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.
Thorns And A Rose
Shadow Keep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His heart filled with sadness as the truth is unfold
If there can only be one, then this one must be me
I'm the new messiah so bow down to me
Good and Evil appeal to me,
I'm both thorns and a rose
Good and Evil rule inside me
Mankind has enslaved our lore in their pages of fraud
But they will find no mercy in the eyes of the free
I'm the one who summoned raw creatures of blood
An army of minions that will spread the word
Good and Evil appeal to me,
I'm both thorns and a rose
Good and Evil rule inside me
Like a two-headed God
Good and Evil appeal to me,
I'm both thorns and a rose
Good and Evil rule inside me
Like a two-headed God
The lyrics of Shadow Keep's song "Thorns And A Rose" explore the concept of duality within oneself and the rejection of traditional religious beliefs. The opening lines suggest that gods are not supernatural beings, but merely mortals who have lived for an extended period and experienced the harsh realities of existence. The singer of the song implies that they are the new messiah, and people must pay homage to them. This belief reflects the idea of rejecting the traditional religious institutions and traditions and the need to define one's own path.
The second stanza talks about the internal struggle of Good and Evil within the singer. The line "I'm both thorns and a rose" represents the complex duality within a person, where they can be both good and bad simultaneously. The line that follows states that these aspects rule inside the singer like a two-headed god, further emphasizing the idea of an internal deity. The last stanza speaks of a rebellion against established beliefs, indicating that humans have manipulated the truth to fit their agenda, and the singer is hosting an army of devoted servants to spread their message.
Overall, "Thorns And A Rose" is a song that encourages self-discovery and individuality while remaining mindful of one's moral compass. The lyrics encourage rebellion against the traditional notion of religion or faith, implying that individual beliefs should be the guiding force in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
A God is no more than a man who grew older than old
A deity is merely a mortal who has lived a long time and gained much experience
His heart filled with sadness as the truth is unfold
The realization of reality has left him with a heavy heart
If there can only be one, then this one must be me
If there must be a solitary leader, then it should be him
I'm the new messiah so bow down to me
He believes himself to be a savior and demands reverence from others
Mankind has enslaved our lore in their pages of fraud
Humans have distorted and twisted the truth of their mythos for their own gain
But they will find no mercy in the eyes of the free
Those who hold the knowledge of the real story will not show compassion for those who misuse it
I'm the one who summoned raw creatures of blood
He has summoned violent entities to do his bidding
An army of minions that will spread the word
He has an army of followers who will spread his message
Good and Evil appeal to me,
The concepts of right and wrong are attractive to him
I'm both thorns and a rose
He embodies both danger and beauty
Good and Evil rule inside me
Both morality and immorality coexist within him
Like a two-headed God
He is like a deity with two opposing sides as one being
Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.