Pillars of Serpents [2019]

Song Meaning

The opening lines, "I'm alive!" repeated twice, immediately set a tone of desperate defiance against overwhelming destruction. This isn't a celebration of life, but a final, perhaps ironic, declaration from a figure facing annihilation, described as a "god left drowning" and "burned alive." The imagery escalates to "scorch the angels out from the skies," suggesting a rejection of any higher power or salvation, a complete severing from divine order in the face of utter ruin. The core tension arises from a desire to isolate and protect oneself from a fundamentally flawed existence. The repeated action of "building up the walls to surround us in" signifies a retreat from a "world built on sin" and "corrupted." This defensive posture is coupled with a need to "build up the strength for the release," implying that this self-imposed confinement is not an end goal, but a preparation for an escape or a radical change. The lyrics present a stark contrast between a desire for purity and the reality of corruption. The plea to "nail your mouths shut" and the idea of being "unseen / With the eyes" points to a world where communication and perception are tainted. The bridge's imagery of "wasting lives away" and "only waking / For the feeding" paints a grim picture of existence reduced to base survival, devoid of higher purpose or genuine connection. Ultimately, the song articulates a profound disillusionment and a yearning for radical renewal. The breakdown's call to "give me spark to light the world / Up in flames, reignite" is a desperate plea for destruction as a means of rebirth. It's a violent catharsis sought to "end this now" and usher in "better times," even if it means burning everything down, including any lingering "dreams of angels."