The fifth offering, "Black Dog Within" shows a black dog standing on a cliff face, staring out over a vast, barren ocean. He stares up at the distant moon, and infinite space with his back to all that he has left behind him.

Black Dog Within was written after Old Wounds and after the passing of my father. As expected, it would leave me stranded in a very dark place, for an unknown amount of time and disorientated. 

For a few months it felt like walking through a thick fog, when you don't see what lies in front of you and every step forward feels like a threat, but necessary in order to get out of that mindset. 

I questioned everything, from past, present and future, overanalysing every of my actions as a son, man, husband and father. I came to peace with myself, accepting the fact that what has been lived and what was done was the best I had to offer with what was available at the time. 

When writing the lyrics, I barely focused on rhymes and decided to go with the raw emotions that I was experiencing, and putting it to paper. 

Although I felt helpless at times, I shared what was going on in my mind with my wife in order to get the darkness out and regain a more positive outlook on life.

This song is my personal mantra,  because I will not let the darkness take over and win. I have seen good people take their own lives, thinking they did not matter, when in fact they left a gapping hole in the hearts of those who loved them. 

This old dog won't die a coward.