Khemmis combines the soul of Black Sabbath, the soaring harmonies of Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, and the visceral weight of contemporary sludge and doom metal.
No regurgitation. No gimmicks. No trends.
In July 2015, the band released Absolution, a six track, forty-minute journey through transcendent melodies and pure auditory annihilation. Recorded with Dave Otero (Cobalt, Primitive Man) and Shane Howard at Flatline Audio, the album earned praise from listeners and critics alike. Decibel Magazine named it the #9 metal album of 2015, while Pitchfork named it their #5 release of the year. It earned accolades from NPR, Apple Music, Invisible Oranges, Noisey, and No Clean Singing, among others.
Beyond the Door
Khemmis Lyrics
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No cure to be,
Lying still, the darkness creeps,
Spreading like a cancer in me,
There is a light dancing upon the window sill,
It draws me in and I begin to realize,
This is no dream, I won't escape the spreading fire,
No light behind the door,
No cure to be,
Lying still, the darkness creeps,
Spreading like a cancer in me,
Awake but paralyzed,
As tears cloud my eyes,
Straining back in mortal fright,
Breaking free from the binds,
Into the light,
Lies can't exhume (Bound in chains eternal),
I am your tomb (Paralyzed at my core),
Eyes hide the truth (My body, my tomb),
I am your tomb (No light beyond the door).
In Khemmis's song Beyond the Door, the lyrics describe a person who is struggling with a deep sense of darkness within themselves. The metaphor of the door represents the person's inner self, which holds a darkness that is spreading like a cancer. The lack of light behind the door symbolizes the absence of hope or cure. However, as the person lies still, a light appears on the window sill, drawing them in and allowing them to realize the reality of their situation. The spreading fire is a metaphor for the person's suffering, which they are unable to escape.
The lyrics also describe the physical and emotional paralysis experienced by the person. They are unable to move or break free from the binds of their suffering. Tears cloud their eyes as they strain against their mortal fright, but they eventually find the strength to break free and step into the light. The final lines of the song suggest that the person's body has become a tomb, and that there is no hope beyond the door.
Line by Line Meaning
No light behind the door,
There is darkness and hopelessness beyond the door.
No cure to be,
There is no solution to fix the problem beyond the door.
Lying still, the darkness creeps,
The darkness and despair is slowly consuming me even as I remain motionless.
Spreading like a cancer in me,
The feelings of hopelessness and despair are growing like a disease inside me.
There is a light dancing upon the window sill,
A glimmer of hope catches my attention, giving me a chance to escape the darkness.
It draws me in and I begin to realize,
I am drawn to the light, and I finally begin to understand that there may be a way out.
This is no dream, I won't escape the spreading fire,
This situation is all too real, and I cannot avoid confronting the increasing despair.
Immobilized, only my eyes can reflect my fright,
I am frozen with fear, and my only means of expressing my fear is through my eyes.
Awake but paralyzed,
I am conscious and aware, but unable to move or react.
As tears cloud my eyes,
I am overwhelmed with emotion and cannot see clearly.
Straining back in mortal fright,
I am struggling with all my strength against the fear of death.
Breaking free from the binds,
I finally manage to struggle free from the shackles that were holding me down.
Into the light,
I escape the darkness and find myself in a place of brightness and hope.
Lies can't exhume (Bound in chains eternal),
Falsehoods cannot undo the damage that has been done, and I am trapped in my pain forever.
I am your tomb (Paralyzed at my core),
The darkness and despair have taken over my entire being.
Eyes hide the truth (My body, my tomb),
Although I may pretend otherwise, the sadness and pain are still there, deep inside me.
I am your tomb (No light beyond the door).
The darkness of my despair is inescapable and all-consuming, leaving me feeling trapped and helpless.
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MaggieTourelles
on A Conversation with Death
Oh Mort
Voulez-vous m'épargner pour une autre année ?
Eh bien qu'est-ce que c'est que je ne peux pas voir,
Avec des mains glacées qui me saisit ?
Eh bien, je suis la mort, personne ne peut exceller.
J'ouvre la porte du paradis ou de l'enfer.
Oh Mort
Oh Mort
Trop tard, trop tard, adieu à tous.
Mon âme est condamnée, alors écoutez-moi bien.
Tant que Dieu demeura dans le ciel,
Votre âme, votre âme criera en enfer.
Oh Mort
Oh Mort
Oh Mort
MaggieTourelles
on A Conversation with Death
Oh Mort
Oh Mort
Voulez-vous m'épargner pour une autre année ?
Eh bien qu'est-ce que c'est que je ne peux pas voir,
Avec des mains glacées qui me saisit ?
Eh bien, je suis la mort, personne ne peut exceller.
J'ouvre la porte du paradis ou de l'enfer.
Oh Mort
Oh Mort
Trop tard, trop tard, adieu à tous.
Mon âme est condamnée, alors écoutez-moi bien.
Tant que Dieu demeura dans le ciel,
Votre âme, votre âme criera en enfer.
Oh Mort
Oh Mort
Oh Mort