Music has been in his life since he was little and he plays many musical instruments as piano and guitar, but singing is his strong spot. Russell Allen has a vocal range of 4 full octaves.
After a few years of playing in underground rock bands he joined Symphony X in 1995 and recorded The Damnation Game. He's been in the band since then and they've recorded several albums.
2005 was a great year for him, because he released his first solo album Atomic Soul in which he plays the most instruments and he also had side project with the singer Jorn Lande, named The Battle and the follow up The Revenge.
He's also been guest singer in Flight Of The Migrator and Space Metal.
Unjustified
Russell Allen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Price of living too high to overcome
Politician preaching that war's the only way
While another bum dies in the streets of L.A
It's all a lie unjustified
It's all for black gold
Killing Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu
You can't take life
So sayth the holy books that you read
Manipulated minds
Serving prophets of greed
It's all a lie unjustified
It's all for black gold
And another one dies unjustified
We're selling our souls
Woe to the beggars catching pity in their hands
While the rich feast on the blood media
Broadcast across the land
And somewhere there's a child in a distant house
Feeling only what children know
Fed from a cauldron of hate
Grows to deliver a badly blow
It's all a lie unjustified
And another one dies unjustified
We're all terrorized and horrified
All for black gold
The lyrics to Russell Allen's song Unjustified are a powerful commentary on the devastating consequences of war and greed. The opening lines “81 billion beats the soldier's drum / Price of living too high to overcome” suggest a society caught up in a destructive cycle of violence and poverty. The verse goes on to criticize the politicians who preach war as the only solution, while people continue to suffer and die on the streets. The chorus then reveals the underlying motivation for this state of affairs: black gold, or oil. According to the song, war is fueled by the desire to control this precious resource.
The second verse is particularly hard-hitting, as it highlights the indiscriminate violence of war. It accuses religious leaders of manipulating their followers into taking up arms against people of different faiths, while ignoring the sacredness of life. The lines “You can't take life / So sayth the holy books that you read / Manipulated minds / Serving prophets of greed” suggest that religion is being twisted to justify violence, a common phenomenon in conflicts throughout history. The song then returns to the theme of black gold, as it accuses those who profit from war of selling their souls.
Line by Line Meaning
81 billion beats the soldier's drum
The constant movement toward war and military actions that are being taken by different countries and their leaders.
Price of living too high to overcome
The high cost of living is causing people to struggle to survive and make ends meet, leading to further desperation and possibly contributing to unrest and conflict.
Politician preaching that war's the only way
Politicians are advocating for military action and playing on people's fears to justify their decisions and push their agendas, even when it may not be necessary or beneficial to the greater good.
While another bum dies in the streets of L.A
Despite all the talk of war and conflict overseas, there are still plenty of issues and problems that need to be addressed at home and in our own communities.
It's all a lie unjustified
The rhetoric and propaganda perpetuated by leaders and media outlets to justify war and conflict is based on falsehoods and manipulations.
It's all for black gold
The true motivations behind many actions and decisions related to war and conflict are related to resources and financial gains, rather than any genuine concern for human life or well-being.
Killing Christian, killing Hebrew
Killing Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu
You can't take life
So sayth the holy books that you read
Manipulated minds
Serving prophets of greed
The callousness and hypocrisy of those who justify violent actions in the name of religion, as well as those who use such tactics for their own personal or economic gain.
And another one dies unjustified
We're selling our souls
The cost of war and conflict is not just in terms of human life, but also in terms of the fundamental values and principles that we hold as a society.
Woe to the beggars catching pity in their hands
While the rich feast on the blood media
Broadcast across the land
The stark contrast between those in poverty and those in power, highlighting the role of media and propaganda in shaping public opinion and driving political and economic agendas.
And somewhere there's a child in a distant house
Feeling only what children know
Fed from a cauldron of hate
Grows to deliver a badly blow
The generational impact of war and conflict, and the vulnerable position of innocent people, particularly children, caught in the crossfire or exposed to toxic messages and messaging.
We're all terrorized and horrified
All for black gold
The impact of war and violence on the broader society, creating feelings of fear and mistrust, and the role of economic interests in driving such outcomes.
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.