New Project Aegis Track

Matt Smith's (Theocracy) side project Project Aegis just released a new track yesterday and it's really great.  Check it out!

https://ulteriumrecords.bandcamp.com/track/and-the-rest-is-mystery

Ulterium Records wrote:

Ulterium Records is proud to announce the release of "And the Rest Is Mystery," another all-star charity track for sale under the Project Aegis name, with 100% of the income going to Legacy Music, a nonprofit organization that provides music lessons and instruments to children and teens from difficult backgrounds. These include depression, anxiety, and trauma; physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; psychological disorders; and substance and alcohol abuse. Some of their students are foster youth, and others have been rescued from human trafficking.

"And the Rest Is Mystery," which is over nine minutes in length, was composed by Theocracy songwriter and vocalist Matt Smith, and features vocals by Neal Morse (Neal Morse band, Transatlantic, Flying Colors, ex-Spock’s Beard), Daniel Heiman (Dimhav, ex-Lost Horizon, Heed, Harmony, Crystal Eyes), Leah McHenry (LEAH) and Smith, as well as instrumental support from Smith’s Theocracy bandmates Ernie Topran and Val Allen Wood. The artwork was created by Markus Sigfridsson (Darkwater, Harmony, All Things Fallen).
lyrics
AND THE REST IS MYSTERY
(Music & lyrics: Matt Smith)

Once upon a lonely journey
Same as everywhere she’s been
Just an ordinary, quiet girl
Scarred by ordinary men
So she tries every single day
To wish upon a million miles away
And dreams that the life she’s meant for
Is maybe not so far away…

In the shadow of his father
Wearing blood that’s not his own
Has he squandered his inheritance
For the only life he’s known?
So he tries every single day
To wish upon a million miles away
And prays that the life he’s meant for
Is maybe not so far away…

Shame so overwhelming like a river
Raging with its death so deep and wide
Legend of a promise to deliver to the other side

Standing at the edge, they heard a calling
Deep down they always knew there’s something more
One to pay the toll and get them safely to the shore

So they ran and jumped onboard
And at once their great adventure had begun
Following that burning call
Don’t look back!
One by one
Threw their bags over the side and followed on
Life as they had known it was gone

No predestination for an ordinary life
We’re designed to live for something more
There’s an invitation waiting patiently outside
Knocking upon the door

I heard Your voice
Call to me
The rest, as they say, is mystery
How You knew me before my bones were formed
Traced my scars and all my fears
To trade in the pain of all these years
For a second chance
A broken life reborn

Shelter from the fallout
All the white knights melting away
From a lifetime feeling phased out
To the dawn of a brand new day

I heard Your voice
Call to me
The rest, as they say, is mystery
How You knew me before my bones were formed
Traced my scars and all my fears
To trade in the pain of all these years
For a second chance
A broken life reborn

(Solo)

I heard Your voice
Call to me
The rest, as they say, is mystery
Why You chose me
A broken life reborn

Reborn
Unto a brand new day
We’d wished upon a million miles away
To find out that You were waiting
Never very far away
So now our story will go on
We say goodbye to broken hopes we’d dreamed upon
And sail on to new horizons
Life is not so far away

You have made us Your sons and daughters
And You showed us the way for the brokenhearted to finally be made whole
To escape the shame of the things we’ve done
And the pain of the things done to us

…and the rest is mystery
credits
released February 7, 2020

I am not much of a power metal fan, but I really like these Project Aegis tracks.  If they create one more they could technically have a 4 song EP!

Cool.  I don't think Matt could produce something bad, even if he tried!

He needs to have Neal on more stuff.

The combo of Matt Smith and Daniel Heiman is ridiculous, Neal Morse and Leah are great as well...I think I'd like to hear Heiman and Leah do a project together, would be way more awesome than Michael Kiske/Amanda Sommerville's project.

Totally blown away by Heiman. Gee whiz. That's a talented singer. Not saying I don't love Morse or Smith or Leah. I actually love them all, but Heiman...just whoa!

Matt should have Jen on a song or two. You guys should check out Lost Horizon if you want to hear more of Daniel.

Black Rider wrote:

Matt should have Jen on a song or two. You guys should check out Lost Horizon if you want to hear more of Daniel.

Ha! That would be an amazing experience, but, I'm definitely not in their league. Nice thought though.   : )
I have never listened to Lost Horizon before. Will check them out today. Thanks for the tip.

Heiman was really able to unleash the full power and range of his voice with Lost Horizon...some of those super high pitched screams don't even sound possible.

Enjoyed the Protools walkthrough that shows how complex it can be to put such a song together.

Thanks for sharing that topshot. Very interesting to see how they do it.