Juha Raivio explains the genesis of Hallatar: "After the death of my beloved and my life partner Aleah Starbridge last April, I have been gathering writings, lyrics, and the poems of Aleah to keep them safe and close to my heart. About one month after the world came down on the blackest day of my life on April 18th, I knew I needed to pick up the guitar and try to create something or I would be truly destroyed. And something did arrive out of the darkness, and I wrote the music for the Hallatar album in a week's time. I don’t have much memory of this week, not a memory of a single day of writing the music. But all I remember when going into this abyss of the writing process was a promise to myself that whatever music would come out, I would not touch or change anything of it afterwards. What mattered was that the music would stay forever as an absolute truth of those moments as they came out. I asked my good friends - and amazing musicians - Tomi Joutsen and Gas Lipstick if they would want to record this music with me, and both of them said yes without even hearing a note of it. I am forever grateful to both of them for sharing this road with me; even the weight of the process has not been easy to carry, or will be."
Adds Gas Lipstick, "I am grateful and very honored to be asked to join this band. Juha is a dear friend of mine since many years ago, and when he told me about his vision for Hallatar and asked me to join, I said yes instantly - I just had to be part of this amazing journey. I had never heard a single note of the music before I gave my 'yes' because I didn't need to. Juha has been one of my favorite songwriters already for years, and I knew that Hallatar will be a very deep, personal, and one-of-a-kind story which I wanted to help him to bring alive."
Continues Tomi Joutsen: "I have known Juha from the year 2007, when we worked together for the first time. A couple years ago, I had the privilege to meet Juha's life partner, Aleah Starbridge, who was such a beautiful person, inside and outside, and had an angelic voice out of this world. Aleah lent her voice on the latest Amorphis album, and we called her 'the whispering ghost.' When I heard about Aleah's passing last spring, it came as a total shock and heartbreaking news out of the blue. When Juha asked me if I would want to be part of this album and carry Aleah's flame with him, I didn't have to think twice. When everything has been taken, all that is left is the music. The sorrow strips us naked and leave us humble - this is how it sounds like."
Concludes Raivio, "What we recorded was a raw moment in time honoring the memory, lyrics, and poems of Aleah Starbridge with all its pain, beauty and darkness. There are no stars left upon the bridge to light the way anymore, but the music will always be a dim light, even in the darkest of the night."
HALLATAR is:
Tomi Joutsen - vocals
Gas Lipstick - drums
Juha Raivio - guitar, bass, keys
Mirrors
Hallatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Integrating my tears
Let me be what I am
I am all, I am None
Alone
In the eye of the storm
Silent rest at the core
Breathing through all my dirt
Alone
Falling through the mirrors of my mind
That have held me Safe and blind
Falling free, I can't see the end
Just let the air now caress my skin
In the distance dreams dissolve
Every crutch that I hold
Falling through, burning up
I unveil and give Up
Alone
See the pieces of my life
Scattering far and wide
Broken open by my heart
My beliefs torn apart
I rise
I am here to be undone
My illusions, let me go
I am here to be undone
My illusions, let me go
The song "Mirrors" by Hallatar is a profound and introspective exploration of personal growth, facing one's fears, and letting go of illusions. The singer reflects on their experience of integrating their tears and breathing through all their pain and hurt. They assert their desire to be what they are, accepting themselves as all and none simultaneously, while being alone in the eye of the storm.
The metaphor of mirrors is used repeatedly throughout the song to represent the reflection and projection of one's beliefs, and the breaking down of these illusions. The singer falls through the mirrors of their mind that have held them safe and blind, letting go of every crutch they hold. The dissolution of their dreams in the distance is portrayed as a positive experience, as it represents the letting go of unrealistic expectations and impetus for growth.
In the final verse, the singer rises, having been broken open by their heart and their beliefs torn apart. They assert that they are here to be undone and to let go of illusions, affirming their commitment to embracing their true self. The song's message is powerful and illuminating, reminding listeners of the importance of self-reflection, acceptance, and letting go of limiting beliefs in order to experience growth and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathing in all my fears
Taking in all of my fears and allowing them to affect me
Integrating my tears
Allowing my tears to become a part of me and my experiences
Let me be what I am
Allowing myself to be true to who I am, without any expectations or limitations
I am all, I am None
Realizing that I am both everything and nothing at the same time
Alone
Being by myself and facing my innermost thoughts and emotions
In the eye of the storm
Finding peace and stillness within the chaos and turmoil of life
Silent rest at the core
Finding a calm and peaceful center within myself
Breathing through all my dirt
Accepting and acknowledging all of my flaws and imperfections
All my pain and my hurt
Acknowledging and facing all of the emotional pain and hurt that I have experienced
Falling through the mirrors of my mind
Letting go of the barriers and illusions that have kept me from seeing the truth
That have held me Safe and blind
Realizing that my mental constructs have kept me from seeing the reality of things
Falling free, I can't see the end
Letting go of my mental constructs and facing the uncertainty of the future
Just let the air now caress my skin
Allowing myself to feel and experience the present moment
In the distance dreams dissolve
Letting go of unrealistic expectations and unattainable dreams
Every crutch that I hold
Letting go of the things that I relied on to make me feel better about myself
Falling through, burning up
Letting go of my past and facing the painful emotions that come with it
I unveil and give up
Letting go of my illusions and allowing myself to be vulnerable and open
See the pieces of my life
Facing the different parts and aspects of my life
Scattering far and wide
Acknowledging that my life has taken different paths and directions
Broken open by my heart
Being vulnerable and allowing my emotions to guide me
My beliefs torn apart
Letting go of the things that I used to believe in
I rise
Standing up and continuing on despite the challenges and difficulties
I am here to be undone
Realizing that I still have a lot to learn and grow from
My illusions, let me go
Letting go of my misconceptions and illusions about myself and the world around me
Writer(s): Aleah Starbridge, Juha Raivio
Contributed by Adrian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@diegomartini3091
Juha Raivio... The Master of Doom Metal...
@ketilsther9997
This might be the ultimate doom-song. the ultimate doom drummer, and the ultimate doom vocalist... and the song in itself is so good..
@leo-unddieAnderen
What you know about Doom?? You don't want to go THERE.
@lorettawilson7264
@@leo-unddieAnderenI totally understand what you're saying there you made a good comment but everyday I remember that there are thousands and thousands of people that are there in the doom and I'm one of those people that helps them
@rafaellago172
Man, you can't go wrong with Tomi. What a colossal vocal performance for an already amazing song.
@jrbracy
6:29 Aleah's necklace pulled from the flames..this is beautiful....
@Harper14Racing
Exactly my point i my comment made just now!
@mennamohammed-pn5ck
perfect way to feel relieved after long tiring day.
@mayariarusha5162
Heartbreaking, honest and pure as Aleah, this is the best way to honored her immortal soul, waiting this album
@Agnesss2222
It's amazing and Tomi's voice is so strong! I'm spechless, that is beautiful.