Blinded By Fear

At The Gates' song 'Blinded By Fear' delves into the dark recesses of the human psyche, exploring themes of inner turmoil, existential dread, and the struggle for liberation from internal chains. The opening lines, 'We are blind to the world within us, waiting to be born,' suggest a profound disconnect between our conscious selves and the deeper, often darker, aspects of our being. This blindness to our inner world can lead to a sense of entrapment, as if we are chained by our own fears and anxieties.

The recurring motif of 'purgatory unleashed' and the imagery of burning the face of the earth evoke a sense of apocalyptic release, where the protagonist seeks to break free from the confines of their mental and emotional purgatory. This release, however, is not without its own horrors, as it brings forth 'the face of all your fears.' The song suggests that confronting these fears is both a necessary and terrifying process, one that can lead to a form of rebirth or transformation.

The lyrics also touch on themes of pain and mortality, with lines like 'Sweet nauseating pain, is death the only release?' This question underscores the existential crisis at the heart of the song, where the protagonist grapples with the idea that true freedom might only be attainable through death. The repeated references to 'suicidal disease' and 'humanity exiled' further emphasize the depth of despair and alienation felt by the individual. Ultimately, 'Blinded By Fear' is a powerful exploration of the human condition, capturing the intense struggle between fear, pain, and the quest for liberation.