With the old school being the new school in metal these days, classic metal has a happy clan of headbangers in Sweden's Gallows End. Nemesis Divine is their debut work on the fledging Ohio label Farvaher Records. Name any of the 80's giant that made thrash, speed, or power metal great in the day, filter it through a copious amount of European melodic metal of the same, and you will hear it in Gallows End's metal.
The pace is quick and determined on Nemesis Divine, no room for metal ballads here. Most songs here, like Nemesis Divine, Kingdom of the Damned, or Not Your Own, blur the distinction between thrash and speed metal, but the lyrical arc and persistent melody lends Nemesis Divine to a Maidenesque power metal. This is notable on the finishing piece Riders of the North. Like many of the current bands invoking the best of history's heavy metal, Gallows End performs the style with effortless acumen. This might be their single best attribute, and their greatest flaw. While they are masters of their genre, there is nothing truly novel or inventive here. In other words, Gallows End is not adding anything promising or new to the craft of classic metal, just simply performing it exceptionally well. To this end, Gallows End and their debut disc is to be highly commended. Don't look for any earthshaking paradigm shift in the realm of heavy metal music. But, hey, I dig the old school, and when done well, it's as fresh as it was 25 years ago. Gallows End gets it right. Recommended.
The Curse
Gallows End Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's closing in
It's just a feeling I have
Maybe it's too late to wonder why
Things went this way
And now I see the light in front of me
This must be the end
This must be the end
As I bid life farewell
Have no regrets for the things I've done
'cause this is what I believe
I will not kneel or crawl for you
So just get out of my way, get out of my way
And now I see the light in front of me
This must be the end
This must be the end
My life passes slowly before my eyes
As i bid farewell
And now I see the light in front of me
This must be the end
This must be the end
My life passes slowly before my eyes
As i bid farewell
end
Gallows End's song The Curse is a powerfully emotive and introspective piece that centers around the idea of impending mortality. The first stanza alludes to the ominous sense of closure that looms over the singer's life, as they feel the end closing in on them. The singer wonders if it's too late to understand why things have gone the way they have, and the realization hits them that this must be the end.
The second verse takes on a more accepting tone, as the singer seemingly comes to terms with their own impending end. They bid their life farewell, with no regrets for the things they've done, as these are what they believe in. Even facing death, the singer refuses to submit to the expectations of others, defiantly stating that they will not kneel or crawl for anyone. This is a powerful statement of individual strength and conviction.
The final stanza brings the song to a close, as the singer sees the light in front of them and resigns themselves to their fate. As their life passes slowly before their eyes, they bid farewell to the world one last time, content in the knowledge that they lived their life on their own terms.
Overall, The Curse is a poignant and deeply moving song that speaks to the human experience of confronting our own mortality. It is a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should live our lives with authenticity and conviction while we still can.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel the end
I sense that my life is coming to its inevitable conclusion.
It's closing in
The end is fast approaching and I can feel its presence surrounding me.
It's just a feeling I have
I have no concrete evidence to suggest that the end is near, but I can't shake this feeling.
Maybe it's too late to wonder why
It's pointless to dwell on the reasons why my life has turned out the way it has, as it's now beyond my control.
Things went this way
My life has taken a certain path, possibly one that I didn't anticipate or desire.
And now I see the light in front of me
I can see that the end is near and that death is approaching.
This must be the end
There is no other explanation for what is happening than that my life is coming to a close.
My life passes slowly before my eyes
As I face death, my life flashes before my eyes, as if in slow motion.
As I bid life farewell
I am saying goodbye to life and all that it entailed as I prepare to leave this world.
Have no regrets for the things I've done
I don't regret anything that I've done, even if some of my choices had negative consequences.
'cause this is what I believe
I hold firm to this belief, even as I face the end of my life.
I will not kneel or crawl for you
I refuse to submit to anyone or anything as I face my impending death.
So just get out of my way, get out of my way
I am determined to face my fate alone and will not let anyone or anything stand in my way.
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zer0-Skill90
One of the most underrated bands... Big respect guys 🤘
Astraldeath
Very nice chorus!
chrisflofloyd
Funkin rocks up the gallows!!
Disafear
Beautiful
Amit Kahlon
sick
John Gray
Jacob Frye the great mystery of Babylon! For the grim reaper paasste d his own wife bed to the man the great wolf himaesrlself FOR THE GRIM REAPER HIMSELF PAST HIS WIVES TO JACOB FRYE TO HAVE FOR HIM SELF AS YAWEH AND HIS WIFE OR WIVES HOWEVER MANY HE WANTED MUST GO TO JACOB FRYE FOR THAT IS HIS DREAM!
Aleksa
1st in 2016