The truth is that THE HOURGLASS has never been a band. We didn’t have concerts or singles. I used to play with Bahij (drums) in our practice place from time to time in Homs and the songs were mixture between covers and originals.
Then in late 2002, I decided to write lyrics after I gave up for the idea of having someone to help me in that. And it worked! Actually I discovered talents that I thought I didn’t have at all. I used to write short stories but lyrics? Never!
Musically at that time I had like tons of riffs and solos in my head and on tapes I worked on the songs till the end of the year and started searching for a vocalist to sing them after they were nearly complete.
That was a big big problem for me. Our style is 80’s traditional Metal and the songs are like MAIDEN and SAVATAGE a lot. I know that Basem has a voice and singing style like Bruce but I never knew him in person at that time. I used to know a guy called Gary he sings with a Lebanese band called DILEMMA, I called him and invited him to test our songs. He is a very good vocalist but his voice is more suitable for Power Metal, STRATOVARIUS and HAMMERFALL style, so I asked him to introduce me to Basem. We played with Basem and the main members of the band are formed.
The bass guitar problem was saved by Salim from SOLITAIRE (Lebanon), we used to play a long time ago together in a cover band called NEO BLOOD in Lebanon.
Because of time variable, I recorded a lot of the bass on the album.
The keyboard was played by Nareg of a cover band in Aleppo called JUST PAIN, he is brilliant, we recorded them in half a day, I like his solos at the end on “The Land Of The Free”, they are magical.
Members infos:
Rawad:
*Born in Homs, Syria on the 25th of Sep 1980
*Started playing guitar in 1995
*First live show was with SPHINX in 1998
*Left SPHINX (Syria) and joined NEO BLOOD in Lebanon
*The creator of THE HOURGLASS and the writer and producer of “To The Land Of The Free”
*Making his MS in marketing in Lebanon
*Major influences: IRON MAIDEN, SAVATAGE, METALLICA, CANDLEMASS.
*Uses Ibanez guitars, boss effects
Bassem:
*Born in Beirut, Lebanon on the 28th of Nov 1977
*Started singing and playing guitar in 1993
*Formed BLAAKYUM in 1995 released single “Am I Black” 1998
*In addition to THE HOURGLASS he’s singing with a cover band COMMUNION
*Graduate of psychology and classic chant
*Major influences: DIO, DICKNISON, HETFIELD, HALFORD
Current Line-Up:
Rawad Abdel Massih – Guitars & Bass
Bassem Deaibess – Vocals
Jerod - Drums
Former/past member(s)
Bahij Ghatta - Drums
Guest Musicians:
Salim Zahra - Bass
Nareg - Keyboards
Faces
The Hourglass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
There's no use running away from the pain that lies within
Can we let go, breathing helps the soul
Help us to know, there are things we can't control
Only our souls will survive
We are just people passing through the night
On our way home a skeleton chases
Weaving my way through hidden faces
Please someone tell me something or all of this will be for nothing
Here's the simple meaning, hidden faces are deceiving
Ice is forming on the window pain of my mind
Frozen rain is flowing through the veins that we call time
Waiting for someone to finally tell me
Why does everything always feel so heavy
There must be something more that this
I close my eyes to reminisce
And there's those hidden faces, all the things that pain embraces
I know the simple meaning, hold the heart to keep from bleeding
I hear it coming, in the breaking of the waves
There's no use running away, when you hear them call your name
There's something heavy
In your eyes, I'm here to help if you'll let me try
I know of the dark places, I hear whispers from those hidden faces
The Hourglass's song "Faces" talks about the fear of death and the uncertainty of life. The lyrics describe the inevitability of death and how we are all just passing through this life. The singer wonders if this life is just a dream or reality, and if all of their struggles will be for nothing. They question why life always feels so heavy and search for something more.
The "hidden faces" represent the unknown, the things that are yet to come and the things that we do not understand. The ICE forming on the "window pain" and "frozen rain" represent time passing and the feeling of being trapped. The singer is waiting for someone to tell them why everything feels heavy, to shed light on the unknown.
In the last verse, the singer tries to offer hope to those who are struggling. They acknowledge that they too have seen dark places and heard whispers from hidden faces. The singer is here to help if the person will let them try.
Overall, this song is about accepting the uncertainty of life and death, while also finding hope in the unknown. It's about embracing the struggles and learning to let go of what can't be controlled.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Drew Brashear
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind