Forsaken ~ Music by Christian Beranek (Patreon)

This was the first song I wrote. I must have been 19? Jeez. Ages ago. 

The lyrics came first. Definitely tones of revenge -- but not just against someone in particular. It's about how when you seek such an outcome like this there is a terrible cost. And the line "You and I we know the truth..." denotes the person is speaking to themselves. The truth is once you commit you can't escape it.

I wanted the lead guitar to represent that conflict -- whether or not to act upon a dark desire. The notes are played in a subdued manner. The thought I had while recording was You won't win this war if you start it. All that can come from revenge is fire. And the price you pay is your soul.

For the music itself I started off tinkering with a simple chord progression using the C# minor scale. I tinkered with it for months. I added a key change after the second and third chorus to give the feeling that there might be a chance to escape this fate after all -- but those chances are fleeting and it always comes back to the progression, the march to the end.

There are actually three other recordings of this song but this one is my favorite. The loud punk rock version has some good elements but sounds simplistic and angry for anger's sake. I was 19, after all.

This version was recorded late at night at my guitarist's friend Jeff's house somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley. For some reason I can't remember his last name. We were in a band together for months and hung out every single day. It's strange how people come in and then go out of your life. Many of the details fade with time. But looking back I have fond memories of rocking together. 

Those days are not forsakened.

As for the animated GIF, I'm putting together a project on clouds. I don't have a timeframe for when it will be fully realized. I'm having fun getting started with it, however.