Desolation
by @b3nut
Liner Notes
Imagining a post-apocalyptic post-climate-collapse hellscape. It's such a happy song. Just kidding. Decided I wanted B-3 to come in at the solo, so I updated it the other night.
Todd: rhythm programming (Behringer RD-8, EZ Drummer for the solo section), synth bass, synthesizers, Hammond B-3, guitar, vocals.
Lyrics
My eyes scan the horizon Blowing dust abrades my skin Crunchy ground beneath my feet is burning Bereft of any drops of moisture Barren landscape that once had teemed with life Before the advent of the darkest turning
Cities stood so proud Which could not be assailed The genius of man A glory to be hailed But all that’s left is a Pile of ashes Welcome to the Desolation
A thermal runaway Inescapable collapse Feedback loops ground to a standstill We thought we had it all A beacon on the hill Crushed under all the weight of our misplaced hubris
Pride before the fall A story old as time History might not repeat But it often rhymes It’s far too late to change the station Welcome to the Desolation
(solo)
(spoken) …is this the twilight of man?
Comments
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Right out of the gate, I'm loving that triplet kick leading into the wide, lush synth. Vocal treatments work really well. Mood and melody give the vocals a low-key Layne Staley feel in the verses. (Lyrics have a good Alice in Chains vibe too, though I'm not sure they ever used any synths. 😉 )
Build in the solo is lovely. Someone else mentioned Dream Theater, and that's spot on in both phrasing, scale selection (Phrygian Dominant?), instrumentation, and harmonic movement.
This is a really well put together tune, sir! Not many six-minute technical dives come out of FAWM, and you've done it well!
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Yeah that synth sets the scene! Nice n bleak, has a bit of King crimson feel in here! Really nice.
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Yay a feel good tune! Haha, jk. I like your voice vibrato, very rich. And the vocal delay is the right call. The pad sound is great. Sounds like you do a half step down when you go to the word desolation. Love that. Those timpani sounds are cool. The final part with the full band is great climax. Reminds me of Dream Theater a little. You're doing some Petrucci shredding!
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Great lyrics! I can imagine this vast landscape. Sometimes writing from another perspective can help to see the needs. The dark synth and throbbing bassdrum work. You did great!
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The perfect feeling of aftermath… the end is so wicked 🤘 the perfect stormy day jam great work !
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dark and spooky and... proggy? the solo section really pops, with all the changes in sonic texture (b3, "live" drumset, etc.), yet it's not jarring, it still feels like part of the same thread.