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
Flesh Relinquished
Shade Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reform my flesh and hide my face from the sun
The black flames inside devour everything
I rise from within and claim dominion
Through the 9 gates, through the pits of mind
Burn the fields of your old life
Peel off pity and remorse
Heart of chaos brings tranquillity
The power within thee
Brings forth thy hidden face
You will be crushed
As I claim the throne in your temple
Angels are gone, your palaces burn
You enjoy the rush
Your mind goes blank and you throw yourself
Into the vortex of decadence
As it starts to burn
The power within thee
Brings forth thy hidden face
I call forth the shadow which I am
And always have been
Walk through the fire eternal
The flames no longer burn your flesh
I slay my wings and change into serpent skin
Reform my flesh and hide my face from the sun
The black flames inside devour everything
I rise from within and claim dominion
Through the 9 gates, through the pits of mind
Burn the fields of your old life
Walk through the fire eternal
The flames no longer burn your flesh
You become one of them
From the heart of chaos you'll find tranquillity
The song "Flesh Relinquished" by Shade Empire is a powerful depiction of someone who renounces their angelic nature and transforms into a being of darkness. The lyrics describe the transformation process, as they "slay" their wings and change their skin to that of a serpent, while also "reforming" their flesh and hiding their face from the sun. The "black flames" inside them consume everything, and they rise up to claim dominion over the world.
The song speaks of passing through the "9 gates" and the "pits of mind" to burn away the old life and all feelings of "pity and remorse". The heart of chaos brings tranquillity, because as the power within them grows, they are able to uncover their true self and hidden face. The song also speaks of the destruction of angels and their palaces, as the once selfless and benevolent beings become corrupted by decadence, and ultimately become one with the darkness.
Overall, the song explores themes of transformation, chaos, and destruction. It portrays the idea that one can only achieve true tranquillity once they embrace their inner darkness and become one with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I slay my wings and change into serpent skin
I shed my identity, becoming something new and deceptive.
Reform my flesh and hide my face from the sun
I transform myself, concealing my true nature from the light of scrutiny.
The black flames inside devour everything
My inner darkness consumes all that I encounter, leaving behind only ashes.
I rise from within and claim dominion
I assert my power, emerging from the depths of my own being to take control.
Through the 9 gates, through the pits of mind
I navigate the treacherous path of the psyche, facing the darkest corners of my consciousness.
Burn the fields of your old life
I destroy the remnants of my past, leaving nothing behind that could bind me or hold me back.
Peel off pity and remorse
I remove any hint of compassion or guilt from my heart, becoming cold and merciless.
Heart of chaos brings tranquillity
Only by embracing the chaos within can I find the peace and clarity that comes from total acceptance.
As it starts to burn, The power within thee Brings forth thy hidden face
The flames of transformation reveal who I truly am, unleashing my full potential.
You will be crushed, As I claim the throne in your temple
Anyone who opposes me will be destroyed, as I take control of their very being.
Angels are gone, your palaces burn
All that was once good and holy is destroyed, leaving only darkness in its wake.
You enjoy the rush, Your mind goes blank and you throw yourself Into the vortex of decadence
You revel in the thrill of destruction, losing yourself in a frenzy of excess and debauchery.
I call forth the shadow which I am And always have been
I bring forth the darkness within me, acknowledging that it has always been a part of me.
Walk through the fire eternal, The flames no longer burn your flesh
I endure the flames of transformation, emerging unscathed and stronger for having faced them.
You become one of them From the heart of chaos you'll find tranquillity
By embracing the darkness within, you become like me and find the same sense of peace and clarity that I have found.
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.