Album: The Grey Realms

Record label: NoiseArt Records

Release date: March 3rd, 2017

All music written by Harri Koskela.
Except: “Waltz of Lillian” music by Harri Koskela & Anne Lill Rajala.

All lyrics written by Anne Lill Rajala.
Except: “Dark Skies” lyrics by Anne Lill Rajala & Harri Koskela

Produced by Harri Koskela
Coproduced by Lost in Grey & Jarno Hänninen

Recorded in DStudio and Studio Brewery by Jarno Hänninen and Harri Koskela.

Cellos on tracks 1 and 8 by Aapo Romu.
Acoustic guitars by Tero Kalliomäki and Harri Koskela.

Mixed and mastered in DStudio, Klaukkala, Finland by Jarno Hänninen.

Band logo by Miika Haavisto.
Cover art & album graphic design by Miika Haavisto and Anne Lill Rajala.
Photography by Anne Lill Rajala.

Waltz Of Lillian

Carnival of fallen and despaired
All the forgotten doomed to set sail
Innocence was lost so greed prevailed
Easy to get lost since truth is frail

Such a waste
all efforts made in vain
and nothing’s built to last
Such disgrace
to twist and turn and change
and now the die is cast
Could not believe, nor foresee
you would go drown in the Grey

Tired of lying
Constant fighting
The infection is the neglection
Rain kept falling
Once walked, now crawling
I remember our surrender
Made us shadows and ghosts
No one could save our souls

No  one could save our souls
No one could save our souls
Made us shadows and ghosts
No one could save our souls

What did you see
and what did you know?
What made you retreat
abandon it all?
Such fury and anger only few understand
but one cannot be saved
unless one grabs a helping hand
It seems hope was all gone

Tired of lying
Constant fighting
The neglection in our reflection
Rain kept falling
Once walked, now crawling
I remember our surrender

Playing the game, then change the rules
Gaining a fortune on fraud
Kill your darlings, change the tunes
- but do not wait for applause
Make mistakes and pay the dues
Go ahead - try to become God
How can one learn to know oneself
before learning how to fall?

Road To Styx

Lillian
Way too many days spent tired and paralyzed
as consumed by a parasite
I withered some more each day
The river’s only a stone’s throw away

Odessa
Slipping down, stand up, up again - and then you move on
Slipping down, stand up, up again - see how it goes on and on
Slipping down, stand up, up again - a constant fall down
Slipping down, stand up, up again, higher up and forward
Then - the river, relief

Odessa & Patrick
Wander for
(Mellow days and tunes in blues
abandon sense and foolish rules)
a hundred years or more
Seasons might change
but here you can find your place
on the shore

Lillian
Without knowing who's an ally
I’ve kissed the lips of a deceitful liar
Discontent in the outcomes of the trial
Ignorance is not innocence, I’d
stumble for ages in their denial
Comfort's hidden too well for me to find
Escaping a trap, I got a map
for a journey to Styx, I’ve already packed

Patrick
A path to the unknown
at last, in front: the shore
Finally you are here
ready to hop on board
Been through struggle and fight
You do have the right
to rest for as long as you need
Yet adventures await
so run, don’t be late
Come, climb to our pier

All
Saving a coin for the Ferryman
Paying a toll to the greedy hand
Charon and all his filthy clan
For our deeds we’re forever damned

For our deeds we are forever damned

Dark Skies

Lillian
I raise my gaze as I greet you
From ashes risen, a world new
With eyes wide shut I finally see
my new playground, or so it seems

Odessa
We welcome you cheerfully
to our land of harmony

Choir

She has found the escape

All
Happiness can be found
where dark skies surround
where the water’s as black as can be
Close your eyes and see:
goats play the violin
revealing all their secrets to thee

Lillian
Why stay in a reality
surrounded by war and uncertainty?
I’d rather sail the skies of absurdity
Over misty mountains where northern winds blow
to the Fallen Angels Valley where I belong
to where the last drop of blood of the suffering earth
will fall

All

Happiness can be found
where dark skies surround
where the water’s as black as can be
Close your eyes and see:
goats play the violin
revealing all their secrets to thee

Look around, you have found
where dark skies surround
where the water’s as black as can be
Close your eyes and see:
goats play the violin
revealing all their secrets to thee

Patrick
Here, step into our realm, have a peek of what can be
Maybe you could have it all, live the dream eternally

All
A dwarf that’s writing a score (Writing a score)
Painting it to the skyshore (To the skyshore)
A monstrous orchestra with a colossal choir
Dancing to the notes that I write (Notes you write)
A world sized hall that will rise (It will rise)
Conductor on a cloud chair, screaming for
more and more

Revelation

(Sins, despair, illusions of salvation)

Odessa
We will wipe away
tears of yesterday
Death shall be no more
mourning nor
pain, they are all gone
Led astray
Lost in shades of Grey
Seated on a throne
- oh behold -
New Earth’s morning glow

Odessa and Choir
Into the Promised Land
with a rifle in your hand
you’re righteous, no remorse
Oh rejoice!
Just keep in mind one thing
- Obedience
Stay humble to your Queen and King

Patrick
The greedy shall drown in the well of life
Fiery lakes - swallow their pride
Trustworthy and true
given to you: a world new
Between beginning and end
the shore is our region, ours with no amends
without compassion, without a cure
without a light, without a will to endure

Narrator
With conviction we enter new realms of life
It always sounds so very marvellous
Almost too good to be true
But what we encounter
may just as well be a new lie

Odessa
The music of harpists,
flute players and trumpeters
None of the musicians
will ever be heard again
The light of the lantern
will never light your way
The darkness caresses, seduces
One day you must pay

Odessa and Choir
Into the Promised Land
with a rifle in your hand
You’re righteous, no remorse
Oh Rejoice!
Just keep in mind one thing
- Obedience
Stay humble to your Queen and King
With a rifle in your hand
You’re righteous, no remorse
Oh Rejoice!
Just keep in mind one thing
- Obedience
And bow to your Queen and King!
 

The Order

Lillian
March on - forward
So much to conquer
Towards adventure
I will take what I am desiring
Blessed by a sunrise
Victory will become mine
New day unveiling
Fearless of what is to come
This time I won't be failing

Odessa
Halt!
That's an order
Take advice
from a comrade

So stop
and wait at least until
you hear
how the cat got killed
Listen very carefully:
It was his curiosity

Patrick
March on - forward
Far too frail to conquer
Towards a failure
No better than all the others
Once lost a sunrise
You’re not the one in power
Darkness unveiling

Lillian
(Hold on, just what the fuck is going on?)

I was told I'd have the skies
I’d feed on the rival’s demise
“Just enjoy the fabulous ride”
Oh, they were only lies
There are roads I'm meant to walk
make my way through enemy lines
I will take what should be mine
and keep marching on

Odessa
There are roads one should not walk
some mountains one cannot climb
doors that must not be opened
Just be satisfied

Choir

Do not take that last step, do not dare enter there

Lillian
Without an ally I make my way
Days passing by
No need to hide
Proceeding with pride

Lillian and Odessa
So needy and greedy and
won't give up without a fight
Committing a crime
in Paradise

Patrick and Odessa
Such betrayal

Odessa
There are roads one should not walk
some mountains one cannot climb
doors that must not be opened
Just be satisfied

Choir:
Do not take that last step, do not dare enter there

Halt! That’s an order! Halt! You’re just a soldier!

New Horizon

Lillian
Thought I’d find salvation
as I went to sleep
Woke up from my slumber
not prepared to view this scene

Patrick
Walking on the wasteland of what you used to be

Odessa
There are roads one should not walk

Odessa and Choir
On the horizon
Where worlds collide
Brighter than a diamond
Truth is defined

Lillian
Bewildered, here I stand in disbelief
Crossed the point of no return, to say the least
Neglected, restrained, defeated in fray, and deceived
Derogated and butchered for a final feast

On the horizon
Where worlds collide
Brighter than a diamond
Truth is defined

Deception in broad daylight
yet truth won’t set you free
My ship’s just slowly sinking
in the ocean deep

From Grey to great excession
(which) vanished in thin air
Worn out expectations
I crawl back into despair

All
House of treasures, house of pain
What you knew won’t remain the same
All smoke and mirrors, please succumb
The step you took can’t be undone
House of treasures, house of pain
What you knew won’t remain the same
Smoke and mirrors, now - succumb

On the horizon
Where worlds collide
Brighter than a diamond
Truth is defined

The Grey Realms

Choir
Feel the silence creep in, it infiltrates our minds
Feel the greyness sneak in, infecting our hearts

Patrick
Let me introduce myself, as I’m your only friend:
I’m the light, the King of Ghouls, the one your mind sent

Odessa
Greetings my child, let me introduce myself:
a voice of insanity
What happens in your head, stays in your head
Don’t trust the voice that’s telling you
to wake up from the dream

Lillian
I’m the one who lost her words
found my way to this world
It cast a shadow
hanging over me

It’s tearing me apart
this sickened hopeless me
Is there a cure for us?
I’m going under

Patrick
Fall asleep while you can still dream of better worlds

Odessa
Finally you see those miracles
you spent your years longing for
(Years longing for)

Choir
Feel the silence creep in, it infiltrates our minds
Feel the greyness sneak in, infecting our hearts

Narrator
Oh, sweet Lillian
Find your way back, redeemed
One cannot stay in a dream for all eternity
You must resist the night
You have to fight
Let the flame inside you burn
Don’t let it fade away

Lillian
I’m the one who lost the day
drowned and drifted away
There is a paradise
where I am stronger

The place I called my home
forgotten – for I know:
There is no cure for us
only destruction

Odessa
Walk through the gates where glory awaits
Beauty replacing rain and the Grey

Patrick
Ah, it is time - say goodbye
You will stay here in “Paradise”
Close your eyes
Leave behind the weakness, arise

Narrator
Once again a dead-end
yet another defeat
when you see, apprehend
that the Grey was already in Thee

Narrator and Lillian

You could not find beauty
nor justice in the daytime
Tried to escape, found nothing but new lies
Darkness that surrounds us
could become daylight
despite the rain falling from the sky

Wish I had found beauty
Rain keeps falling down from the sky
Darkness is surrounding
Rain keeps falling down from the sky

Choir
Homo homini lupus est
Lupus est homo homini

Patrick and Choir
“All hope abandon ye who enter here”
But hope was gone, as one can see
from mankind’s history

Odessa
No nightmare as awful as days in reality
No monster has means to compete in cruelty
Tragedy lies in actions, in our hands
Hell is on earth
Man’s the wolf of fellow man
And it goes on

Choir

Too late for regrets
Too late for games and bets
Too late to make amends
Here’s how the story ends

Odessa and Choir
You tried your best without success -
one cannot blame your need to rest
Ignorance can be a bless -
just staying safe in one’s own nest
The world is crumbling into parts
The cold infects the warmth of hearts
Man’s desire to hurt and crush
means: world’s ending in a rush
Good people are the ones to blame -
the inevitable is just delayed
The ones who offered help and aid -
they easily get lost in the Grey
As land and man is just a prey
all those who did not get and gain
gather for one last prayer

Narrator and Lillian
You could not find beauty
nor justice in the daytime
Tried to escape, found nothing but new lies
Darkness that surrounds us
could become daylight
despite the rain falling from the sky

Wish I had found beauty
Rain keeps falling down from the sky
Darkness is surrounding
Rain keeps falling down from the sky

Silence Falls

Curtains close, the play is over
Silence falls, conceals the applause

No villain and no hero gained a prize
Someone stays, refuses to leave
unsatisfied

Find another stage, an illusion
All is said and done
I cannot stay, so let me fly
I will fade away
in your arms

Already told this story of mine
Now here I stand uncertain
and undisguised

The entourage on stage this one last time
bow and give their farewells
leave this silent town

Find another stage, an illusion
All is said and done
I cannot stay, so let me fly
I will fade away
in your arms

Can’t you see
us bleeding
Abandoned and dying
The heartbeats
soon fading
We curl up in pain

High hopes
withered
Built for decaying
Our heartbeats
soon fading
Once strong, then gone

Now you see
us leaving
Fallen ones fleeing
The heartbeats
soon fading
We’re singing goodbye

Our hopes
withered
Farewell our darlings
Our heartbeats
soon fading
Silence will fall