In 2003 the aforementioned 1992 recordings were unearthed and released under the title Unfinished Business. Additionally, the band is officially reunited, with a new lineup as shown below, and a new album, Barely Human, released in 2004.
With 4/5 of the classic MELIAH RAGE lineup in tow, the group set out to release The Deep and Dreamless Sleep through Screaming Ferret Wreckords in 2006. This darker set of eight tracks offered more tempo variation and textural experimentation than much of the band's prior work, allowing the disc to remain a unique standout amidst their continually-expanding discography. The outfit's second U.S. tour with Metal Church would follow in support of the album, and MELIAH RAGE has been going strong ever since.
Over a decade later, Divebomb Records is excited to once more join forces with MELIAH RAGE for this revamped reissue of The Deep and Dreamless Sleep. Completely remixed and remastered by Peter Rutcho for vastly improved sound quality, this edition breathes new life into one of the band's most underrated albums. The packaging will also include full lyrics—transcribed for the first time ever—a retrospective interview with Nichols and Souza, as well as added commentary from Rutcho. For the fans, by the fans!
In the mid-2000s, legendary Boston power thrashers MELIAH RAGE found themselves prepped to create a brand new album with all five original members in tow. Drummer Stuart Dowie had returned for 2006's The Deep and Dreamless Sleep, and even fan-favorite vocalist Mike Munro had agreed to find time amidst his family commitments to join up for one more album. Bassist Jesse Johnson ultimately decided to step aside, however, at which point the band brought in Darren Lourie—formerly of Triphammer/Every Second—to complete the lineup.
Realizing in retrospect that The Deep and Dreamless Sleep may have been overly mid-paced and one-sided, chief songwriter Anthony Nichols set out to write the group's most guitar-centric album to date—slightly thrashier, and with an occasionally increased emphasis on dual guitar harmonies. Produced by WARGASM's Rich Spillberg and featuring a guest vocal appearance from then-METAL CHURCH frontman Ronny Munroe on "Last Rites," the result was Masquerade: a nearly hour-long return to form for MELIAH RAGE.
Unfortunately, Screaming Ferret Wreckords was on the decline, so the album was merely released as a CD-R and without a sufficient promotional presence. The band only performed a small handful of shows with Munro back on the mic—among them opening for ANVIL at the House of Blues in Boston—but this brief reunion still satisfied longtime fans, both live and on record.
Now, nearly a decade later, Divebomb Records is proud to partner with MELIAH RAGE for this reissue of Masquerade: finally on proper CD for the first time ever! Newly remastered by Peter Rutcho, this edition also features complete lyrics, as well as a retrospective interview with guitarist Anthony Nichols. For the fans, by the fans!
Beginning Of The End
Meliah Rage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All is black, like the crows, stiff my neck as it bows.
On my knees I will play among death and decay,
And it blackens the sun as the end has begun.
I never saw the mighty spirits
That gathered now to purity the world.
It is the time of the changing season,
Winter rides the wings of heaven
Sorrow marches through the land.
This is the beginning of the end.
And the flood rises higher, swallows cities alive.
Still the flames' hunger grows, taking over our homes.
In the eye of the storm, gods creation reborn.
666 in our hearts, it will tear us apart.
This is the age of the sunlight children
And from the ashes we'll build it up again.
The curtain of the night will fall down
And stronger, wiser than before we'll stand - take my hand.
Winter rides the wings of heaven
Sorrow marches through the land.
This is the beginning of the end.
Darkness covers lonely faces,
Merciful death takes their hand.
This is the beginning of the end.
The lyrics to Meliah Rage’s song “Beginning of the End” depict a world on the brink of destruction. The opening verse references the presence of unseen, all-seeing eyes in the trees, while everything else is black and desolate. The image of crows adds to the ominous tone of the verse. The singer finds themselves on their knees among death and decay, suggesting a post-apocalyptic world where mankind has fallen. The end has begun and it seems there is no stopping it.
The next verse describes the arrival of mighty spirits that are gathering to purify the world. The language in this verse refers to the four elements- earth, water, wind, and fire- which are being called upon to cleanse the world of its sins. Winter and sorrow are also predominant in the imagery, suggesting that this end could be a cleansing of the world, after which new life will bloom. The flood rises higher, swallowing whole cities and homes, but the singer remains hopeful that from the ashes of this destruction, something new will grow. The last lines invite hope as the singer states that they will stand stronger and wiser than before, facing this new world that is shaped after a period of rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
In the top of the trees all these eyes follow me.
I feel like I'm being watched by something or someone in the darkness of the forest.
All is black, like the crows, stiff my neck as it bows.
The darkness around me is absolute, and it seems like the crows are watching me, making me feel uncomfortable and scared.
On my knees I will play among death and decay,
I find myself in the midst of death and decay and I'm helpless, I have to accept the situation and find a way out.
And it blackens the sun as the end has begun.
The end is near, and that darkness is beginning to creep in, making me feel hopeless.
I never saw the mighty spirits
I never really believed in a higher power, but now I realize that something greater is at work.
That gathered now to purify the world.
These supernatural beings are here to restore order and balance to the world.
It is the time of the changing season,
This is a moment of transformation and rebirth in our world.
The cleaning hands of water. Wind and fire - feel the fire.
The forces of nature are at work, purging and purifying the world.
Winter rides the wings of heaven
Winter is coming, and it is bringing with it a sense of foreboding and fear.
Sorrow marches through the land.
There is sadness and despair all around us, and it seems like it's only getting worse.
This is the beginning of the end.
Everything seems to be leading towards an irreversible and tragic conclusion.
And the flood rises higher, swallows cities alive.
The natural disasters are getting worse, and they seem to be destroying entire cities and communities.
Still the flames' hunger grows, taking over our homes.
The fires are spreading, and it seems impossible to stop them from consuming everything in their path.
In the eye of the storm, gods creation reborn.
Despite all the destruction and chaos, there is still hope for a new beginning in this world.
666 in our hearts, it will tear us apart.
We are our own worst enemy, and unless we can overcome our internal demons, we will never be able to save ourselves from destruction.
This is the age of the sunlight children
A new era is dawning, marked by hope and light rather than darkness and despair.
And from the ashes we'll build it up again.
Despite all the destruction and chaos, we will find a way to rebuild and start anew.
The curtain of the night will fall down
The darkness that has been shrouding the world is beginning to lift, and the light of a new era is breaking through.
And stronger, wiser than before we'll stand - take my hand.
Through all the struggles and challenges we've faced, we've grown stronger and wiser, and we will stand together to face whatever comes next.
Darkness covers lonely faces,
There are those among us who are still lost in darkness, unable to find their way into the light.
Merciful death takes their hand.
Death may be the only way to release these individuals from the suffering and pain of their lives.
This is the beginning of the end.
Even as some lives are ending, the world itself is poised on the brink of a new beginning.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANTHONY NICHOLS, MICHAEL MUNRO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind