There's been some confusion regarding this track - a live favorite, but one that most listeners tend to say they find bleak and perhaps a bit sinister.
That's only half accurate.
This is a song which alternates between two speakers, or "prophets" if you will, communicating their respective visions of humanity's future.
One describes mankind's self-destructive path of violence, hatred, greed and egotism and, ultimately, the world that waits at the end of this path - one that is ruined, burning and dead. This "prophet of Mars" (Mars being, after all, the Roman god of war) paints a grim picture of the destiny towards which a soul full of darkness races. I sing as this character in the verses.
The other prophet offers a different scenario, in which mankind learns to embrace peace, love and mercy, understanding that only through the continual unitive growth of all people in these three is the sustenance and growth of life itself possible. He sees a human race seeking Truth and slowly rising as one Soul toward the face of God. I take on his role during the various iterations of the song's chorus.
lyrics
Find us without future,
Wrath is wreckage.
This we won’t admit to know.
Violent, clouded vision.
Flowing fire -
All that runs a droughted soul.
Stoke embers over coals
And burn away their breath…
Carried on blind vitriol,
We’ll follow this sickness unto death.
Sear away all semblance of a sight -
Lost into the bitter, freezing night.
“But if we break the storm line,
And if we scale the wall cloud,
Together all in one mind,
To beg for truth to ring out…”
Mars, with pounding thunder,
Pull me under.
Man-made lord almighty…
Fear I won’t own up to,
Make them fear too.
Might, make right my hateful pride...
Don’t let me know how many die.
Just burn away their breath,
We rub the ash into our eyes
And follow this sickness unto death.
Sear away all semblance of a sight -
Lost into the bitter, freezing night.
“But if we see the branches,
That twine to meet the sunlight,
And know our Maker’s Spirit,
And only wish to find sight.
And if we call the question,
And listen open-hearted
We’ll hear the true direction,
And peace unites the parted.”
________________________________
Infidel and stranger -
A deadly danger.
With me kill or killed, be.
Rip this world to pieces,
Rule supreme
In darkness, all that’s left to reign.
No one left to blame.
No one left for breath.
Nothing left to claim.
Death sought unto death.
Seared away all semblance of a sight -
Lost into the bitter, freezing night.
“But if we rise in Mercy,
And if we hear the music.
If we hold Forgiveness
And never come to lose it…
Sons we stand, and seeking,
We’ll hear the Living Water
And the Spirit ever speaking,
Leads us homeward to Our Father…"
Omnipresent is a progressive rock band from Winder, GA consisting of Daniel Graham (Bass, Vocals, Keys), Brandon Whitley (Guitars) and Kyle Barnes (Drums).
A career-spanning live album from the European experimental rock band, featuring King Crimson's Gavin Harrison on drums. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 27, 2021
The Long Island metal band's third album etches arena-sized hooks into their jagged compositions, deftly balancing experimental and poppy inclinations. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 12, 2022
