Tyranny (Shadow Gallery album)
| Tyranny | ||||
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| Studio album by Shadow Gallery | ||||
| Released | September 22, 1998 | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal | |||
| Length | 73:44 | |||
| Label | Magna Carta | |||
| Producer | Carl Cadden-James, Gary Wehrkamp and Shadow Gallery | |||
| Shadow Gallery chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |
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| DPRP |
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Tyranny is the third album by the progressive metal group Shadow Gallery, released in 1998 (see 1998 in music). It is the first concept album made by the band, and the story that commences on this album is continued in the album Room V.
Act I:
Act II:
The opening track is an instrumental, presumably referring to the conflict in the Middle East that the protagonist is indirectly involved in.
The story opens with a Man, who explains that he formerly worked for the U.S. government, designing weapons of mass destruction for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East (specifically Iran, as referenced in the lyrics). He becomes aware of the loss of innocent people's lives because of his work, and questions himself and feels guilt. The Man condemns this vast operation of "war for sale" and confronts his corporate leaders.
Immediately, the Man is fired from his job - his corporate leaders "slammed the door behind" - and he becomes disillusioned and isolates himself from the rest of the world, afraid everything he suspects about the government is true. Soon he discovers the Internet, and with it discovers people "living" in the Internet; though this brings him temporary solace, it disturbs the Man to know that this is the only human contact he will have for many days to come.
In a chatroom, the Man meets a person (we don't know their gender yet), with whom the Man talks and both argue about the system. Also, the Man mentions that, as he worked on the corporation, is able to hack their computers. He is mesmerized by the "mystery" of how the Internet works, and notes that dawn approaches, meaning that he stayed all night on the computer.
The Man's perception of the so far perfect world starts to shatter when he slowly begins to realize how the corporate controlled media affects the lives of everyone. He wonders if there is a place where all can be free, not being controlled anymore. As this day is far away, he gives himself strength to make his way through days to come.
When walking across downtown New York (revealing the story's initial location), he witnesses a man being robbed and beaten in an alley. He rushes to help, but is also knocked out and left unconscious. He wakes up in a basement in the care of some sort of a poor humanitarian service. Once again he questions this life, and how humanity's violence has left everyone "victims". He pleads to the Savior, wondering when he will come to save the victims of the world.
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Wikipedia