The group started out under the name IN COLD BLOOD and it was under that name that the first demo, "Nailed", was recorded, which led to a record deal with NUCLEAR BLAST.
In May 1998, RAISE HELL entered the "Abyss studio" and recorded their first album named "Holy Target". Just before the release, the band changed their name to RAISE HELL. The release of "Holy Target" was followed by a European tour (with DISMEMBER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHT IN GALES and AGATHODAIMON) and also a gig at the massive metal festival Wacken Open Air (August of 1998).
In August 1999, RAISE HELL entered the studio again to record their second album "Not Dead Yet". This time, the studio session took place at Studio Fredman with Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) as producer. After "Not Dead Yet" was released, the cult band DESTRUCTION heard the album and wanted RAISE HELL to support them for a mini tour. RAISE HELL gladly accepted and after a cool mini-tour with DESTRUCTION, Wacken Open Air stood at the door again (August 2000). The festival gig was a success for the band and was then followed by a European tour (with DESTRUCTION, HYPOCRISY, CREMATORY and KATAKLYSM) plus some club-gigs in Sweden.
The studio Flat Planet was booked in June 2002, and once again Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES), now with support by Fredrik Reinerdahl, as producers. The album was called "Wicked Is My Game". The release was in October 2002. In late autumn of 2002, RAISE HELL decided to get a new singer because Jonas Nilsson wanted to concentrate on his guitar playing. They decided to try an old friend of theirs, Jimmy Fjällendahl. He had been the singer of a local rock band called Driftaway. After just a few rehearsals, RAISE HELL could hear the capacity that Jimmy had and he almost immediately became a solid member of the band.
After three albums on NUCLEAR BLAST, the relationship came to an end, with which both parties were satisfied. A search for a new label was started and after some good offers, RAISE HELL finally decided to sign with BLACK LODGE (Sweden). At this point, Torstein realized that he no longer could put his full heart and soul into the band and therefore decided to leave RAISE HELL. There have never been any hard feelings. The member changes and label change came as a natural break for the band that resulted in nothing being heard from them in a couple of years except for a few live gigs.
In 2004, just after the signing with Black Lodge Records, two demo songs were recorded and they turned out so good that they ended up on a 7” limited vinyl single. In the summer of 2005, the recording of a new album started. This time it took place at Tyroon Production with Jörgen Svensson as producer. The album is titled "City of the Damned".
Open Your Mind
Raise Hell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open your eyes... open your mind!
Broken down, deceived by liars
Why do you only fear them at night
Ferry tales of demons and fire
Created by ourselves mankind
We lived as liars since the dawn of belief
You can't believe it
Self denial
You can't believe it...
Open your eyes
Can't you see they are trying to
Open your mind...
To the unknown
Open your eyes
Can't you see they are trying to
Open your mind...
To the unknown
Open your eyes to the unknown
Open your eyes to the unknown...
Illogical explanation
Look behind the human mind
Where we come to understanding
Of what's real, it's yours to find
The prophets say they obey reality
What to they know, what to they see
I call in truth they say it's insanity
What are you now, genius or fool
You can't believe it
Self denial
You can't believe it...
Open your eyes
Can't you see they are trying to
Open your mind...
To the unknown
Open your eyes
Can't you see they are trying to
Open your mind...
To the unknown
Open your eyes to the unknown
Open your eyes to the unknown...
Just a touch from a soul far away
Set off your fear
Why do you scream instead of communicate
Let them in, let them in, let them rip
Let them in, let them in
Let them in, let them in, let them rip
Let them in, let them in, let them rule
You can't believe it
Self denial
You can't believe it...
Open your eyes
Can't you see they are trying to
Open your mind...
To the unknown
Open your eyes
Can't you see they are trying to
Open your mind...
To the unknown
Open your eyes to the unknown
Open your eyes to the unknown...
The song "Open Your Mind" by Raise Hell is a call to action, urging individuals to open their minds and question their beliefs. The lyrics assert that individuals have been deceived by liars and have only been exposed to fairy tales of demons and fire. The track notes that humanity has lived as liars since the beginning of time, and the world of denial makes it hard to see reality.
The song urges listeners to open their minds to the unknown and seek out an understanding of what's real. It explores the idea that prophets claim to obey reality, but they are often out of touch with it. The lyrics assert that individuals can't always believe in self-denial and must look beyond human perception to understand what's real. Raise Hell challenges listeners to face their fears instead of screaming in response and to let others in instead of pushing them away or allowing their fears to dictate their actions.
Overall, "Open Your Mind" is a call for introspection and growth, challenging individuals to question and reject destructive beliefs and behaviors.
Line by Line Meaning
Open your eyes, open your mind
The song starts with urging the listener to be open-minded and to broaden their perspective.
Broken down, deceived by liars
People have been misled and lied to throughout their lives.
Why do you only fear them at night
The fear of unknown and unseen things is a common human tendency that is stronger at night.
Ferry tales of demons and fire
Myths and legends of scary supernatural creatures like demons and ghosts.
Created by ourselves mankind
We humans have created these stories and perpetuated them throughout history.
We lived as liars since the dawn of belief
Humans have been lying to themselves and each other since the beginning of time in terms of what they believe in and what they don't.
World of denial, why is it hard to see
People often live in a state of denial, even if the truth is staring them in the face.
You can't believe it
The song repeats this line to emphasize the point that some people refuse to believe the truth even if it's presented to them.
Self denial
Refusing to accept the truth is a form of self-denial.
Can't you see they are trying to
The song calls upon the listener to notice that someone is trying to open their mind to new ideas.
To the unknown
This unknown territory is where people's fears and doubts reside.
Illogical explanation
The irrational interpretation of events and ideas leads to misunderstanding.
Look behind the human mind
You need to dig deeper into the human psyche to get to the root of their beliefs and fears.
Where we come to understanding
Only after exploring the human mind can one come to a true understanding of what reality is.
Of what's real, it's yours to find
The truth of what is real is within each person's grasp if they are willing to look for it.
The prophets say they obey reality
Religious leaders might say that they are following the truth, but they may not follow it as closely as they claim.
What to they know, what to they see
It's worth questioning whether those in positions of religious authority truly have the answers to life's existential questions.
I call the truth, they say it's insanity
Sometimes, speaking the truth makes people question your sanity, especially if it goes against prevailing societal beliefs.
What are you now, genius or fool
Those who question established norms and beliefs are often seen as either highly intelligent or foolish.
Just a touch from a soul far away
The slightest suggestion or hint from a distant source can trigger intense fears and anxieties.
Set off your fear
These distant triggers can cause our fears to come alive and take over our minds.
Why do you scream instead of communicate
People often react with fear instead of trying to communicate with the unknown.
Let them in, let them in, let them rip. Let them in, let them in, let them rule
The song urges people to let go of their fears and anxieties and open themselves up to new, unfamiliar experiences.
Open your eyes to the unknown
The song ends with a repetition of the opening lines, calling on the listener to open their eyes and mind to new and unknown experiences.
Contributed by Hunter J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.