The underlying idea was to achieve three goals:
1. Produce an album featuring James LaBrie in ways that no one has heard him before;
2. Combine the elements of progressive rock, film scoring and very modern production;
3. Use the work of Richard Dawkins (one of today's most influential neo-Darwinist writers) as a concept that connects all the pieces on the album.
Its second album, called An Absence of Empathy, had the vocals of Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row). The basic concept behind An Absence of Empathy, was initiated by Shawn Gordon, president of ProgRock Records. Several years ago, he played keyboards for the band Zircadian; they had a partially written concept album under the name Prophet Savant, which led to the initial idea for An Absence of Empathy. In the original storyline, a man experiences different forms of violence because he becomes a kind of seer. They had written a song for an epic battle and two torture scenes.
In countless e-mails and meetings (one including Stephan Kernbach from Chain), Shawn and Henning Pauly developed this idea into the storyline and concept that is now the foundation of the new Frameshift album. They first dropped the mystical approach; then, by distancing the concept from being a story around a person, and instead focusing on what that person experiences, the story portrayed a more realistic situation. In this respect, like Unweaving the Rainbow, the album actually does not have a real storyline. Instead, it is a series of songs revolving around the same topic.
An Absence of Empathy: The Concept
"Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent"
This quote illustrates what this album is about. It is about violence -- human violence, to be precise. It is ever-present and, in varying degrees, ingrained in all of us. Just like wood grain, violence is inherent to our nature, but the question is, what factors determine who lets is show through and how does it show itself?
The same questions haunt the protagonist of An Absence of Empathy. He is a curious individual who wants to know why the media is filled with news about murder, rape and war -- and he is afraid that he might have the potential for violence himself. He starts to research the subject, but it isn't enough. It can't show him what motivates the person that acts violently or what plagues them, and it doesn't make him feel the pain of the victims. His desire to understand one of humanity's most basic traits leads to a series of vivid dreams - dreams that appear to be so real that he can't escape this dreamworld until it is all over. In them, he becomes the killer, he becomes the rapist, he becomes the soldier, he becomes the mother crying for her daughter who was raped.
The first song introduces the theme and illustrates how our main character is plagued by his questions about humanity's major flaw. He starts a journey into the minds of other people to experience violence firsthand. At the end of the album, he draws his own conclusions, and asks himself if there is nothing else to us besides hurting each other. The answer he finds is worthy of discovery.
An Absence of Empathy takes you into the psyche of several different people who are either experiencing or acting out violence. Each form of violence is dealt with in two songs, each one shedding light on a different point view of the scenario. For example, one song illustrates a torture scene from the point of view of the torturer; its counterpoint takes you into the same room, this time from the point of view of the tortured. Another pairing is about violence in schools. One song deals with a teacher using psychological violence towards his students (who then rebel), while the other song is about a school shooting.
Blade
Frameshift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And for this land I'll give my life
Guard against the raping flag
Here's a blade now you're a man
From horse to flaming arrow
You may take a mortal blow
They will underestimate
Damage one man fighting for his home can make
I have no choice but to defend
I draw a line in this dirt with my metal blade
Not gonna cross if you don't believe that
In the end they may take all I love away
But not today
Walls of rock on an empty plain
Give way to greed when it invades
But there's a creed that builds a bridge
Of strength and honor in this village
Stench of death seeps from the ground
I see their eyes fade and turn to stone
Their faces haunt and follow me back home
It is time to take a stand
I have no choice but to defend
I draw the line in the sand
And I'm asking you
Brother of mine
Won't you follow through so
In the end they may
Take all I love away
But not today
With this blade in my hand
I'm ready to conquer
Ready to fight for it all
And if I should die
I will go with honor
Take one more life before I fall
With this blade in my hand
I'm ready to take back
Take back what's rightfully mine
And if I should die
My brothers will come through
Victory's here for my kind
The lyrics of FrameShift's song "Blade" talks about fighting for one's land, heritage, and pride against invading forces. The song highlights the decision of a man to defend his home and draw a line in the sand against those who seek to destroy his way of life. The lyrics speak of a man who recognizes the power of an individual standing up for what he believes in and the impact it can have on those around him. The use of a blade as a symbol of strength and honor further amplifies the message of the song.
The song also explores the consequences of war, as the singer realizes the death and destruction that comes along with fighting. The lyrics speak of the stench of death seeping from the ground and the haunting faces of those who have died. Despite the cost of war, the singer is committed to standing up for his people and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, even if it means taking a mortal blow or losing all that he loves.
In summary, "Blade" is a song about standing up for one's beliefs and fighting for what is right, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice. It speaks of the power of an individual to make a difference and the consequences of war.
Line by Line Meaning
For heritage love and pride
I am willing to fight and die to protect the customs and traditions of my ancestors.
And for this land I'll give my life
This land means everything to me and I am willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to defend it.
Guard against the raping flag
I will defend against those who seek to invade and take over our home and way of life.
Here's a blade now you're a man
I am entrusting you with a weapon, and in wielding it to defend our home, you will prove yourself as a warrior.
From horse to flaming arrow
I am ready to face any enemy, whether they come from afar or are already within our borders.
You may take a mortal blow
I know that I may not survive this battle, but I am willing to risk everything for what I believe in.
They will underestimate
Our enemies may not see the strength and resolve we possess, and we will use that to our advantage.
Damage one man fighting for his home can make
The impact of one person standing up for their home and community can be powerful and inspire others to take action as well.
I have no choice but to defend
I am compelled to fight to protect what I love and hold dear.
I draw a line in this dirt with my metal blade
I am creating a boundary that my enemies will not be able to cross.
Not gonna cross if you don't believe that
If we stand together and believe in our ability to defend ourselves, we can prevent our enemies from invading.
In the end they may take all I love away
Our enemies may succeed in destroying what we hold dear, but we will keep fighting until our last breath.
Walls of rock on an empty plain
The natural strength and stability of our surroundings are at risk of invasion and destruction.
Give way to greed when it invades
The desire for wealth and power can drive attackers to ignore the humanity and values of the people they are attacking.
But there's a creed that builds a bridge
Our shared values and beliefs can serve as an unbreakable bond to unite us in our resistance.
Of strength and honor in this village
We possess both the physical power and moral integrity needed to stand up to our attackers.
Stench of death seeps from the ground
The loss of life, humanity, and culture that would result from invasion and occupation is a heavy burden on our minds.
I see their eyes fade and turn to stone
Watching others experience the pain of invasion and occupation is a harrowing and depressing experience.
Their faces haunt and follow me back home
The memory of those who have suffered invasions and occupations sticks with those who have fought against them for the rest of their lives.
I draw the line in the sand
I am willing to risk everything to draw a boundary that our attackers will not be able to cross.
And I'm asking you
I am calling upon my fellow defenders to stand with me in this fight.
Brother of mine
I am addressing a close friend, ally, and member of my community.
Won't you follow through so
I need and expect my fellow defender to commit to this fight and stand with me until the end.
With this blade in my hand
I am prepared to fight and defend with all my might.
I'm ready to conquer
I am prepared to win this fight and reclaim what has been taken from us.
Ready to fight for it all
I am committed to risking everything for the sake of victory and liberation.
And if I should die
I am aware of the risk of losing my life in battle, but I am determined to fight anyway.
I will go with honor
I know that I will meet my end with integrity and dignity.
Take one more life before I fall
I will keep fighting and taking down my enemies until my last breath.
My brothers will come through
I know that I can trust my fellow defenders to continue fighting and winning this battle without me.
Victory's here for my kind
We will win this battle and defend our land, culture, and way of life for generations to come.
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.