The Phantom

​[Verse 1- Very atmospheric. A soft, haunting piano layered over a pulsing 80s synth bass. No heavy guitars yet. Vocals are pristine, breathy, and melancholic.]

I shook hands with the shadow in the room

Bowed my head to an altar of gloom

Traded my pulse for a temporary high

Just a willing victim to the beautiful lie

There is no rescue from the grey in my head

Just a flawless venom to keep me fed

When the numbness starts to pull me under

You're the only shelter from the thunder

[Whispered] Artificial remedy...

​[Chorus- The live drums enter with a driving pop-rock groove. Clean, shimmering guitars swell in. Vocals soar into a massive, heartbreaking clean melody.]

If you want to watch how I sprint right back to digging my grave, inch by inch!

Swaying with the phantom when the midnight hits

At the bottom of the void

There’s a specter swearing that I orchestrated my own collapse!

Swaying with the phantom when the midnight hits.

​[Verse 2- the beat picks up a little, adding a tight trap hi-hat. The bass guitar starts to get a little gritty and distorted, hinting at the heaviness to come.]

Signed my name for a spirit that feeds

What's the value of a heart that bleeds

When it's offered up on a silver plate?

Yeah, I was begging for a twist of fate

But you can take it as a guarantee

If the earth splits open to swallow me

That is exactly where I belong, yeah.

​[Chorus 2- the guitars get heavier here, hitting wide-open power chords, but still keeping that soaring, emotional stadium-rock feel.]

If you want to watch how I sprint right back to digging my grave, inch by inch!

Swaying with the phantom when the midnight hits

At the bottom of the void

There’s a specter swearing that I orchestrated my own collapse!

Swaying with the phantom when the midnight hits.

​[Bridge- The music completely cuts out. A single, eerie synth note holds for four beats. Then, the warning.]

[Soft, layered choir vocals]: Worship the ruin, chained to the floor.

[Distorted, robotic vocal]: Worship the ruin, chained to the floor.

​[Breakdown- Absolute destruction. The tuning shifts down. A disgustingly heavy, slow-motion djent groove slams in with double-kick drums and china cymbals. The beautiful Dayseeker vibe is dead. This is pure, filthy metalcore.]

WORSHIP THE RUIN, CHAINED TO THE FLOOR!

Wait for the silence when they lower the casket!

(Lower the casket!)

WORSHIP THE RUIN, CHAINED TO THE FLOOR!

​[Heavy Chorus- The breakdown rhythm continues, impossibly slow and heavy. The soaring synth melody tries to return in the background, but it's drowned out by the sludgy guitars.]

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH HOW I SPRINT RIGHT BACK TO DIGGING MY GRAVE!

INCH BY INCH!

SWAYING WITH THE phantom

I AM MY OWN COLLAPSE!

SWAYING in the phantom!

Sway...

Sway...

Sway....

SWAY!

Swaying with the phantom...