In the Presence

Dear Reader,


"Welcome tired pilgrim
Into the circle
We have been waiting

Everyone's gathered
For your arrival
All the believers

Angels fall
All for you
Heretic
Demon heart
Bleed for us"

The lyrics of one of my favorite songs by Dream Theatre broke my series of thoughts when I returned to my car after a long and tiring day at work today. 

"I've been waiting for you
Weary preacher man
You have been expected
Now we can begin
Let this hallowed day of judgment reign

I have known you father
And your sacred quest
Blessed soldier fighting
You shall never rest
I have known you but do you know me?

Angels fall
All for you
Heretic
Demon heart
Bleed for us"

the song goes on and so do my thoughts. They dig deep into my past until I find the one cherished memory!! The first time I ever associated with Heavy Metal. I consider myself to be blessed and to be the chosen one to appreciate this genre of music that personifies aggression, masculinity and machismo.

"My soul is yours
Dark Master
I will fight for you

Dark Master within
I will fight for you
Dark Master of sin
Now my soul is yours
Dark Master my guide
I will die for you
Dark Master inside

I cannot see his face
But I could feel his spite
A presence from the dead
Abandoned by the light
This shadow will consume him
from within"

I was introduced to heavy metal by a very near and dear one. My first reaction was the cliched one - "loud and noisy". The first song that I ever heard was Pantera - Cowboys from Hell.

"This power that I sense
The rage behind those eyes
Is just a shrouded ghost
A spirit sealed inside
The body and the soul both threats
For they are one

Angels fall
All for you
Heretic
Demon heart
Bleed for us

My soul is yours
Dark Master
I will fight for you

Dark Master within
I will fight for you
Dark Master of sin
Now my soul is yours
Dark Master my guide
I will die for you
Dark Master inside
Dark Master amen
I belong to you
Dark Master within"

And then I slowly graduated. Suddenly the loud noise started making more sense and I joined the head-bangers club. Was it the music or was it love?

"Don't
Bother trying to find them
They will be coming to you
Fight
Fight and destroy
Until you can't take anymore

Slay
Spill the blood of the rebels
They are the children of hell
Flesh
Of the undead
Stopping at nothing to kill

Sin
Caught in a moment of weakness
Committed the greatest of all
Sold
Half of my soul
And now it's too late for you"

And I took his hands and walked the path of evolution - both love and music. Sold half my soul to him for all that was due to come.

"I judge as
My eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak
Of the beast
That lives in all of us

Unwelcome ones
Your time has come

Lord
You are my god and my shepherd
Nothing more shall I want
Walk
Through the abyss
Into the shadow of death

Fear
There is no evil to fear now
For I know you are with me
My
Cup overflows
With my enemies blood"

And I felt the power, needless to say of what. It could take you through your worst times, it will reinforce the energy that life sucks out of you.

"I
Decay in the house of the lord
Forever amen
Death
Will follow me
All the days of my life

I judge as
My eyes see
I judge and I am just
For I speak
Of the beast
That lives in all of us

Unwelcome one
Your time has come

Servants of the fallen
Fight to pave the way
For their savior's calling
On this wicked day.

Through a veil of madness
With a vicious blade
One man rises up
Standing in their way

It's time for your reckoning"

But like they say "the only constant in life is change". It all did change. Thud, my life came crashing down!! Aw, I'm tearing apart from the inside.

"My soul grows weaker

He knows and he waits
He watches over me
Standing at the infernal gates
In the hour of darkness
The moment I feared has passed
The moment I lost my faith
Promising salvation
My soul is my own now
I do not fight for you
Dark Master "

And all that I hold on to now are my memories and my music.