They are also veterans of festivals across Europe and America – including Bloodstock in the UK.
Now they’re back with powerful new frontman Matt Oakman – and ready to rip it up.
Shadow Keep were formed in 1999 by guitarists Chris Allen and Nikki Robson. That October, with vocalist Rogue M, they recorded a six-track EP at Thin Ice Studios, produced by Threshold guitarist Karl Groom. Their opus Dark Tower became the opener on a German mag’s CD for unsigned bands – and gained them a record deal with Limb Music Productions in June 2000. Two albums, Corruption Within and A Chaos Theory, followed to huge acclaim. The band soon gained support slots with Ronnie James Dio, Halford, Symphony X, Dream Evil plus Flotsam And Jetsam. These major shows led to appearances at festivals in the UK, America, Germany and Holland. Their touring had one benefit – the arrival of Texas bassist Stony Grantham. But other line-up changes held things up. Undeterred, ShadowKeep started work on third album The Hourglass Effect – again with Karl Groom at Thin Ice. The sessions produced some of Chris and Nikki’s most creative songwriting.
Death: A New Horizon
Shadow Keep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please dry the tears in your eyes
I will soon be too blind, too weak
And I don't want to see this last
...And the beginning meets the end...
Sense the new horizon open before thy eyes
There's a light, there is hope at the end of this rainbow
My time has come but I'm craving for more
I guess it doesn't matter
But I still believe, learn from me son
Fate has no meaning at all
...And the beginning meets the end...
Sense the new horizon open before thy eyes
There's a light, there is hope at the end of this rainbow
For a new horizon... New horizon?
I've given up but your life is here
Remember me as the good man I might have been
For I'm too far myself to hear
The fading echoes of the past
...And the beginning meets the end...
Sense the new horizon open before thy eyes
There's a light, there is hope at the end of this rainbow
For a new horizon... (There's a light, there is hope)
The song "Death: A New Horizon" by Shadow Keep speaks about the inevitability of death and accepting it with grace. The opening line suggests that the singer is dying and his loved one is watching him. He asks his loved one to refrain from crying and dry their tears as he does not want to see them in agony for his departure. The singer admits he is too frail to sustain his life and would be blind soon, the word is metaphorical referring to a lack of purpose, an inability to see beyond the present. The line "And the beginning meets the end" is a powerful statement shown twice in the song, it depicts that death is the ultimate end, and all the things that were a part of life, start from it.
The singer goes on to talk about "a new horizon" that is visible before his eyes, it is where he believes he will be going next. He tells his loved one that death is not an end in itself, but a beginning of a new chapter. The line "For a new horizon... New horizon" is repeated several times, reiterating the idea that death is not a full stop, but a stepping stone to a bigger picture. The final verse talks about passing on and his legacy of being a good man. The singer is at peace with his demise and only asks to be remembered with good memories.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waking up and you're staring at me
I am regaining consciousness and notice that you are looking at me
Please dry the tears in your eyes
I request you to wipe away your tears
I will soon be too blind, too weak
I am becoming weaker and losing my sight rapidly
And I don't want to see this last
I don't want to witness my final moments
...And the beginning meets the end...
This is the moment when everything comes to a close, the end begins
Sense the new horizon open before thy eyes
Perceive the sight of a new beginning emerging in front of you
There's a light, there is hope at the end of this rainbow
A gleam of light and hope awaits at the conclusion of this phase
For a new horizon... New horizon...
For a new beginning, a fresh start
My time has come but I'm craving for more
Although my time is near, I still desire more out of life
I guess it doesn't matter
I suppose it is of little importance now
But I still believe, learn from me son
However, I still have faith, and I advise you to learn from me, my child
Fate has no meaning at all
The concept of destiny holds no significance whatsoever
I've given up but your life is here
I have abandoned my life, but the future belongs to you
Remember me as the good man I might have been
Please recall me as the person I could have been, a virtuous man
For I'm too far myself to hear
Since I am too far-gone, I cannot hear anything anymore
The fading echoes of the past
The sounds of the past are slowly disappearing
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.