When I read the poem of Stephen Crane I immediately imagined something heroic, archaic and raw because of the first verse. The strong believe in the truth could be the opinion of a hero, somebody idealistic and naive. „The world looks black“ makes him looking very lonely as if he is the only one on the side of the truth and the outside world is bad. The second traveller is the opposite, he only complains about his own experience with the truth, which he has never touched. Though I want to orientate my Metal-project on modern and experimental methods I come up this time with a very conventional and melodic song. While composing the tune I thought on simple and archaic bands like ACDC and Manowar. I admit, that I am a fan of the latter ones, though today they are just a bad imitation of themselves. When Manowar started in 1980 they developed a unique vision of Heavy Metal, of course full of cliches, but nobody before had dared to bee so over the top and they were capable of writing amazing songs. A virtue, which they lost after the first four or five albums. Unlike Manowar I try to modernize the classic genre of Power Metal. First I stick with my electronic drums. Second I avoid a guitar-solo in the middle and prefer to work with the basic motif and to introduce extended chords, something not suitable for classic Metal. Lead Vocals: Chris (courtesy of studio pros.com) Choir, Guitars, Programming, Production: Dirk Lyrics: Stephen Crane "Truth," said a traveller, "Is a rock, a mighty fortress; Often have I been to it, Even to its highest tower, From whence the world looks black." "Truth," said a traveller, "Is a breath, a wind, A shadow, a phantom; Long have I pursued it, But never have I touched The hem of its garment." And I believed the second traveller; For truth was to me A breath, a wind, A shadow, a phantom, And never had I touched The hem of its garment. (Stephen Crane)