Uncategorized – Page 7

RAW and RECKLESS

The best of JustVera. One and a half hour of sheer power and excitement. Thanks to Alan Abernethy, Alex Zulaika, Andrea Spaziale, Andrew Boucher, Bryan Shoemaker, Caleb Anderson, Dan Rosati, Esther Bredius, Gustavo Abreu, Ian T., Jan van de Garde, Jarek Adamowski, Jean Lui Toudou, Joey Six, Lisa Dewey, Loek van der Knaap, Louis Marchena, Mark Alan Dooley, Martin Nilsson, Maurizio Marini, Michel Pilotte, Mike Mantecon, Monroe De La Vega, Nigel Robinson, Olivier Demaine, Oppy, Parmia Vaala, Peter Bomhof, Peter Hendriks, Serenn, Steve Rice, Sven-Martin Keil, Tarjei Skarlund, Tracy Hayden, Tracy Hutchison.
So f***, f***, F****** PROUD…

Losing it

‘Losing it’ doesn’t necessairily have to be bad. In fact in some cases losing your resistance may account for the best experience ever. Parmia wrote about it and convincingly performed her lyrics.
You might want to think about it, but sometimes it’s better just to listen and get carried away…

I thought I was strong
I thought I had reason
I had it in order
and controlled all I was facing

You made my walls fall
they vanished in thin air

I thought I was strong
I thought I had reason
and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there

and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there
and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there

I thought I was strong
I thought I had reason
I had it in order
and controlled all I was facing

and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there
and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there
and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there
home there, home there

You captured my heart
you saw what I was hiding
I couldn’t escape your burning eyes
though I was trying

Another night falls
another day follows
I’ve lost my count
of todays, yesterdays or tomorrows

Losing it…
…I’m losing it…
… my heart.

I thought I was strong
I thought I had reason
I had it in order
and controlled all I was facing

You made my walls fall
and now I am naked of my soul
you made your home there

(Lyrics and vocals by Parmia Vaala)

Nothing Left (Hwy 101)

Because Lisa Dewey wrote truly heartbreaking lyrics about a love gone down.
Because Serenn did the vocal performance like only she can.
Because Joey Six played one of his most original solos ever.
(That’s why ‘Nothing Left (Hwy 101)’ turned out to be a true JustVera gem.)

Can’t you hear the darkened sea growl?
We’re slippin’ ’round these bends,
I know we both feel the edge’s pull;
There’s barely room for breathin’.

Memories are just ashes now,
Blowing love out to sea in some littered grief.
So many miles we’ve dreamed down this route;
Lost in songs and laughs; this coast set us free.

Now there’s nothing left. Nothing left but leavin’.
Nothing left. Nothing left but leavin’.

This road took too long to get to nowhere;
A place so familiar we missed the glare.
Maybe the wrong time stands between us, lover,
Erasing the beginning from end’s dare.

Now there’s nothing left but leavin’.
Nothing left but leavin’. Nothing left.
Nothing left but leavin’.
Nothing left. Nothing left but leavin’.

Headlights are white curtains in this fog
Highway 101’s a misty, diving tilt.
I am nothing now but blanched knuckles,
Honey, you are the slippery wheel.

Now there’s nothing left. Nothing left but leavin’.
Nothing left. Nothing left but leavin’.

(Lyrics by Lisa Dewey)

Freedom never let her stay

https://soundcloud.com/justvera/freedom-never-let-her-stay-justvera

Unmistakeably Steve Rice: let his magical lyrics and passionate performance lead you through this JustVera fairytale.

Freedom never let her stay

She never had enough,
she never found that crown.
She let her jesters play
with all the gold she found.

Freedom followed her,
freedom never let her stay;
Freedom never let her stay,
freedom never let her stay

Through her window she’d watch the servants play
As the sun would set their laughter soon would fade.

Their wispers echoed through the empty halls.
Dawnlight’s silence would hold nothing at all.

She never told her tale,
no ones ear could hear
Of the dragons breath that filled eyes with tears

Freedom followed her,
freedom never let her stay;
Freedom never let her stay,
freedom never let her stay

As the moon does rise, it’s fullness does reveal.
A light in the night, the darkness can’t conceal.

(Lyrics and vocals by Steve Rice)

Everything you don’t ask (becomes your favourite nightmare)

New lyrics and vocals on a 4-year-old gem. My initial explicit lyrics replaced by Tracy Hutchison’s view on fear. And convincingly performed by Mark Alan Dooley. With special thanks to Peter Hendriks for panting, screaming and backing vocals.

‘Everything you dream will never be fulfilled.’

Open your mind
You’re lost
Living a dream
Under a scream
It triggers you
On all you do
When the last day
Fades grey and sheer
It’s under control
Except your fear
A shadow crawls
Up darkened walls

A vision screams
At sights unseen

The dead will rise
With living eyes
When the last day
Fades grey and sheer
It’s under control
Except your fear

A spider spins
Those webs of sin
A books lost pages
Written by sages
But knowledge lasts
The die is cast
When the last day
Fades grey and sheer
It’s under control
Except your fear

Everything you don’t ask becomes your favourite nightmare
Open your mind
Everything you dream will never be fulfilled
You’re lost in time
Everything you don’t ask becomes your favourite nightmare
Living a dream
Everything you dream will never be fulfilled
Under a scream

It triggers you
On all you do
When the last day
Fades grey and sheer
It’s under control
Except your fear
The dead will rise
With living eyes

It’s under control

(Lyrics by Tracy Hutchison/Justus)

Lost your Halo

Typically JustVera: powerdrums & powerbass. But it would be nothing without the contributions of Alan Abernethy. His lyrics and vocals make this one stand out. Plus Jarek Adamowski’s brilliant solos ofcourse.
I estimate I listened at least 500 times to the entire track over the past six months. And I still dig it. Which is quite remarkable.

I wonder how many plays you need to discover its full potential…

Looking out of the window at a desolate place
What was an eden now is turned into a waste
Trying to find religion to explain all of this shit
I pray to the man, but he’s not having any of it
He says: “You can only blame yourself
And your petty lack of faith
Don’t ask me to provide you with a cure…”

Deep in the mire where the dirty mothers rise
I see the root of all my earthly desires
Maybe a demon has got hold of my soul
Once there was completion now there’s just a black hole
He says “I’m moving on, from this hopeless case
Ain’t gonna listen to your prayers no more…”

And there it is
All of a sudden
We’re too late on the panic button
We’re on our own
A long long way from home
Out of reason, out of time
Stuck behind these enemy lines
Save yourself for the battles to come
Your faith is gone…
And you’ve lost your halo

Looking to the future I see more of the same
greed corruption envy hate, it’s all a game
Taken for granted by our leaders full of sin
Lost the advantage even ‘fore we begin
No more to gain
Emptiness & despair
tryin’ to find a way to end this pain…

(Lyrics by Alan Abernethy)

Change ahead

To be honest: I didn’t expect my instrumental track to transform into this awesome song. Fortunately some talented musicians -online, whereelse?-)- made it happen. First of all Tracy Hutchison came up with the powerful lyrics. Then Caleb Anderson surprised me with his distinctive tasty vocals. And finally Louis Marchena took the lead and blew us all away with his convincing vocal performance. Hear all about it: Change Ahead.

Tear down the walls
Of separation
Put out the fires
Of conflagration

Tear down the walls
Of separation
It does not matter
Your place or station

There’s a change ahead
A change ahead
There’s a change ahead
A change ahead

We live in a world
Where truth don’t matter
We ignore the cold
And wet blood splattered
Do we want it to
End this way
Will history reflect
All we did was pray

Will our children
Pay the price
Because we blindly
Blindly rolled the dice

How can you sleep soundly
In your bed
When you can feel
A change ahead

A bright new world
Or Armageddon
Will it be hell
Or will it be heaven
Change change change

There’s a change ahead
A change ahead
There’s a change ahead
A change ahead

Change change change

(Lyrics by Tracy Hutchison)

Crusade

Holy Moses! Wield the knife! No one can save you…
Alan Abernethy in the background of your conscience.
Let JustVera drag you under… CRUSADE

I am a traveler of the night
I’ll take my sleep by day, while you’re awake I’ll shun the light
I’ve come here to this foreign land
Where crusaders came with God and banner,
sword in hand to claim the sand
A far off place to feed their greed,
A gift for the pleasure of the Papacy

I am the shadow of the light
(Everywhere you can hear the sound
of the rumblin’ Earth as it spins around)
I am the darkness of the dawn
(I’m beside you all night long,
But I dance all day to a different song)

A new day is dawning
But I will be there
In the background of your conscience
Coming to the fore
From the ends of the extreme
And your periphery
I will slowly drag you under
Making you believe
I will slowly drag you under
I will slowly drag you under
I will slowly drag you under

This is the time
This is the place
Coming to a head
For the whole human race
By sowing fear greed and avarice
I’ve made a virtue out of
Every single vice

Holy Moses!
Wield the knife
No one can save you
They’re all running for their lives!
My day is come
You see me on the news
I pull the strings
I walk in everybody’s shoes
I am your friend
I am your neighbour
I’ll be your lover
Even dress up as your saviour
I am the voice
whisperin’ in your ear
Incite your darkest urge
Of hatred and fear

I am the darkness of the dawn
(I’m beside you all night long,
But I dance all day to a different song).

From the ashes of the conflict
A new age will dawn
You’ll be on the front line
A sacrificial pawn
As the age of absolution
Draws to an end
Chaos emerges…

(Lyrics by Alan Abernethy)

Universal cold

‘Make me believe nothing’s going on…’ Serenn crying her heart out. With the help of Jarek Adamowski, Andrea Spaziale and Jean Lui Toudou. The best guitars, drums and bass around on Kompoz. Some team. Probably the most powerful JustVera-track so far.

Make me believe
Nothing’s going on
That this dream
Can still be built upon

I know that time
Won’t change what we’ve done
But can we find
Who we will become?

There’s a light shining in your eyes
(History taking hold)
What’s in the past and in our minds
(A story to be told)
Stay with me for another day
(Let my desire unfold)
Speak the words that I long to hear you say
(Say, say, say, say)

Say, say, say, say

And give me hope
(Give me hope)
And give me hope in this
Universal cold

Aching to breathe
Stringing me along
Minus thirty five degrees
I can feel this is all wrong

I know that I’m
Not having fun
(I’m so done)
Isn’t it time
You’re the one who’s on the run?

When you leave your memories behind
You’ll find
I’m not so easy to unwind
I wonder why
There’s no winner in the games we play
Love’s just a casualty of the war we wage
(Wage, wage, wage, wage)

Way-ay-ay-ay-age

(Keep it steady)
(Fire when ready)
And aim for the soul
In this
Universal cold

Universal
Universal cold

(Lyrics by Serenn)

Just Dreaming

https://soundcloud.com/justvera/just-dreaming-justvera

Just Dreaming…
With a little help from my friends: Rab M. (engineering/mastering tips), Alex Zulaika (drums), Michel Pilotte (synth, bass and guitars) and Steve Rice (songwriting, lyrics, vocals). Quite a pearl in the Justvera crown.

She called from across the stream
What’s your name, will you play with me?
I just stood there mesmerized
A shy little boy, at the age of nine

That’s the way it began
Soon we were holding hands
And dreaming, just dreaming

Now our hair is turning grey
How I miss those simple days
Just dreaming, just dreaming

The actors, yeah we’re still the same
But now we’re playing grown up games
I still hold you close at night
You listen to my dreams of flight
My best friend through thick and thin
Our lover’s touch, it never ends
And dream we do again
Dreaming, just dreaming

I love the way your body moves
When you look back and bend
You know just what to do
To put my head in a spin
Give it all back to me
As we chase our dreams

What I need, what I need
What I need is your sweat dripping in my eyes
What I need is your laughter I can’t describe
What I need is your smile to never fade
What I need is you here ’till my dying days

Find me, I’m not too far away
You need to find me
Look in between the sheets
Find me, I’m never out of reach
Find me, you’re such a little tease
Find me, I’m just a kiss away

(Lyrics by Steve Rice)