In 2004 they released their first album Sinthetic, a powerful mixture of orchestrated, yet electronic black metal, which earned great reviews worldwide.
They recorded their second album Intoxicate O.S. with S. Jämsen at Perkele Studios Deathchain, Barathrum, Turmion Kätilöt).
Current line-up:
Henry Hämäläinen - Vocals
Juha Sirkkiä - Guitars
Olli Savolainen - Synthesizers
Eero Mantere - Bass
Erno Räsänen - Drums
Aapeli Kivimäki - Guitars
Past members:
Juha Harju - Vocals (Ajattara, Deathchain, Shade Empire, ex-Trollheim's Grott)
Janne Niiranen - Guitars (Chaosweaver, Project Silence)
Tero Liimatainen - Guitars
Antti Makkonen - Drums
Blood Colours the White
Shade Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Groping for something I cannot quite reach
The fall is too deep
If I let go It will take all that's left of me
Blood colours the white
I'm mesmerised
It burns in my eyes
But if I look away I lose all that I have
Faces from the dark turning
Through the scorched fields I am walking
Towards the gates
Who tells the truth?
I see faces but
The words they speak are unknown to me
The crooked serpent
The distance is too wide
How can I know what's happening on the other side
I want to let go
But then there's no turning back
I'm kept in the dark
I stand on my grave
No one is there
There's no name on the stone
Serpent around my neck...
The gates are still sealed
My mind is turning black, it's burning
Faces from the dark turning
Through the scorched fields I'm walking
Towards the gates
I have the key, but it's under my skin
Blood colours the white
In the song "Blood Colours the White" by Shade Empire, the lyrics reveal a struggle of inner turmoil and external confusion. The singer speaks of hanging on a cliff, grasping for something just out of reach with the fear that if they let go, all that is left of them will be taken. The imagery in this opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song. It is a plea to hold onto something despite doubt and uncertainty, and it catches the listener's attention with a sense of urgency. Blood Colours the White is a metaphor for purity being stained by violence, a reminder that even the most innocent things can be tainted.
The chorus of the song is equally strong, with the line "Blood colours the white." This statement is a metaphor for violence and the darkness of the world corrupting the purity and innocence that is seemingly invulnerable. The singer is mesmerized by the violence, yet it burns their eyes, making it difficult to look at. If they look away, they will lose all that they have, and their mind will turn black and burn. They are walking through scorched fields, not knowing who to trust or what to believe. The gates are still sealed, and the singer has the key, but it is under their skin, indicating a deep inner struggle to unlock their own potential.
Line by Line Meaning
Hanging on a cliff
In a precarious position, teetering on the edge of something dangerous or unknown
Groping for something I cannot quite reach
Reaching out for something beyond my grasp, searching for answers or meaning
The fall is too deep
The potential consequences of letting go are severe and irreversible
If I let go It will take all that's left of me
If I give up or lose my grip on this situation, it will destroy me completely
Blood colours the white
The violent and painful struggle is leaving its mark, staining purity with darkness and pain
I'm mesmerised
Despite the pain and danger, I am hypnotized or captivated by this experience
It burns in my eyes
The bright, searing pain is overwhelming me, making it difficult to see or think clearly
But if I look away I lose all that I have
Even though the pain is unbearable, turning away means forfeiting everything I have worked for up to this point
My mind is turning black, it's burning
The mental and emotional toll is overwhelming, causing intense distress and anguish
Faces from the dark turning
Threatening or dangerous figures are emerging from the shadows
Through the scorched fields I am walking
The journey is treacherous and fraught with danger
Towards the gates
Moving towards a point of resolution or safety
Who tells the truth?
Questioning the reliability of those who claim to have answers or knowledge
I see faces but
Encountering others along the way who may or may not be trustworthy
The words they speak are unknown to me
Unable to understand or trust the messages or motives of those I encounter
The crooked serpent
A symbol of deceit and danger, making the journey even more perilous
The distance is too wide
Unable to bridge the gap or connect with those on the other side
How can I know what's happening on the other side
Feeling isolated and disconnected from events or people that may be important
I want to let go
Feeling overwhelmed and tempted to give up, even though the consequences are dire
But then there's no turning back
Once relinquishing control, there is no way to regain it, making the decision even more final
I'm kept in the dark
Feeling cut off from information or knowledge that could be helpful or enlightening
I stand on my grave
Feeling like my fate is already determined or sealed, facing death or the unknown
No one is there
Feeling alone and unsupported, without any guidance or help along the way
There's no name on the stone
Feeling forgotten or overlooked, with no recognition or legacy to my name
Serpent around my neck...
The weight of danger or deceit is overwhelming, suffocating, and inescapable
The gates are still sealed
The point of resolution or safety is still out of reach or inaccessible
I have the key, but it's under my skin
The solution or resolution is within reach, but it requires a painful, difficult sacrifice to access it
Blood colours the white
The pain, struggle, and sacrifice are leaving their mark, transforming purity and innocence with darkness and pain
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.