Formed in 2012, the band takes root in a raw depressive black metal, but now sheds all boundaries, taking inspiration from an array of additional dark atmospheres including the writings of H.P. Lovecraft and I.M. Banks, noir thrillers and horror movies. The band's excellent early recordings were gathered in the "Origins" compilation released in late 2016.
Exploring themes of borderline death states, aberrant afterlife worlds and strange mental disorders, the WHITE WARD sound spans the expansiveness of instrumental jazz and the depths of pitch black existential despair. After recording the first full-length album "Futility Report", WHITE WARD was signed to Debemur Morti Productions and now is primed to embark much further on the divergent sonic journey.
The band continues to evolve and change directions with their second release, “Love Exchange Failure”. Dark-jazz aesthetics appear more vibrant and deeper than ever before, while elements of blackened death, prog, and black metal scream out in an intense fury over vicious blast beats, courtesy of new drummer Noctum! Lyrical themes explore new dimensions, diving into the abyss of human psyche instead of creating Lovecraft-inspired worlds.
In June 2022, the Ukrainian Black Metal innovators are prepared to unleash their third album, “False Light”, incorporating and intertwining various influences into a potent and dystopian mix. “False Light” is an indispensable record from a stunning band at the top of their game.
Black Silent Piers
White Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somewhere above
Call me sometimes
To give one more glance
On place of my choice
My last choice
Beauty of the deep
Faces among waterweeds
Stone chained to legs
Keeps me safe
From all of bad
Mossy surface of the ruins
Stones whisper all my names
Hollow sounds of that one song
Force me to forget you all
What you've got for me, you drowned god?
Everything is so familiar
Centuries of refined torture
Gave me knowledge of the elder ones
When death passes your time will come
And you will sleep no longer
Give me the power to calm down the waves
So I can hear your call
The song "Black Silent Piers" by White Ward is a melancholy portrait of a person haunted by their past, seeking refuge and solace in the depths of the sea. The opening lines depict a dark, eerie atmosphere above the pier, calling the singer to take one last glance at their chosen place before they disappear in the deep sea. The reference to the silent piers could be symbolic of the memories from the past that the singer is trying to leave behind, thus making it silent; and the call from somewhere above could be seen as the singer's longing for peace or heaven.
The singer then describes the beauty of the sea and the harmony that it provides in contrast to the chaos that has overtaken the land. The sea provides safety to the singer, helping them forget the chaos and the struggles of the past. The chorus highlights the contrast between the singer's safety and the dangers lurking in the deep sea. The singer seeks asylum from the terrors of their past in the seductive purity of the sea.
The second half of the song reveals that the singer has made a pact with the God of the sea, asking him for control over the waves so he can hear his call. The haunting lyrics depict a person scarred by their struggles, trying to find comfort in the sea, and may be interpreted as a portrayal of a nihilistic existence and a longing for death. The lyrics bring to mind the works of Edgar Allan Poe, whose poetry often dealt with similar themes.
Line by Line Meaning
Black silent piers
The dark, quiet docks where souls depart to the afterlife
Somewhere above
The docks are located somewhere in the sky, above our world
Call me sometimes
The docks reach out to the living, calling upon them to gaze upon their final destination
To give one more glance
The docks offer the opportunity for a final look at life before departing
On place of my choice
The docks allow for the individual to choose where they go next
My last choice
The choice of where to go next is permanent and cannot be changed
Dance of the waves
The motion of the ocean as a metaphor for the passing of time
Beauty of the deep
The allure of the unknown and mystical aspects of the afterlife
Faces among waterweeds
The inhabitants of the afterlife or the memories of the living beneath the waves
Stone chained to legs
The weight of past mistakes or regrets
Keeps me safe
The burden of past mistakes may be heavy, but it serves to keep the individual grounded and safe
From all of bad
The burden of past mistakes serves as a protection from repeating those same mistakes again
Mossy surface of the ruins
The surface of the afterlife is old, worn, and decaying as time slowly erodes it away
Stones whisper all my names
The afterlife is aware of every aspect of one's past, knowing them by all of their names and identities
Hollow sounds of that one song
The repetitive and endless monotony of the afterlife
Force me to forget you all
The afterlife slowly strips away the memories and connections to the living world
What you've got for me, you drowned god?
A questioning of the afterlife and the deity in charge of it
Everything is so familiar
The afterlife is familiar because it is filled with the memories and connections of those who have passed
Centuries of refined torture
The endlessness and monotony of the afterlife can feel like a torturous existence
Gave me knowledge of the elder ones
The accumulated experience of centuries spent in the afterlife have granted a deep wisdom and understanding of the world beyond
When death passes your time will come
Nobody can avoid their eventual passage into the afterlife
And you will sleep no longer
There is no peaceful rest in the afterlife
Give me the power to calm down the waves
A plea to be able to find peace and tranquility in the afterlife
So I can hear your call
In order to connect with the living world once again, the individual must find peace within themselves first
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DarkCeltic 98
El saxofón le da un toque de brutalidad y de elegancia enorme
MisterPai Felippe
Que banda maravilhosa! Gostando demais! Vim pelo Canal Barbônico! 🖤👹🤘🏾
Ghaar Shgsua
Потужно! Відчувається, що у витвір вкладено емоції.
Angry Gingerbread
Alexandr Bolshakov Ахах, ти так смішно розмовляєш :)
king_ov_hate
А власне, що смішного?
До речі, погоджуюсь. Уся їх музика доволі емоційна, натхненна, відчуваються ці відтінки нуару, на які нанизується свідомість. Втонути в собі під таку музику саме те.
dabricorn
blown away by this. Amazing incorporation of the saxophone. the best I have heard! hails!!!
Julia iamkemper
После этой песни я вас полюбила. Всё,ВСЁ идеально. Столько переплетений эмоций в музыке,что нет слов.
Ukrainian Rock News
слушаю 5 раз подряд, невероятно!!
Pablo Oliva
Awesome music, i love the sence you got on blending the music, adding some Chet Baker style on the darkness of your music. Greeting from Chile!!
Olive Bardin
You guys are awesome.You need more recognition.