Our concept album about a man who finds himself inside of a lucid dream, a vast world of wonder. Over the course of his adventure, he discover an evil presence of the Shadow Entity, but also finds another sharing the dream with him, a woman. Together they attempt to understand the dream realm they're in, while escaping the clutches of the evil manifestation that lurks within.

Lucidity

Beyond death, the main character feels his body travel to a different space and time, leaving the dream world behind.  He can sense that he is now forever in this place: nothing but darkness.  But the darkness isn’t evil, it isn’t oppressive, it just “is.”  He is reminded of the woman and the love that he was finally able to feel in this new place, this new world.  Like nothing he had ever experienced in the real world, here he felt something precious, something irreplaceable.  He is grateful for this experience, but even more grateful for the sense of overwhelming peace in his resignation.  He feels his consciousness slowly drift away as his soul is freed from the chains of the real world, and of the dream world.  He feels himself letting go.  He’s losing control.  He accepts this.  This is his home.  This is where he belongs.

LYRICS

I have reached my destination,
I am traveling alone,
In my mind no hesitation,
This is where I belong,
The dream is finally ending,
Time for me to atone,
At last

I’m slowly drifting
Through the endless unknown,
Feel a sense of acceptance,
Like I’m finally home,
I think this place is what death is,
This must be where we go,
To die,

Letting go,
Losing control
I accept this,
This is my home

Acceptance

The final confrontation between the main character and the Shadow ensues.  The man is stunned with disbelief.  He has to accept that his love is gone.  The time has come for him to face the Shadow.  There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.  The man’s heart beats in his chest as he calls upon all the power he can possibly muster in this dream world.  Even though he is plunged deeply into the grief of losing the only woman he has ever loved so passionately, he needs to forget about her now.  Part of the Shadow’s power stems from the man’s inability to think clearly.  The Shadow doesn’t fear the man at all.  He makes it clear who will win this fight.  The man is terrified by the prospect of taking the Shadow head-on, but there’s no choice.  He either wins here, or dies.  His life is on the line and he realizes that this is a “war to survive.”  The Shadow worries not, as his power is insurmountable.  He easily overpowers the man and drains the man’s strength to nothing.  Finally, the man admits that “this is it.”  There’s no more fight left in him.  No matter how hard he tries, the Shadow is unbeatable.  As he starts to drift into the darkness, he realizes that he feels no pain, no regret.  He fought as hard as he could, but there was no chance from the beginning.  The Shadow has taken the man to “a darker place.”

LYRICS

MAN
I can’t believe,
He took her life,
Now I must choose,
I must decide,

The time has come,
The moment’s nigh,
I cannot run,
Now I must fight,

My heart beats loudly,
My vision’s cloudy,
The power’s rising,
Deep inside me

Doing my best to forget,
All of the pain,
I felt watching her die

Taking control of my mind,
This power inside,
Is all I need to fight,

SHADOW ENTITY
You will die,
Don’t even try to fight,
Just throw away your life,
Come to me,
And see,  
With me,
You’ll be crushed by my might,

Drowned by the night,
There’s an ending in sight,
The cancer inside,
Slowly eats you alive

MAN
Trying to vanquish,
This feeling of anguish,
Only two pathways,
I win here, or die

This can’t be the end,
I must battle on,
My life’s on the line,
This war to survive,

SHADOW ENTITY
Light fades into the darkness,
Here in the depths of your very own personal hell,
Feel me ripping your soul out,
Leaving you hopeless empty and always alone

MAN
My strength is gone, my body’s weak,
My mind is numb, I guess this is it for me

I feel no pain there’s no regret
I fought with all my strength and yet,
I feel my body drifting away,
Taken to a darker place

The Moment of Truth

The story opens with the couple being jolted awake by an indescribable sensation.  They can sense the Shadow’s presence, but it isn’t the same feeling as before.  The Shadow has something else in mind this time.  The weather is changing.  The wind howls.  The woman suggests that they run for their lives.  Unfortunately, it is too late.  The storm is gaining power by the second.  The man asks the woman to hold his hand and never let go.  The woman fears that the wind is too strong.  The demon’s voice is louder and more terrifying than ever before.  The strength of the wind lifts them both into the air.  The man realizes that the woman is not going to make it.  He has a moment of pure terror and sadness as he realizes that the love of his life is leaving him.  The woman ascends into the darkness.  As she is taken away, she tells the man not to fear.  She will always be with him.  The man finally reveals his true emotions with one final admission: “I love you.”  The woman responds in kind, but unfortunately, there is nothing to be done.  She is within the Shadow’s grasp.  The Shadow takes pleasure in the fact that he has destroyed everything.  He tells the man “the woman you love is now mine,” almost as if to taunt him.  The man is terrified, but he realizes that there are only two options: give up, or fight.

LYRICS

MAN
It feels like the nightmare has arrived,
I think the demon found where we hide,

WOMAN
This wind is so strong, he must be outside
I think we should run, we should run for our lives 

MAN
As darkness and evil collide,
Hold onto my hand for your life,
Don’t let go, please promise me,

WOMAN
I’m scared that this storm is too strong,
I fear we might not have too long,
This wind might, tear us apart

SHADOW ENTITY
Your body and soul I will steal,
Your flesh and your bone are my meal,
Don’t try to, escape my wrath

MAN
Please don’t leave me,

WOMAN
Your grasp is weak’ning,

MAN
There is no way, no escape from the shadow’s embrace,

MAN
I feel you drifting,
Away from me, so far away,
How will I make it,
Alone in this world, all on my own,

WOMAN
You’ll be fine I’ll always be right there,
Right by your side,
Even though my body leaves this world,
My spirit is there in your mind,

MAN
I love you, I love you, more than you know,
I love you, with all my soul
Don’t go away, don’t leave me now,
I’m too scared to be, all alone, in this world

WOMAN
I love you, I love you so,
I’m sorry, but I must go,
Torn apart so soon,
I waited far too long,
To say, I love you

SHADOW ENTITY
You’re mine at last,
You can’t get away from my grasp,
The woman you love is now mine,
Prepare to die,

MAN
Drowned in the fear,
Fate is unclear,
What should I do?
Give up right here,
Or fight?

Drowned In Fear

The characters escape the Shadow, for now.  They find themselves at peace again, but this time, they are not in paradise.  They have found a cave.  Magically, a fire springs up in front of them, and the characters welcome the refuge from the previous nightmare.  They begin to talk about their personal lives outside of the dream world they find themselves in.  The main character reveals that he remembers being in a hospital.  He has cancer, and it’s spreading.  It’s a death sentence.  The woman also admits that although her memory is foggy, she also somewhat remembers being in a hospital, and she doesn’t have long to live.  The man sees similarity in their stories.  The dream world is starting to make sense.  The man comments that they should both “accept this as their fate.”  As they speak, they both begin to appreciate that they are on this journey together.  Without one another, this world would be terrifying.  The man admits to the woman that even though he’s scared, every time he sees her face “everything just falls right into place.”  The woman feels at peace when she’s with him.  She’s no longer worried.  She’s no longer scared.  Somehow, they both know that “everything’s ok.”  They are at peace.  They can feel protected, safe, and calm.  Unfortunately, their fate is already sealed within the dream world.

LYRICS

MAN
Finally we found refuge, away from the terror outside,
I know that we’re safe, but something inside me,
Begs me to stay near the light,

WOMAN
Now we’re alone, will you tell me your story?
How did you enter this dream?
My memory’s foggy, I hardly remember,
Reality’s not what it seems,

MAN
I somewhat recall being placed in a bed,
The doctor advised me to pray,
The cancer had reached to my liver he said,
There’s no chance that I’d be OK,


WOMAN
My story’s similar, I can’t quite recall,
But I’m in a hospital too,
Something about how I don’t have too long,
If what they tell me is true,

MAN
Looks like our journey to get here was similar,
This cannot be a mistake,
I guess that we should embrace this as our fate

BOTH
You are with me

MAN
Yes I’m scared but I know I’m not alone,
Anytime you’re near me I’m at home, 
Yes I’m scared but when I see your face,
Everything just falls right into place,

WOMAN
I don’t know why but your presence brings me peace
All of my worries and fears, they seem to cease,
When you’re near my heartache goes away,
Somehow I know that everything’s OK

MAN	
It’ll be OK

WOMAN
Everything’s OK

BOTH
I can be OK

Moonlight Serenade

In the middle of their conversation, almost as if on cue, the sky begins to blacken, the clouds being to swirl, and the trees begin to bow to the point of breaking, cripple by the gale-force wind.  The man repeats the woman’s mantra: “run, run fast, run fast as you can, don’t look back, and don’t take his hand.” The woman’s eyes turn from love, to fear.  The man confirms with the woman that “their power cannot compare” as they run away in fear.  He can sense that he is in the “heart of the demon’s lair.”  The man describes the overwhelming desire to survive this.  The Shadow returns during this musical moment, his roars echoing over the landscape.  As the man and woman run for their lives, they can hear the voice of the Shadow behind them.  He warns them that although they run for their lives, they are his, and they cannot escape.  He describes himself as a “scourge” a “disease,” “cancer” that cannot be cured nor cleansed from their bodies, nor their minds.  He is “in them,” he is a “part of them,” and he cannot be stopped.  The man describes how he can feel the monster within him “like a shadow sitting on his soul.”  The Shadow describes how he plans to destroy them.  The song ends with the creature’s laugh echoing throughout the world and finally, the man and the woman escape. 

LYRICS

Run, run fast, as fast as you can,
Don’t look back and don’t take his hand

Can you feel it?
The monster is drawing near,
Like a nightmare,
Feeding upon the fear,
Now I see our,
Power cannot compare,
In this place the,
Heart of the demon’s lair,
Run!

Deep inside my gut,
Survival intuition,

(Shadow Entity)
You can run but you can’t hide,
You cannot escape my eyes,
Don’t mistake what I will take,
Your mortal soul is what’s at stake,

Sucking out the light, 
The monster feeds at night,

(Shadow Entity)
Even though you run away,
You remain inside my cage,
Why don’t you come out and play?
In this world you are my prey, 

(Shadow Entity)
I am the scourge of this land,
All will perish by my hand,	
I am disease,
Curse your breath to cease

I can feel him deep inside my bones,
Like a part of me that I just can’t let go,
Like a shadow sitting upon my soul,
Endless darkness beginning to take its toll

(Shadow Entity)
I am cancer, I am leper,
I’m a nightmare that lasts forever 
I am downfall, I’m destruction,
I design your death’s construction

Shadow II

The woman is excited to find another real person in the world, and begins to show him the wonders of the lucid dream.  She can’t wait to show him everything this world has to offer.  She is well-versed in the powers that they both have in this place.  Almost as if the man is her pupil, she teaches him the power that he has in this new world, where they are the “gods” of their universe, but also warns him that this amazing power comes with consequences.  Should they not take responsibility for these powers, they could destroy their word.  She also warns the man there is another “power” here.  This power is greater than they could ever comprehend.  This power is something beyond their grasp, a creature, which she only refers to as “He.”  He can somehow override their powers through trickery and overwhelming fear.  She warns him not to engage the creature.  He controls this place.  There is no chance of success.  If you see him, “run, run fast, run as fast as you can, don’t look back, and don’t take his hand!”

LYRICS

Woman:
I, I can’t believe, 
That there’s another life,
Inside this dream with me,
There’s so much here,
For you to see,
Just take my hand now,
And come away with me

Man:
So many questions,
So many thoughts,
How did we get here?
Can you help me connect the dots?

Woman:
But first let me share with you,
This world we’re in,
Is full of beauty,
Full of wonders,
Full of magic,
And we control,
More than you can know,
With our minds and with all these powers,
Let me show you,
Something we can do,
All you gotta do is,
Think it, you can make it real
 
Man:
What a feeling when it happens,
This is just like making magic,

Woman:
All you gotta do is use your mind,
And you can make it all come true,

Man:
Thank you for showing me,
This power I have inside of me,

Woman:
It’s a power that we both have here,
Inside this lucid dream

Woman:
One word, one word of warning, 
The thoughts inside your head, 
Now they are no longer your own,

We create, every moment, 
Every miracle we see 
We are no longer mortal, one
misplaced thought and everything’s erased
  
You must practice,
You must let go, 
You must realize,
Your self-control

In this dream world
Everything you whisper in your
Mind has power to  
Shape this universe 
You and I we
Hold the keys to doors we can’t perceive

We aren’t the only ones
We aren’t the only ones
We aren’t the only ones
He is out there…

We aren’t the only ones
There is a power here
Something that’s stronger than
We could ever think to comprehend 

Woman:
He is there, watching your every move,
Scanning your every thought,
Knowing your every desire,
He is there, waiting in darkened shroud,
Waiting to catch his prey,
He is a raptor in robe

Man:
How do we, face off against this thing,
Is there a chance if we,
Fought him with all of these powers,

Woman:
Trust me now, don’t even try to win,
Don’t make a grave mistake,
Just turn around and then run like your life is at stake,

Both:
Run, run fast, as fast as you can,
Don’t look back, and don’t take his hand

Gods and Monsters

Slowly, the darkness fades away and is once again replaced by the light.  Finally, the man feels safe.  He begins to wonder why this place is so strange.  He notes that this place goes from being peaceful in one moment to being dangerous and dark.  The landscape is almost like a puzzle as it shifts freely underneath his feet.  The man begins to wonder if he’s meant to make this journey alone.  He longs for a partner, someone to share the journey with.  Up ahead, he sees a figure.  Is it a girl?  A woman?  Who is this person here with him?  Finally, he sees her face.  He cannot describe the feeling, but something about this woman is special.  It’s almost as if he’s been searching for her his whole life.  Her beauty overwhelms him.  Somehow, he knows that this woman is going to change him.  He’s feels safe with her.

LYRICS

What a strange and fearsome place,
One moment everything’s at peace,
Then the next I’m being chased

Clearly this must be a dream,
There’s no way this could be real,
Nothing is quite what it seems

Sky begins to slowly clear,
I refuse to look behind,
In the fear he’ll reappear

I can feel the landscape change,
Clarity and peaceful bliss,
As the pieces rearrange

In this place of mystery,
I wonder if I’ll find someone
Who can share this strange voyage with me

Up ahead I see a shape,
Like a figure of a girl,
I can almost see her face

This feeling,
Inside me,
Like lightning,
It’s blinding me,

I don’t know if I’ve known,
A feeling so unknown,
This beauty before me,
It’s stunning, it’s gleaming,
Her eyes are like diamonds,
They pierce me and in time I know, 
She’ll change me, she’ll make me,
Into a new man and she’ll take me home

The Woman

As the clouds begin to darken, the man finds himself in a very different place.  The paradise is gone, replaced by something terrible.  His heart rate increases, as he goes from a slow walk, to a run at full speed.  He doesn’t fully understand what is happening.  The man hears the voice of something amidst the darkness.  At first, the main character speaks openly and willingly to the Shadow.  He wonders whether or not this mysterious dark force can be trusted, but their conversation quickly takes a turn for the worst as the Shadow’s true intentions are revealed.  The man is filled with fear and runs away from the creature in fear of the darkness and finds himself lost in the dream world, wandering alone.

LYRICS

The darkness is creeping
The beauty is fleeing
The memories this feeling
Of comfort is fading

The darkened clouds are drifting in
The paradise retreats
Walking quickly I pick up speed
To find some shelter, some relief

(Shadow Entity)
Don’t run from me child
There’s nothing to fear

I hear the voice from a distant place
Beckoning to me
I thought that I was here alone
But in the distance a hand stretches out to me…

(Shadow Entity)
Think of me as friend
I alone am your guide

Who is this creature and what does he need with me?
Clearly he is not a friend of mine, but should I trust him just to see?

 (Shadow Entity)
Come ‘ to me child
No ‘ one else can see
I’m the one ‘ to be your guide
In this world ‘ of fantasy

I can feel the fear inside it’s driving me to flee,
I cannot befriend this man, this lurking shadow entity

Shadow

Our main character wakes up in the dream world, slowly realizing that his surroundings are “unnatural.”  The man observes his environment with confusion, but he realizes that this place is good.  There is something about this place that makes him feel safe.  As he wanders, he realizes that this new setting is a paradise: better than the real world that he struggles to recall.  He examines the natural beauty with wonder.  He hears the birds in the trees, the sounds of flowing water, the wind gusting over the meadows.  How did he get here?  He’s confused… He assumes that this is a dream that he is experiencing during sleep.  This theory is supported by the fact that he cannot remember how he got to this place, nor can he seem to remember anything about his life before.  Regardless, he wants to stay in this new, unfamiliar dream world.  Just as he seems to be fully enjoying his new environment, the clouds begin to darken.  Something is happening.  Something wrong…

LYRICS

I look around me… what is this place?
Have I been here before? I can’t imagine so…
I hear the chirping of the birds in the trees
What a beautiful place… wait… where was I just before?
I must be dreaming to be in this world,
Did I fall asleep and wake up here?
I just embrace it as I lie on the grass,
Feel the sun beaming down in this paradise

I can’t remember a thing or so it would seem, I only know
I wanna stay here within the dream

I feel the breeze as it kisses my face
Did I leave behind something precious to me?
Did I have a family and a loving wife?
And a child or two… or was it three?

I can’t remember a thing or so it would seem, I only know
I wanna stay here within the dream

What is this feeling I cannot hide
This feeling that is deep inside
Like I’ve been missing something all my life
But in this dream I feel alive

So alive, alive…so alive…alive…

Within The Dream

The beginning of the journey.  We hear sounds of the hospital, a heartbeat, and a heart rate monitor.  We don’t know why we’re hearing this, but we can assume that something is not right.  We hear the different cycles of sleep in this song: stage 1, stage 2, stage 3, and then finally REM.  Our character drifts off as we hear the sounds of REM fade.  We hear the sounds of birds as we enter the dream world.

We have been playing music together since we were 16 years old, learned how to play our instruments from each other as well. 'Shackled Fervor' was the titled of our pairing back as teenagers in high school, before we got a bass player and started a different sound as 'Commanding Presence'. In late 2006, 'Commanding Presence' went our separate ways, and recorded our album together in 2007. Since then, we went with different projects, even solo work. In late 2017, 10 years after 'Commanding Presence, Jay recorded some old demos from the Shackled Fervor days from 2003 and 2004, which got the attention of Daniel. This eventually led to a reunion project, recording 'Cain and Abel' first in October 2017, over the course of 3 days. Having so much fun with that, we decided to write more, and have our comeback as Shackled Fervor with the first effort together in over a decade. "The War Machine" is our first EP together, and we are very proud to share it here, as well and look forward to making more music in the coming times. Thank you all for listening!