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.
Fear And Loathing
Shadow Keep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You should have feared the lightning strike
We have enough
Of your madman's intuitions
that hide the truth behind the curtains
We can believe what we see and Gods we grew up with
but your black hole paradise leads us to a dead end road
Fear and loathing is the result of a chain reaction - the lightning strikes again
Fear and loathing is the reward for the change you brought - the lightning strikes again
It will only take a minute
And the pain you feel will go away, yeah
Mercy killing will satisty our needs
And the moral aftermath is not as important as it seems
Fear and loathing is the result of a chain reaction - the lightning strikes again
Fear and loathing is the reward for the change you brought - the lightning strikes again
release, release this pain
Fear and loathing is the result of a chain reaction - the lightning strikes again
Fear and loathing is the reward for the change you brought - the lightning strikes again
The Shadow Keep's song "Fear and Loathing" speaks to the idea that there is a truth that is hidden behind curtains, and although it can be tempting to stick with the gods and beliefs that we have grown up with, following those beliefs can lead to a dead end road. The lyrics suggest that there is more to life than what we see, and that we need to be open to different perspectives and ideas in order to find true meaning and satisfaction.
The reference to lightning strikes is symbolic of the chain reaction that occurs when we try to change the status quo. The pain and discomfort that come with change can be overwhelming, and even though it may only take a minute to make a decision that will alleviate that pain, the moral consequences of that decision are not to be taken lightly.
At the core, the lyrics are urging listeners to embrace the potential for growth and change, even if it means relinquishing beliefs that we have held for a long time. The song's evocative lyrics and haunting melody make it a poignant meditation on the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
You sensed the motions amongst the clouds
Your intuition is misleading you
You should have feared the lightning strike
The consequences of your actions will hurt you
We have enough
We don't need your ideas
Of your madman's intuitions
Your irrational beliefs
that hide the truth behind the curtains
That obscure reality
We can believe what we see and Gods we grew up with
We trust in what we know and our cultural background
but your black hole paradise leads us to a dead end road
Your unrealistic dreams will take us nowhere
Fear and loathing is the result of a chain reaction - the lightning strikes again
Your actions will have negative consequences
Fear and loathing is the reward for the change you brought - the lightning strikes again
You will face the consequences of your actions
It will only take a minute
The solution is quick and easy
And the pain you feel will go away, yeah
Your suffering will end
Mercy killing will satisfy our needs
We will take extreme measures to solve our problems
And the moral aftermath is not as important as it seems
The impact of our actions on others is not our priority
release, release this pain
We want to escape from our suffering
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.