Their album "Guided by Fire", released in September 2007, consists of dark, intelligent music that hasn't given up the ghost on being a metal band. Their second album "Isolation Songs", to be released in August 2009, continues in this line.
For their debut album, Aleksi Munter of Swallow The Sun played keyboards as a session member for the band. Fredrik Nordin of the stoner rock band Dozer also did guest backing vocals on a track for their debut album.
In 2015 the band released a statement that they would put the band on hiatus for a indefinite period of time.
On August 20th, 2020, the band announced their breakup.
Band members
Manne Ikonen - Vocals, Live Guitar
Tommi Kiviniemi - Guitar
Wille Naukkarinen - Guitar
Janne Julin - Bass
Veli-Matti Suihkonen - Drums
Birth
Ghost Brigade Lyrics
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The head between my shoulders,
wounded and bleeding badly
I can smell your remorse
Stains all over
Been outside and seen it all
You are the master, you know it all
And your time is now
Holding tight, wish you were nearer
Lost my voice, don't want to scream no more
It's like a box and I'm trapped inside
I've been paralyzed
This narrow road ends to a ditch
Been outside and seen it all
You are the master, you know it all
Made yourself a number
And your time is now
You fit in the program
And your blood is fine
The skin is perfect
And your heart is in time
The lyrics of Ghost Brigade's song "Birth" seem to be describing a feeling of confinement and helplessness. The imagery of "white paper and empty places" suggest a feeling of emptiness and possibility, of starting anew, but the following lines reveal a darker side to this feeling. The singer's head is "wounded and bleeding badly," hinting at previous trauma or mistakes that still haunt them. They can "smell [the other person's] remorse" and there are "stains all over," adding to the sense of guilt and shame that permeates the song.
The chorus repeats the same lines twice, "Been outside and seen it all / You are the master, you know it all / Made yourself a number / And your time is now." This could be interpreted as a criticism of society's expectations and the pressure to conform to certain standards, "making yourself a number" in the process. The singer has "been outside and seen it all," suggesting a sense of disillusionment with the world and perhaps a desire to break free from societal expectations.
The second verse goes on to describe a feeling of being trapped, "It's like a box and I'm trapped inside / I've been paralyzed / This narrow road ends to a ditch." The singer is holding on tight, wishing to be closer to someone else, but they have lost their voice and don't want to scream anymore. The final two lines, "You fit in the program / And your blood is fine / The skin is perfect / And your heart is in time" reinforce the idea of societal standards and expectations, suggesting that the other person fits the mold perfectly, but the singer feels trapped and unable to fit in.
Overall, the lyrics of "Birth" seem to be a commentary on the pressure to conform to societal expectations, and the feelings of guilt and shame that can come with not measuring up. The singer feels trapped and helpless, wanting to break free but unsure how to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
White paper and empty places
I feel empty inside, like an unwritten sheet of paper in a vacant space.
The head between my shoulders, wounded and bleeding badly
I am emotionally hurt and my thoughts weigh heavy on my mind, causing suffering.
I can smell your remorse
I can sense the guilt and regret coming from someone else.
Stains all over
My past experiences have left a lasting emotional mark on me.
Been outside and seen it all
I've traveled, observed, and experienced everything that life has to offer.
You are the master, you know it all
There are people who think they know everything and have complete control over their surroundings.
Made yourself a number
Society tries to strip us of our individuality and reduce us to mere statistics.
And your time is now
The present moment is all we have, and we need to seize it while we can.
Holding tight, wish you were nearer
I feel isolated and alone, and I long for the presence of someone I care about.
Lost my voice, don't want to scream no more
I feel silenced and helpless, and I no longer want to express myself through anger or frustration.
It's like a box and I'm trapped inside
I feel confined by my circumstances and unable to break free.
I've been paralyzed
I feel stuck and unable to move forward in life.
This narrow road ends to a ditch
The path I'm taking is uncertain and could lead to negative consequences.
You fit in the program
Society tries to mold us into predefined roles and expectations.
And your blood is fine
Other people might see us as healthy or normal, but we may still be struggling internally.
The skin is perfect
We might look flawless or unblemished externally, but internally, we could be in turmoil.
And your heart is in time
Our emotions can make us feel like we're in sync with the world, but they can also cause us pain and sorrow.
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.