Subterranean Masquerade's music first came into the world back in 2000 with a cover version of Peter Murphy's classic "Cut's you up". The cover, released as part of an 80's metal cover compilation album, was recorded with guest appearances by Tomas Lindberg of At the Gates, Kobi Farhi of Orphaned Land and produced by Dori Bar Or from Eternal Gray.
The first official band release came in the form of a semi-acoustic two track EP (17 minutes long) entitled "Temporary Psychotic State", this recording featured Paul Khur of Novembers doom as the lead vocalist as well as JWW of Agalloch on bass guitar and Andy Winter from the band WINDS on some of the keys and synths. Released later that year by THE END RECORDS, the EP was received with highly positive reviews from media and fans alike.
In the midst of working on a full length album, the band entered the studio to record a DEAD CAN DANCE cover track. Combining lyrics from several other Dead Can Dance tracks as well as lengthy instrumental passages, the band's rendition of "Summoning of the Muse" was featured on a tribute album released by Black Lotus records.
"Suspended Animation Dreams" was released in 2005, "This was the most exhausting album I ever recorded… it brought oblivion to my personal life and took me to places I never wished to see.", recalls mastermind Tomer Pink. The album was mixed by Neil Kernon and have gained recognition as one of the most elaborated and accomplished metal albums ever recorded. Immediately upon completion of the album, Tomer packed his life in the US and decided to go on a journey and travel the world, study the art of sound engineering and wait for the right time to come back.
8 years after releasing S.A.D., Subterranean Masquerade entered the studio to record a new two-track EP with a new lineup including Matan Shmuely on drums, guitarist Or Shalev and bassist Mike Feldman of Novembers doom. They expended its sound with world-music-oriented instruments and beats, adding folk music harmonies and at the same time strengthening extreme metal guitar riffage and drum blasting.
"Home" EP included a new track and a cover version of THE MISSION's "Beyond the Pale" and released on Tomer's new record label TAKLIT MUSIC as a limited edition 7" vinyl only, making it a well-worth return to the front just before starting to record the new album.
6 months in the making, Subterranean Masquerade are finally ready with "THE GREAT BAAZAR", a new full length of everything you learned to expect from the band and a step further into the world of rich instrumentations and styles, a concept story about a man leaving home to find what's important in life and a dialog between so called "Good" and "Evil". the album featuring Kjetil Nordhus (Green Carnation, Tristania) as the band's new singer. "This is a great honor for us and a massive step forward for the band, I've been a fan of Kjetil work since the early Green Carnation albums, this is a dream come true! The album also featuring Orphaned Land's singer Kobi Farhi on vocals as a guest appearance.
"This is the first time I feel like we are a real band and not just a studio project" says Tomer. Adding keyboardist Shai Yallin and bassist Golan Farhi as band members Subterranean Masquerade are ready to take the carnival from your stereo to the road. Get ready for THE GREAT BAAZAR
Six Strings To Cover Fear
Subterranean Masquerade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turning the countdown clock
A salty taste of a waterfall, thick colored fog
Bathing in the gaze of a sacred desire under the warmth of the sun
Senseless we adored the freedom, we danced for kingdom come
Twelve weeks already in this place
Turning, the countdown clock
And I'm half blue
At night, the screams from upstairs muting the storms outside
And I still ask myself the same old questions
Is the carnival on tonight?
As time passes me by, I avoid my painful doubt
That in a time of bleed, I need you by my side
But why is it that you always vanish
Like a mirage in summer night Leaving just a shadow - so vivid, can't see anything else for miles
And by the time you make your mind to take the pill
Division bells ringing down the elevator shaft
Welcome to the seventh floor rhymes well with velvet cream
Your crime in passion, last will, paint in purple
Six strings to cover fear
The lyrics in Subterranean Masquerade's song Six Strings To Cover Fear tell a story of someone reflecting on their past experiences and feeling lost in the present. The first stanza sets the scene of someone looking back on better days, but feeling like time is running out. The imagery of the "salty taste of a waterfall, thick colored fog" and "bathing in the gaze of a sacred desire" convey a sense of nostalgia and wistfulness. The line "senseless we adored the freedom" suggests that the singer may have taken their past happiness for granted.
The second stanza introduces a new character named X, who is described as "half white" while the singer is "half blue." This could be interpreted as a reference to race or skin color, or it could be a metaphor for feeling like they don't quite fit in anywhere. The reference to the "screams from upstairs" adds a sense of unease and urgency to the song, and the question "is the carnival on tonight?" could be seen as a metaphor for wondering if life is just a meaningless spectacle.
The final stanza brings the song full circle, with the singer acknowledging their need for someone else's support but feeling like that support is always out of reach. The line "six strings to cover fear" could be interpreted as a reference to using music to escape from difficult emotions. Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing for the past and uncertainty about the future, with vivid and often unsettling imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Those eyes have seen the best of days
Experienced good times and memorable moments
Turning the countdown clock
Starting the clock to count down to an event or deadline
A salty taste of a waterfall, thick colored fog
Experiencing a heavy and intense emotional state
Bathing in the gaze of a sacred desire under the warmth of the sun
Being consumed by a strong and heartfelt longing in a blissful moment
Senseless we adored the freedom, we danced for kingdom come
We mindlessly loved feeling free and danced with enthusiasm and excitement
Twelve weeks already in this place
Time has passed, and we have been in this place for 12 weeks
X is sitting in his chair, he's half white, And I'm half blue
X is present, and they are racially different from the singer
At night, the screams from upstairs muting the storms outside
The screams from the floor above overpower the sound of the outside storms during the night
And I still ask myself the same old questions, Is the carnival on tonight?
Despite everything, the artist continues to hope for a fun experience
As time passes me by, I avoid my painful doubt
The artist tries to ignore their doubts as time goes on
That in a time of bleed, I need you by my side
During difficult times, the singer desires to have the support of a loved one
But why is it that you always vanish, Like a mirage in summer night
The artist questions why their loved one always disappears when they need them most
Leaving just a shadow - so vivid, can't see anything else for miles
The loved one's absence is felt distinctly, making everything else feel faded and insignificant
And by the time you make your mind to take the pill
The singer is left waiting for their loved one to come around and fix their issues
Division bells ringing down the elevator shaft
Sounds of a metaphorical alarm signaling something is about to happen
Welcome to the seventh floor rhymes well with velvet cream
A sarcastic welcome to more trouble and adversity
Your crime in passion, last will, paint in purple
An artistic use of words to describe a passionate act that may have negative consequences
Six strings to cover fear
Music is a way to hide or overcome fear
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bean Beater
Man that melody has engraved itself in my mind and won't go away until I die
Vanni Rovera
My favorite track out of this f**king great album! Unique band, I'm so glad they are going to put out a new opus
Maria Diaz
Those eyes have seen the best of days
Turning the countdown clock
A salty taste of a waterfall, thick colored fog
Bathing in the gaze of a sacred desire under the warmth of the sun
Senseless we adored the freedom, we danced for kingdom come
Twelve weeks already in this place
Turning, the countdown clock
X is sitting in his chair, he's half white
And I'm half blue
At night, the screams from upstairs muting the storms outside
And I still ask myself the same old questions
Is the carnival on tonight?
As time passes me by, I avoid my painful doubt
That in a time of bleed, I need you by my side
But why is it that you always vanish
Like a mirage in summer nightLeaving just a shadow - so vivid, can't see anything esle for miles
And by the time you make your mind to take the pill
Division bells ringing down the elevator shaft
Welcome to the seventh floor rhymes well with velvet cream
Your crime in passion, last will, paint in purple
Six strings to cover fear
Piotr Thier
@L'Imbrattafogli actually, every lyrics site is missing that verse, I don't exactly know why ;)
L'Imbrattafogli
you're missing a verse
68 ELENI LIVERAKOU
so special...Unique !
M I
I find recommending "hybrid" bands like this price to be good introductions to black metal