In the beginning of 1998 Johan Svensson showed interest in the band and joined on guitar/bass. This new line-up didn’t last long since we had different aims and after some months Forest of Shadows was once again a one-man band. After Johan’s departure I started to redo the recordings of the old songs and in may 1998 the same four songs were released on the first real demo, titled “The Silent Cry”. During the release of the demo I got in contact with a friend of a friend, Micce Andersson, who found my band interesting and wanted to help me out. Almost instantly we wrote the opening riff of “Eternal Autumn” and started discussing some old songs to re-record.
In the beginning of 1999 we contacted Katatonia and asked them if we could do a cover of their masterpiece “Rainroom”. They approved and we recorded the song as well as a new version of “The Silent Cry”. In may 1999, a year after the release of the first demo, we released a promo called “promotion-cd 1999” which featured these two song. The intention of the promo was to show our new direction and sound which was a success since we recieved good critics from both friends and zines. We were really satisfied with what we had accomplished and ready to take it all a step further.
To read more, please visit: www.forestofshadows.com
Self Inflicted Torment
Forest of Shadows Lyrics
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And you will bleed
All along the highway
While facing your wicked ways
You saw the weak
Desperately trying to surface
You frowned upon their misery
Ignoring their painful demise
Showing no sign of remorse
When they were dead
You took the flowers from their graves
High and proud, like a servant of death,
You turn a blind eye to the atrocities that you create
High and proud, like a servant of death,
You dig your own grave
As you unleash sights of woe
You saw the weak desperately trying to surface
You frowned upon their misery
Now they frown upon you
Your time will come
And you will be haunted
Repercussions of a malicious way of life
Lost happiness and lasting pain
Self inflicted torment
Your time will come
Your hell awaits
The lyrics of Forest of Shadows’ song Self Inflicted Torment describe the consequences of leading a selfish and malicious life. The opening verses describe the inevitability of punishment for one’s wicked ways. The persona is warned that they will bleed and suffer torment as they face the atrocities they create, indicating that no one is immune to the consequences of their actions. The persona’s lack of remorse is highlighted in the lines ‘Ignoring their painful demise, showing no sign of remorse, when they were dead you took the flowers from their graves’, revealing that they are not only cold-hearted but also disrespectful towards those who have passed away.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the persona’s arrogance and refusal to recognize their own faults. They are compared to a servant of death who wreaks havoc on people’s lives while turning a blind eye to their actions. The chorus also accuses them of digging their own graves and unleashing sights of woe, implying that their actions will ultimately lead to their own downfall.
The final verses reveal that the weak and the miserable, whom the persona previously suppressed, are now frowning upon them. The persona’s previous actions are seen as self-inflicted torment that will haunt them until their time comes. The song deals with universal themes of karma, morality, and the importance of treating others with respect and kindness.
Line by Line Meaning
Your time will come
A warning that eventually, one will face the consequences of their actions.
And you will bleed
The punishment will be severe and involve suffering.
All along the highway
The journey of life where one's actions and choices define their fate.
While facing your wicked ways
Confronting the evils one has committed.
You saw the weak
Acknowledgement of the desperation of others in difficult situations.
Desperately trying to surface
Struggling to survive in the face of overwhelming odds.
You frowned upon their misery
Judging others for their hardship and not extending compassion.
And pulled them back into the abyss
Actively preventing others from bettering their situation or escaping a difficult place.
Ignoring their painful demise
Turning a blind eye to the suffering of others and refusing to help or acknowledge their situation.
Showing no sign of remorse
No indication of feeling guilty or regretful for actions taken.
When they were dead
Only acknowledging the worth of others after they have passed away.
You took the flowers from their graves
Taking advantage of the dead and not respecting their memory.
High and proud, like a servant of death,
Acting as an agent of destruction with no regard for the consequences of one's actions.
You turn a blind eye to the atrocities that you create
Ignoring the negative effects of one's choices and not taking responsibility for them.
You dig your own grave
The self-destructive nature of one's actions and choices.
As you unleash sights of woe
Causing pain and grief for others as a result of one's choices.
Now they frown upon you
Others judging and disapproving of one's actions and choices.
And you will be haunted
The consequences of one's actions will follow them and cause long-lasting negative effects.
Repercussions of a malicious way of life
The consequences of living in a harmful and hurtful manner towards others.
Lost happiness and lasting pain
The negative effects of one's actions on oneself and others over a prolonged period of time.
Self inflicted torment
The pain and suffering one brings upon themselves through their own actions and choices.
Your hell awaits
The consequences of one's harmful and hurtful choices and actions will be severe and involve further suffering.
Writer(s): Niclas Frohagen
Contributed by Carter E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.