Biography
Before The Unguided was formed, all of the core members played in the Swedish metal band Sonic Syndicate (first known as Fallen Angels). Vocalist Roland Johansson left in 2009 due to issues with extensive touring. In October 2010, it was announced that vocalist Richard Sjunneson would not take part of the rest of the We Rule the Night tour to spend more time with his family, but a couple of days after he announced the break was permanent, that he left Sonic Syndicate due to creative differences.[3][4] Richard went on to form the new band, The Unguided, together with Roland Johansson and Roger Sjunnesson
On December 22, 2010, Richard revealed on his blog that the band would be releasing two brand-new songs in January. On January 9, 2011 the band revealed the artwork and title for their upcoming EP, Nightmareland. The artwork was done by Kuang Hong. The layout and booklet design was made by Gustavo Sazes, the same person who made the artwork for the Sonic Syndicate EP Burn This City. An alternative version of the artwork for later re-issues of the EP was made by Jose A. Aranguren, the same person who made the artwork for the Sonic Syndicate album Eden Fire. On the same day, it was also announced that the release date of Nightmareland would be delayed until February due to the band re-recording it in a professional studio and not in Richard's home studio. On January 18, 2011, the band announced the title of the two new songs for the Nightmareland EP: "Green Eyed Demon" and "Pathfinder". On the same day, it was revealed that the recording took place in The Abyss studio (same studio Sonic Syndicate recorded Only Inhuman, Love and Other Disasters and Burn This City) in Pärlby, Sweden with producer Jonas Kjellgren (same producer Sonic Syndicate used for Only Inhuman, Love and Other Disasters and Burn This City). On February 6, 2011, the band announced that their first concert would be as a part of the set-list for the 2011 Getaway Rock Festival. Richard also revealed that he had joined the Swedish metal band Faithful Darkness.
On February 16, 2011, the band released a video on their YouTube page including a preview of two tracks of the upcoming EP. On February 18, 2011, the band announced that the recording, mixing and mastering of Nightmareland was done. They also announced that the band had signed with the Swedish record label Despotz Records, on which Nightmareland would be released. March 7, 2011 the band announced that Nightmareland would be released on April 1, 2011 through Despotz Records. They also announced that the band would be re-recording songs they wrote when they still were in Fallen Angels. On the release day of Nightmareland, "Pathfinder" premiered on the Swedish radio station Bandit Rock.
On April 28, 2011, the band announced that pre-production of their debut album had officially begun. They also revealed that Jonas Kjellgren also would be producing the album and that The Unguided had signed a deal with Despotz Records to release and distribute it. On June 6, 2011 it was revealed that the second The Unguided concert would be on July 26, 2011 at the annual Grand Rock event at their hometown Falkenberg, Sweden. Richard had already hinted that fans needed to keep their eyes out for June 16, 2011 without revealing anything more than that it would be a special day. On June 16, 2011 without any official announcement The Unguided released their debut single "Betrayer of the Code". "Betrayer of the Code" was originally written by Roger and Richard when they still played in Fallen Angels. The artwork for the single was made by Jose A. Aranguren, the same person who made the artwork for the Sonic Syndicate album Eden Fire and the alternative version of Nightmareland. With the release of the first single, The Unguided had officially begun recording their debut album. Although the recording session had already been going on for a while, it wasn't announced until June 16.
On June 25, 2011, Richard announced that The Unguided would not be able to perform any of their songs written in Sonic Syndicate due to after Roland's departure of the band he signed a contract giving away all the rights of anything related to Sonic Syndicate, even performing the songs live. In order for the band to play their songs live, every member of the band (except new singer Nathan James Biggs) needed to sign a contract wherein they allow The Unguided to play their songs. Richard and Roger's cousin and guitar player in Sonic Syndicate, Robin Sjunnesson was the only person in the band not willing to sign the contract, therefore removing any possibility for The Unguided to play any of their old songs. Richard Sjunnesson included the following statement about the situation on his blog: "I know this comes as a disappointment to a lot of you who were looking forward to hearing Sonic Syndicate songs with the original singer setup but it’s totally out of our hands. Until we get that last signature there’s really nothing we can do. We in The Unguided don’t see this hindrance as a major obstacle, however. We see it as a great challenge since we immediately have to banish ourselves to the writing board, finish up, and rehearse a lot of new material. Keep in mind, we’re NOT Sonic Syndicate we’re The Unguided with all the properties that comes of that. Thus The Unguided’s upcoming live appearances will consist of entirely our own material".
On October 3, the artwork and title of their debut album Hell Frost was revealed at 616. The artwork was done by Kuang Hong, the same person who made the artwork for Nightmareland. The layout and booklet design was made by Gustavo Sazes. On the same day Despotz Records announced that the recording, mixing and mastering of Hell Frost. was completed and that it would be released on November 30, 2011. Richard had already announced on his blog that the album would include a cover song; on October 8, it was revealed to be "Tankens Mirakel" by the Swedish EBM duo Spark. The song has been translated into English and will appear on the album with the title "The Miracle of Mind". It will be the JakeBox exclusive bonus track for Hell Frost. On October 11 the Swedish radio station Bandit Rock premiered the song "Inherit the Earth", a preview of the song had been played the day before as well. On October 25, it was announced that "Inherit the Earth" would be the lead single. "Phoenix Down" was originally intended as the lead single. The single was eventually released on October 26, 2011. The artwork for the single was made by Jose A. Aranguren. On January 13, 2012 the band released their second single "Phoenix Down" and its music video, directed by Patric Ullaeus who has worked with all the members of the band on several occasions. The single was released as a 4-track single. The artwork for the single was made by Jose A. Aranguren.
Line-Up
Richard Sjunnesson - Vocals
Roger Sjunnesson - Guitars, Keyboards
Roland Johansson - Guitars, Vocals
Henric Carlsson - Bass
Richard Schill - Drums
Phoenix down
The Unguided Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm rubbing everything to find, to find that genie inside (inside)
A state of not caring for my thoughtless wrongdoings
'Cause I know by the end of the day there's no punishment divine
Reckless, you walked right into my crosshair (I walked right into)
Careless I inscribed my name on your heartstone (you inscribed your name)
Loveless I already know my exits
And relentless I enjoyed every second of it
Don't you dare to read my mind (because you don't like, won't like what you'll find)
And the more that you resist me
The greater the damage will be
Along came another bright eyed demon
My last stand was always, always versus her
Breaking my armor just to reach the patchwork of my heart
Not caring what she wished for cause in the end she wanted it all
What you see is never what you get and we both know
The sky is the limit and I'm afraid it's falling down
Don't you dare to read my mind (because you don't like, won't like what you'll find)
And the more that you resist me
The greater the damage will be
Don't you dare to read my mind (because you don't like, won't like what you'll find)
And the more that you resist me
The greater the damage will be
Through the ashes I spread my wings again
Why am I cheating death when it's life that's the enemy?
I bite the bullet and get right up on my feet again
Don't you dare to read my mind (because you don't like, won't like what you'll find)
And the more that you resist me
The greater the damage will be
Don't you dare to read my mind (because you don't like, won't like what you'll find)
And the more that you resist me
The greater the damage will be
I spread my wings (my wings again)
Why am I cheating death (when it is life that's the enemy?)
The lyrics to The Unguided’s song “Phoenix Down” are about the struggles of life and the consequences of our actions. The song speaks about the lies and deceptions that surround us in life and how we struggle to find our place amidst these falsehoods. When the song says, “I'm rubbing everything to find, to find that genie inside (inside),” it speaks to the idea of searching for a way to escape the lies and deception around them.
The song also touches on the idea of consequences, or lack thereof. The line “'Cause I know by the end of the day there's no punishment divine” suggests that there may be no retribution for our actions in life. It also speaks about the different aspects of love: reckless, careless, and loveless. It illustrates how these different facets of love can lead to different consequences, whether positive or negative.
The chorus of the song urges the listener to not try and read the singer’s mind because the listener won’t like what they find. It also highlights the idea that the more someone resists him, the greater the damage will be. This line is a warning that someone should not try to break down the walls that the singer has erected.
The song title, “Phoenix Down,” is a reference to a recurring item in the Final Fantasy series. The item is said to be made from the feathers of a phoenix and has the power to revive a fallen party member. The song’s lyrics also suggest that the singer is trying to be reborn after struggling through a difficult period.
Line by Line Meaning
In this big panorama of lies, which we came to call life
We live in a world full of deception and falsehoods that we have learned to accept as our reality.
I'm rubbing everything to find, to find that genie inside (inside)
I am searching and exploring every aspect of myself to discover my innermost desires and potential.
A state of not caring for my thoughtless wrongdoings
I am indifferent to the careless mistakes and missteps I have made along the way.
'Cause I know by the end of the day there's no punishment divine
I am not afraid of any moral or spiritual consequences for my actions since I do not believe in a higher power or divine justice.
Reckless, you walked right into my crosshair (I walked right into)
You are to blame for the harm that has come your way since you were foolish enough to enter my dangerous territory.
Careless I inscribed my name on your heartstone (you inscribed your name)
I have left a lasting mark on your heart through my careless actions, and you have allowed me to do so.
Loveless I already know my exits
I am aware of how to leave any situation that may require me to face my emotions and deal with love or attachment.
And relentless I enjoyed every second of it
I have been unyielding in my pursuit of pleasure and gratification at your expense, and I have delighted in it.
The sky is the limit and I'm afraid it's falling down
I am capable of achieving anything I set my mind to, but I fear that even the impossible is not enough to avoid the decline of our world.
Along came another bright eyed demon
Another person with a deceptive and manipulative nature has entered my life.
My last stand was always, always versus her
I have been fighting against this particular person since the beginning, knowing that it would be my ultimate challenge.
Breaking my armor just to reach the patchwork of my heart
This person has been able to break through my defenses and reach the incomplete and damaged parts of my soul.
Not caring what she wished for cause in the end she wanted it all
I disregarded this person's desires and intentions since I knew that she was pursuing her own selfish interests and ambitions.
What you see is never what you get and we both know
We both acknowledge that appearances can be deceiving and that people are often not who they seem to be.
Through the ashes I spread my wings again
Despite the devastation and destruction around me, I am able to rise from the ashes and begin anew.
Why am I cheating death when it's life that's the enemy?
I question why I am able to survive through dangerous and risky situations, when in reality, it is life itself that poses the greatest threat to me.
I bite the bullet and get right up on my feet again
I bravely face whatever challenges lie ahead, and I am able to stand up and keep going even in the face of adversity.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: HENRIK STIG CARLSSON, JOHN PER BENGTSSON, RICHARD ANDREAS SJUNNESSON, ROGER HANS SJUNNESSON, ROLAND INGEMAR JOHANSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L3ZC
10 years later and I'm still listening. I was 9 when it was released and I'm almost 20, times flies like crazy
C.A. old
Gosh its been 1 Year ! But Still Stonger And Youunger ! ^^ +1
Dr. Gainzzz
Dang man that's wild I grew up listening to sonic syndicate and I'm. I'm 27 now and it's so hard for me to believe this song is already 11 years old..
Jack Thmas
I may be wrong, but I feel like bands like The Unguided dont get as much attention as they should get
TheUnguidedTV
We don't need as much attention, we love how there's a pretty closed community of hardcore fans to the band, instead of having million fake fans that will move on in a second when you blink an eye basically.
Jack Thmas
I've never heard of you guys till going on spotify recently looking through similar bands of bands and saw you guys. I really do like your music. I like that you guys would rather be a quiet band.
TheUnguidedTV
Jack Thmas Welcome to the familiy!
Metal555Fan
TheUnguidedTV You guys are even more amazing for replying to your fans here on Youtube and on Facebook as well. You guys post some funny shit on Facebook too, ahah! Keep up the great work guys!
HeavySandvichGuy1
TheUnguidedTV who exactly is answering questions on youtube?
Jaroslav Šváha
So after all these years, I'm finally listening to the original version