule
Priests will create and enforce rules for their own gain.
Kneel in front of something
Worshipping something created by man is pointless.
Created to fill the great void
Religion is created to fill a void that has always existed.
That's always been there
The void has always been there.
What causes my living, dieing
The singer ponders what caused them to exist and eventually die.
How does my mind feel laughing, crying
The artist wonders why their mind is capable of emotions like joy and sadness.
I do not know the answers of questions to deep
The artist doesn't know the answers to existential questions.
Why must we find the answers that we'll never see
The singer questions the need to find answers to unanswerable questions.
[Solo]
Instrumental break.
Look into space and it's pure blackness that you will find... not darkness
Space is pure black, not an absence of light.
Look at the sky and you'll know it's the sun that makes light... not angels
The sun is responsible for light, not divine beings.
Earth's core is made of fire
The Earth's core is not a place of eternal punishment.
The clouds look heavenly
The clouds are not evidence of heaven.
Hell is not below us
Hell is not a physical place located beneath us.
No one will find eternity
Eternity cannot be found.
When our time is here
When we die.
I must keep learning, feeling
The singer wants to keep learning and feeling emotions.
Nothing will stop my yearning, loving
The artist won't stop wanting to love and experience new things.
I understand the need to explain the unknown
The unknown needs explanation.
I can feel the truth inside that brings me to this great divide
The singer feels something guiding them to the truth.
I will believe if science will provide the proof
The singer will believe in things proven by science.
Logic is all I deploy while resting in the great devoid
The artist uses logic and reason to make sense of the void.
Holy wars we will fight
People will fight over religion.
Who is watching?
No one is watching.
Baptize, repent your penance
Religious rituals are pointless.
To their god untold
There is no untold god.
[Solo]
Instrumental break.
I must keep finding, seeking
The singer wants to keep searching for answers.
Nothing will stop my final ending
Death won't stop the singer's pursuit of knowledge.
I only feel the power from my inner mind
The artist only trusts their internal thoughts and feelings.
I now know the truth I'll hide that keeps you on the other side
The artist knows the truth but won't force it on others.
Always believe, I'll never try to poison you
The singer won't force their beliefs on others.
Logic is all I deploy while resting in the great devoid
The singer relies on logic to make sense of the void.
The great devoid...
The void that exists always.
Contributed by Sophie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.