It is different to Vaxis I but I personally prefer it. Vaxis I was great at points but dragged in too many others.
I posted this on Reddit earlier but this is one reason this album is hitting me...
So I've just been listening to Blood and it hit me real hard.
My son is 2 and a half and is possibly on the autistic spectrum. He is undiagnosed due to his age but my wife and I have worked in care for a long time and he is delayed with his speech, social interaction, imaginative play etc. My wife is finding it all very difficult, and as much as I am, I am thankful for my son, he is healthy and happy and I don't care about labels. He is my son, everything about him is just him, and I love all of him.
The new record is clearly inspired by Atlas and the lyrics in Blood just made me question whether Atlas is also on the autistic spectrum. It doesn't matter if he is or isn't, and I'm not looking for an answer about whether he is or not, that's none of my business.
The lyrics in Blood read
"Is there anyone in there?
Desired or left with all despair?
It feels so hard to need
A soul the world may never see
It won't matter to us
If you wake up my love
If you take my burning hand
Follow me into the fires of the sun
Oh, they fear what they don't know
And they'll be afraid of you for sure
'Cause you're my blood
You're my blood
Your eyes swim beneath
The uncertain and what's normally perceived
Do you know that I'm here?"
Claudio's lyrics really tap into how about I feel about my son. He can be very much in his own world and seems oblivious to my wife and I at times. He certainly does interact but there are times I question whether really sees me. But also, it doesn't matter if this is who you are and you never interact in a way that I dream of, I love you for who you are completely, and you're my blood. Also the part about others fearing what they don't know and it's hard to need a soul the world will never see. I try not to focus on where he will be in 2, 5, 10, 20 years, where he will fit into this crazy world, or the challenges he may face, but that stuff creeps in.
But anyway, thanks Claudio, for putting into words how I feel about my son ❤️
Edit: also just read the lyrics along to Window of the Waking Mind and that also hits right in the feels.