Amano-Iwato 天岩戸 - Falling Dawn

Amano-Iwato 天岩戸 – Falling Dawn

The Legacy of Falling Dawn (2011)

It is with immense excitement that I announce the launch of my latest project: a complete re-imagining and remake of three tracks from my former band, Falling Dawn. Our original album, Left Behind, was released in December 2011. It was a foundational part of my musical journey, and I am incredibly proud of the work we created.

The core lineup that helped shape that era was: Ariana Ochoa (Vocals), Danny Luquín (Guitar), and Rubén Guillén (Guitar), who remained until the mid-era when Cesar Carrillo joined to take over the role until the end, and Anders Orozco (Bass). Falling Dawn had three drummers throughout its history: Xavier Cazares was our first drummer and recorded on the original sessions; Carlos Robles followed him, handling the drums for about a year; and finally, my dear brother, Diego Orozco, joined us and remained the definitive drummer until the very end.

The Remake

For years, I felt that certain tracks had a hidden, heavier potential a vision that needed to be fully realized with the musical maturity and technical skill I’ve developed over the past decade. This new EP, titled Amano-Iwato 天岩戸, takes three songs “Never Cared for You Anyway,” “Words,” and “The One” and presents them in a new light.

My approach involved a complete remake of the original songs. This wasn’t about polishing old files, but fundamentally rebuilding the music from the ground up, setting a crushing new tone and modernizing the overall sound. This massive sonic overhaul results in a genre blending Heavy Nu-Metal with a brutally refined aesthetic. My goal for this project was simply to make these tracks more powerful than ever before.

The Meaning Behind Amano-Iwato 天岩戸

I have chosen Amano-Iwato as the title for this EP because it represents the culmination of a vision that bridges the history of this band with my lifelong fascination with astronomy:

I. The Origin of the Name: For me, the name Falling Dawn has always been a parable of a sun in descent. I have always been captivated by solar eclipses and the specific aesthetic of the “diamond ring” or the halo of light that emerges during totality. Interestingly, I was already deep into the creative process for the cover art—a lunar eclipse centered on that very halo—when I first encountered the story of Amano-Iwato.

II. The Ancestral Legend: In Japanese mythology, Amano-Iwato (天岩戸) refers to the “Heavenly Rock Cave.” The legend tells of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu-Ōmikami (天照大御神), who, distressed by the chaos caused by her brother Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命), withdrew into this cavern and sealed the entrance with a massive rock.

This act plunged the entire world into a sudden, absolute darkness (Kurayami – 暗闇), causing the gods to gather in despair to find a way to lure her back out. This ancient concept of a world suddenly devoid of light mirrors the visual phenomenon of an eclipse perfectly. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful metaphor for these songs: like the goddess in the cave, these tracks have been “hidden” in the darkness since 2011, waiting for the right moment to finally emerge and shine again.

The Legacy of Falling Dawn (2011)

The Remake

The Meaning Behind Amano-Iwato 天岩戸

I have chosen Amano-Iwato as the title for this EP because it represents the culmination of a vision that bridges the history of this band with my lifelong fascination with astronomy:

The Instrumental Core

In this remake, I took on the task of modernizing and reconstructing the core instrumental parts. While my role in the original band was Bass, I was deeply involved in setting the new tone and creating the modernized instrumental foundation, including the groove and structure of the drums, and most of the orchestration. Additionally, I performed the bass on all three tracks, ensuring the foundation remained true to its roots while adding the modern weight this remake required.

The drum tracks in this project are built specifically around the way Diego Orozco improved and performed the songs in subsequent live shows and rehearsals, honoring his influence on the band’s final and most powerful sound.

Lyrical Heart and Special Places

All the lyrics for this EP were written by Ariana Ochoa, whose pen captured the emotional essence of Falling Dawn from its very beginning.

Never Cared for You Anyway The lead single of the EP; a declaration of war against the past and an anthem of personal empowerment that defines the new sonic standard of the band.

VERSE 1
I knew these kind of things happened
But I never really thought it like this
I never thought it would happen to me, just not to me
How could you pull this on me?
This isn’t what I planned us to be
You said you’d love me forever, and that became never

CHORUS
You thought you could just come around
Inside my life inside my mind
Sorry is not enough a word
Please turn around, just don’t come back
You had my trust once had my heart
You blew it off and tried to hide
Now all I got oh left to say
I never cared for you anyway

VERSE 2
Don’t want you to come around no more
I don’t wanna take your calls
I want you to beg no more cause this is a lost cause
My head is spinning fast
And sometimes I make it stop
But what should I do when I don’t?
I’m hating the moments he had side by side

BRIDGE
Who got hurt?
Who got lost? When did I look weak?
Who got hurt?
Who got lost? When did I look weak?
Who got hurt?
Who got lost? When did I look weak?
Who got hurt?
Who got lost? When did I look weak?

Words This song holds a special place in my heart as I composed the piano. In this remake, I have expanded that vision into a grand orchestral structure while maintaining Ariana’s original vocals to preserve its raw honesty.

VERSE 1
Standing out there all alone
Standing in the middle of the road
I need a light I need a sign
Rain fall on my make me cry
what’s the point in it all?
Nothing feels the same anymore
I need a light I need a sign
I can’t feel what I felt last time

PRECHORUS
I can’t take you off my mind
It don’t feel right on my own
I lost the road I was walking on
And now it’s too late to go back

VERSE 2
I´ve tried raising my voice
but no one ever heard
what´s the point in screaming out loud?
If everything flies away
I need a heart I need a sing
I need inspiration I need your hand
Where is my voice?
Where is my mind?
Nothing makes sense to this girl
I really got to hide

PRECHORUS
I can’t take you off my mind
I don’t feel right on my own
I lost the road I was walking on
And now it’s too late to go back

CHORUS
I lost track of time
I stopped feeling alive
the first time it hurt
The next felt I’d die
And now I am blank
There’s nothing in my mind

BRIDGE
Where have all the good times gone?
Something’s going wrong
where have all the memories gone?
I can’t hear anything

CHORUS
I lost track of time (I lost track of time)
I stopped feeling alive
The first time it hurt
The next felt I’d die
And now I am blank
There’s nothing in my mind

CHORUS
I lost track of time
(Please won’t you take me out of here)
I stopped feeling alive
(Take me to the other side)
The first time it hurt
(Please won’t you take me out of here)
The next felt I’d die
(Take me to the other side)
And now I am blank
(Please won’t you take me out of here)
There’s nothing in my mind
(Take me to the other side)

The One This track represents the perfect balance between metal’s aggression and a cinematic atmosphere, enhanced in this remake by Adeli’s powerful vocal delivery.

VERSE 1
Let me say the truth
I never thought you would hurt me this way
I never thought you would make me cry
Whenever our eyes crossed, no lies
Felt a why? Blocking the real sight
You were the one
After all my search
After all my crash’n burns
I thought I’d really found the one
I never imagined you’d dare doing this to me
You promised to treasure and love me

CHORUS
And if you didn’t mean what you said I can’t let it get to me
Cause I’m the kind of girl that always stands on both her feet when it gets hard to breathe
You thought I’d trip and fall to see you be mine again
I’m sorry to disappoint you but you’ll never see me fall again
Again, not again, again

VERSE 2
I gave you everything I had in the end it was never enough
I’m not willing to lose my dignity
You weren’t my first, you’re not my last
Cause in the end only good feelings last, only good feelings last
Its not easy to pretend everything is fine
It’s not easy to get you out my mind
Its not easy to pretend everything is fine
Yeah fine

CHORUS
And if you didn’t mean what you said I can’t let it get to me
Cause I’m the kind of girl that always stands on both her feet when it gets hard to breathe
You thought I’d trip and fall to see you be mine again (to see you be mine again)
I’m sorry to disappoint you but you’ll never see me fall again
Again, not again, again, again.

Uniting a Global Cast: The Collaborators

This monumental task required calling upon musicians who could breathe new life into these heavy foundations. It’s been an honor to reconnect with a founding member and welcome some of the most talented musicians I’ve worked with on previous projects, bringing a truly international flavor to Falling Dawn.

The Voices of the Dawn

Clara Sorace (on “Never Cared for You Anyway“): I was thrilled to have Clara join for the lead single. She is an internationally recognized cinematic vocalist whose work spans some of the most prominent franchises in entertainment. Her distinctive folkloric style brings incredible depth to the aggression of the track. Her voice has been featured in major global productions, including:

– Dune: Awakening (Funcom, 2023–2025)
– House of the Dragon (HBO Original, 2024)
– Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2023)
– Moon Knight (Disney+ / Marvel Studios, 2022)
– La Casa de Papel / Money Heist (Netflix, 2021)
– Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft, 2020)

Ariana Ochoa (on “Words”): Although she did not re-record for this project, I chose to use the original vocal tracks from 2011. To me, “Words” could only ever be sung by Ariana; her performance holds a raw, irreplaceable energy that defines the heart of the song.

Adeli (on “The One”): Adeli returns to collaborate on “The One.” We previously worked together on my track, Fragments of Me, and I knew her powerful delivery was the perfect fit.

The Instrumental Powerhouse

Davis Ho (Guitars on all 3 Tracks): A familiar name from the Stone of Time project, Davis Ho once again brings his exceptional skill to the guitars, layering new textures and weight.

Daniel Luquín (2nd Guitar on “Never Cared for You Anyway”): It wouldn’t be Falling Dawn without the original members. I’m honored that Daniel Luquín, one of the founding guitarists, returned to contribute to this track.

Fairy (Erhu – 二胡 on “Words”): Also returning from the Tales of Dominaria project, Fairy brings the haunting sound of the Erhu (二胡) to the orchestral intro of “Words.” Before the metal foundation enters, she performs a secondary melody that dances around the vocals, adding an ethereal layer to the song’s cinematic opening.

Erica (Ruan – 阮 on “Words”): I invited Erica to collaborate once again after our work together on the Tales of Dominaria project. She performs the Ruan (阮), during the orchestral intro of “Words.” Her mastery of the instrument adds a unique, percussive texture to the track’s opening.

Manuele Carli Ballola (Orchestration on “Words”): A returning collaborator from the Stone of Time project, Manuele brought his expertise back to the fold for “Words.” His contribution was essential in crafting the unique orchestral elements that blend seamlessly with the metal core of the track, adding a layer of sophisticated intensity to this remake.

The Voices of the Dawn

Clara Sorace (on “Never Cared for You Anyway”): I was thrilled to have Clara join for the lead single. She is an internationally recognized cinematic vocalist whose work spans some of the most prominent franchises in entertainment. Her distinctive folkloric style brings incredible depth to the aggression of the track. Her voice has been featured in major global productions, including:

Adeli (on “The One”): Adeli returns to collaborate on “The One.” We previously worked together on my track, Fragments of Me, and I knew her powerful delivery was the perfect fit.

The Instrumental Powerhouse

Davis Ho (Guitars on all 3 Tracks): A familiar name from the Stone of Time project, Davis Ho once again brings his exceptional skill to the guitars, layering new textures and weight.

Production Mastery

Bringing this massive sound to life required the sharp ears and expertise of Willy Krieg for mixing and mastering, who also handled the production duties on Stone of Time. Working out of Mushin Studio, his ability to balance the heavy, the cinematic, and the ambient is unparalleled.

Amano-Iwato 天岩戸 is a testament to musical evolution; what started over a decade ago has finally found its true tone. It is a massive thank you to the original members and to the incredible talents who helped make this resurrection possible. I hope you enjoy hearing these remakes as much as I enjoyed rebuilding them.

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