While the concept of pain is universal to all living beings, the understanding of phantom pain is one that eludes most. Gravemind‘s vocalist Dylan Gillies-Parsons channeled the imagery of the experience into the band’s emotionally brutal new song. “To me, Phantom Pain is the result of not being able to comprehend how anyone could bring life into the world, and then not do everything in their power to ensure that soul is taken care of. I believe we can only ever be responsible for ourselves – no one asked to be born, and we are all the masters of our own universe – however I can’t find love for those who create life, consciously or accidentally, and then falter without recompense.”

Like a spectre that lurks in the shadows, emotional trauma can wait in silence for years before it rears it’s head again. Much like the literal experience of phantom pain, being able to connect the path between reality and the sensation, for every one of us requires an individual journey. “During writing, I was dealing with a lot of issues I thought had been put to bed a long time ago. The pressure of this album, and life in general at the time made it impossible to float above some of the emotions I was feeling. In writing songs like Phantom Pain, I was able to catch my breath, reflect, and let these stories find their rightful place. Some songs on this album took longer to make than others, but when I heard what Damon was writing, the lyrics literally wrote themselves in one evening, with little to no change.”

Gravemind’s debut album Conduit will arrive this July via Greyscale Records, with pre-orders now available HERE.