Smoke and Mirrors

[Verse 1]
Cold room
But the candles bend
Shadows breathing
Like they’re old best friends
My name on the wall
Written backwards in ash
Every step that I take
Leaves no crack, no scratch
[Pre-Chorus]
I hear you
But you pass right through
Your hand in the air
Cuts straight through the truth
[Chorus]
I’m stuck in the smoke and mirrors
Screaming your name through the glass
You look in my eyes, see nothing
Just the echo of a past
I’m right here, right here, right here
But the world won’t let me in
Stuck in the smoke and mirrors
Where the living can’t begin
[Verse 2]
Clock ticks
But the hands won’t move
I’m a shadow
In an empty room
Your tears hit the floor
I can feel the crash
But your arms swing wide
Through a fading mask
[Pre-Chorus]
I reach out
But you feel cold air
Every word that I say
Is a crackling flare
[Chorus]
I’m stuck in the smoke and mirrors
Screaming your name through the glass
You look in my eyes, see nothing
Just the echo of a past
I’m right here, right here, right here
But the world won’t let me in
Stuck in the smoke and mirrors
Where the living can’t begin
[Bridge]
[Beat drops to distant throb, whispered vocal]
Walk through me
Like an empty prayer (yeah)
Talk to the dark
Like I’m not even there
I would bleed again
Just to feel your skin
But I’m weightless, faceless
Locked outside your sin (hey)
[Chorus]
I’m stuck in the smoke and mirrors
Screaming your name through the glass
You look in my eyes, see nothing
Just the echo of a past
I’m right here, right here, right here
But the world won’t let me in
Stuck in the smoke and mirrors
Where your touch can’t reach my sin
[Outro]
Just smoke
Just mirrors
Just your voice
In my ears (oh)
If I fade
Remember
I was standing
Right here

rap, Dark alternative / nu metal crossover with male vocals: palm-muted guitars locked to a swung, electronic-tinged groove, sub-heavy bass, and glitchy atmospheres. Verses stay tense and minimal with whispered doubles and occasional half-sung, half-rapped phrasing. Chorus explodes with wide distorted guitars, big gang-style shouts, and a soaring top-line drenched in reverb. Bridge pulls back into eerie sound design and low spoken word before a final, crushing chorus., rap rock, electronic, rock, alternative rock, world, nu metal