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.
Surfaces and Depths
White Ward Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We come from water, then go to dust
And when we die, the legacy
Burdens those ones willing to see
Starve... Do we deserve
This attitude that burns us whole?
Cry... Do we observe
We are all doomed, so is your prayer
The wicked thoughts
The darkest share
See what is done behind your pleasure
You'll never get the final treasure
Starve... Do we deserve
This attitude that burns us whole?
Cry... Do we observe
Our sanity's tremendous fall
Low, we sink
High, we fly
Every time
We fail
Low, we sink
High, we fly
Every time
We fail
The song "Surfaces and Depths" by White Ward explores the burden of one's ancestry and the struggle to break free from its impact. The opening lyrics "The sins of fathers burden us, we come from water, then go to dust" create a haunting imagery of inheritance, both of physical elements and sins, from previous generations. The weight of this legacy transcends even death and will burden those who are willing to see beyond the surface. The repetition of the phrase "starve" and "cry" with a questioning tone suggests the frustration and desperation of the singer, who seems to be grappling with the idea of whether humanity deserves to be tormented by its past and the power of the mind.
As the song progresses, the theme of duality emerges through the contrasting ideas of low and high, sinking and flying, and failing and succeeding. The chorus mourns the plight of humanity - that we are all doomed, and our prayers cannot change what we have become. The final lines of "We fail" sum up the gloomy perspective of the singer, who sees humanity as being stuck in a cycle of failure and despair.
Overall, "Surfaces and Depths" is a beautiful and powerful song that captures the weight of legacy and the struggle of breaking free from it. The haunting and despairing lyrics, paired with the dreamy and atmospheric music, create a powerful emotional impact on the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
The sins of fathers burden us
Our ancestral actions have affected us negatively and created responsibilities on our shoulders that we might never be able to relieve.
We come from water, then go to dust
We arrive into this world from a watery environment and then depart from it, returning to the earth as dust.
And when we die, the legacy
After we die, the impressions we leave behind comprising our legacy persists.
Burdens those ones willing to see
Only those who are eager to notice and learn carry the responsibility prompted by our legacy.
Starve... Do we deserve
Do we merit the hunger and emptiness that results from attaining what we pursue without accountability or ethics?
This attitude that burns us whole?
Does this unsatisfying view of existence devour us completely?
Cry... Do we observe
Do we perceive and acknowledge the considerable drop in our rationality that results in unnecessary sadness?
Our sanity's tremendous fall
An enormous decline in our mental state and the inability to compose ourselves logically.
We are all doomed, so is your prayer
We are destined to fail no matter what, this includes our prayers to God if we continuously make unethical decisions.
The wicked thoughts
Evil notions or ideas that come to our minds.
The darkest share
The most profound abnormality, wrongdoing or the hardest-to-accept portion of our character makeup.
See what is done behind your pleasure
Recognize the unethical decisions and immoral strategies that are created for our enjoyment without care for others and that may lead to long-term regret.
You'll never get the final treasure
When you live life for your pleasure or get-rich-quick schemes, you'll never have a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction.
Low, we sink
Our actions result in failure and disintegration, leading to a lower level.
High, we fly
When we make ethical choices, we rise and soar above mediocrity.
Every time
For every instance.
We fail
We lose or perform poorly as a result of our dubious actions or choices.
Writer(s): Andrii Pechatkin, Dima Dudko, Evgen Karamushko, Stanislav Bobritskiy, Yurii Kazarian
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.