Counterparts formed in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007.[7] Counterparts consisted of vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarist Jesse Doreen, guitarist Curtis Washik, bassist Eric Bazinet, and drummer Ryan Juntilla. In 2009, Washik departed from the band, and Alex Re joined the band temporarily as their guitarist before becoming their permanent guitarist. In March 2009 Counterparts toured Canada. In 2010 Shane Told, from the band Silverstein, signed them to his Verona Records label.
Lead vocalist Brendan Murphy was featured on the song "The Artist" on Silverstein's fifth album, Rescue. He also appeared in their music video.
The band's debut album Prophets was released 23 February 2010 on label Verona Records. In 2010, Juntilla left the band, and was replaced by Chris Needham. A split EP, featuring Needham on drums was released 21 November 2010 with hardcore punk band Exalt. The band toured North America in support of the album, which was inspired by Mussy.
In spring of 2011, the band was signed to Victory Records. The band continued to tour until the summer of 2011, when they announced that they were recording a new album. During this time, Needham left the band to see a speech therapist. A search for their next drummer was started, but ultimately, Juntilla rejoined the band, just in time to start recording for their second album, The Current Will Carry Us. The album was released 24 October 2011 on Victory. A music video was released for the song "Jumping Ship".
Kyle Brownlee, formerly of Canadian deathcore band Majesty, filled in for Juntilla for the entirety of the band's Canadian headliner tour, later on in summer of 2012, it was announced that Juntilla departed from Counterparts because he no longer wanted to be a part of the band. Days after the announcement, bassist Eric Bazinet commented on his Tumblr page that Juntilla had left the band in February and most of the members have not spoken to him since then. He had left to pursue interests in a band he was in during Counterparts. Bazinet added that on their last tour with Juntilla, "he was especially uninterested."
The band's third album The Difference Between Hell and Home was released on 24 July 2013 to positive critical reception. A music video for the track "Witness" was posted ten days prior to the release of the album.
In late 2013, guitarist Alex Re posted on his personal Facebook page that he had left Counterparts and would be playing his last show with the band at their hometown show in December. He was later replaced by Adrian Lee. In 2014, bassist Eric Bazinet announced that after seven years, he was leaving the band to pursue a career, and to spend time with family. After Bazinet's departure, Blake Hardman from Hundredth filled in on bass for the band on the "Fuck the Message Tour" that was headlined by Stick to Your Guns. Shortly afterwards, the guitarist of Kills and Thrills, Brian Kaczmarczyk, joined on bass, becoming the only non-Canadian member of the band.
In the spring of 2015, vocalist Brendan Murphy announced in an interview that their fourth album, Tragedy Will Find Us, is expected to be released in the summer of 2015. On 23 April, the band announced that they have signed to Pure Noise Records, and New Damage Records. Pure Noise will released the album in the U.S., while New Damage released it in Canada. The fourth album was released in July 2015. Tyler Williams, a bandmate of Hardman's in Nashville hardcore act on Point, also joined the band during this period. It was announced in March 2017 the band would play the 22nd annual Vans Warped Tour.
The band's fifth album, You're Not You Anymore, was released on 22 September 2017 via New Damage and Pure Noise Records. They have also shared singles from the album, called Haunt Me, Bouquet, and No Servant of Mine. "You're Not You Anymore" was the first recorded effort without the participation of Doreen due to his departure from Counterparts.
The band released their sixth studio album, Nothing Left to Love, on 1 November 2019 via New Damage and Pure Noise Records. The record marks the return of guitarist and backing vocalist Alex Re. "Nothing Left to Love" was the band's first record to break into the top 100 of the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at 97.
On May 31, 2022 Counterparts announced on all social media platforms their seventh studio album A Eulogy for Those Still Here due for release on October 7, 2022 through Pure Noise Records. The first single "Unwavering Vow" was released on June 1, 2022. The second single "Whispers Of Your Death" was released on July 26, 2022, and was written about Brendan Murphy's cat Kuma. The third single "Bound to The Burn" was released on September 7, 2022.
Current Members
Brendan Murphy – lead vocals (2007–present)
Alex Re – guitar, backing vocals, clean vocals (2009–2013; 2019–present)
Kyle Brownlee – drums, percussion (2012, 2016, 2017–present)
Tyler Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals (2017–present)
Jesse Doreen – guitar (2007–2016, 2021–present)
Former Members:
Curtis Washik – rhythm guitar (2007–2009)
Chris Needham – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
Ryan Juntilla – drums, percussion (2007–2010; 2011–2012)
Adrian Lee – rhythm guitar (2013–2019), bass (2017)
Eric Bazinet – bass (2007–2014)
Brian Kaczmarczyk – bass guitar (2014–2017)
Ben Leathem – drums, percussion (2016–2017)
Kelly Bilan – drums, percussion (2012–2016)
Blake Hardman – guitar, backing vocals (2016–2021), bass (2014, 2017)
Burn
Counterparts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweep me off my feet, dig your nails into my wounds and pull
A lucid dream, where my chest will collapse from the weight of a fictitious ghost
Tear through me, sacrifice me to your sea
With broken arms I’m left to carry my shell with no help from the current
Lifeless, I am dragging me down
Hollow, I’m left to fend for myself
Forget everything that you’ve come to know
We are not meant for much but to carry our own misery
Is there a God cursing every step that I take?
Or have I been forced to commit myself to the dirt?
We’re chasing the light in the darkest of graves
But the fortunate ones know to wait until mourning
Be still. Serenity blesses us in waves and
with eyes like mountains, we’re drawn to the brow
Leave this life behind and take the next step in the right direction
Stare at the sky, and offer yourself to circumstance
Be the burn
Burn me alive
In Burn, Counterparts delivers a raw and powerful message about the human struggle to find meaning in life, to cope with loss, and to find solace in the face of pain. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the internal conflict that arises when one struggles to find purpose and answers in a world that seems chaotic and unforgiving. The opening lines, "I've grown accustomed to losing sleep/Sweep me off my feet, dig your nails into my wounds and pull", bring to mind a picture of a person who has become desensitized to pain, to the point where even the most intense physical or emotional agony becomes the norm. This sentiment is reinforced by the following lines, "A lucid dream, where my chest will collapse from the weight of a fictitious ghost/Tear through me, sacrifice me to your sea", which imply a sense of helplessness in the face of an unknown force that seems to be causing the singer to suffer.
The song goes on to explore the singer's musings about God, mortality, and the nature of existence. The lines "Forget everything that you've come to know/We are not meant for much but to carry our own misery/Is there a God cursing every step that I take/Or have I been forced to commit myself to the dirt?" suggest intense philosophical inquiry, as the singer grapples with the weight of his or her own existence. The imagery of "chasing the light in the darkest of graves" suggests a desire to find redemption and hope in the midst of despair.
Ultimately, the song concludes with a hopeful message, as the singer realizes that "serenity blesses us in waves" and that by "offering yourself to circumstance", one can find a sense of inner peace that transcends the struggles of everyday life. The closing line ("Be the burn/Burn me alive") serves as a powerful exhortation to embrace life fully and to experience all of its highs and lows with passion and intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve grown accustom to losing sleep
I'm used to not getting enough sleep
Sweep me off my feet, dig your nails into my wounds and pull
Overwhelm me and hurt me with your love
A lucid dream, where my chest will collapse from the weight of a fictitious ghost
Feeling suffocated by an imaginary entity while dreaming
Tear through me, sacrifice me to your sea
Let yourself be consumed by the other person's emotions and feelings
With broken arms I’m left to carry my shell with no help from the current
Feeling weak and alone, having to carry your own weight without help from anyone else
Lifeless, I am dragging me down
Feeling depressed and struggling to keep going
Hollow, I’m left to fend for myself
Feeling empty and having to take care of yourself without relying on anyone else
Forget everything that you’ve come to know
Let go of what you thought you knew
We are not meant for much but to carry our own misery
Life is difficult and we have to carry our own burdens
Is there a God cursing every step that I take?
Questioning whether or not life is predestined
Or have I been forced to commit myself to the dirt?
Feeling like life has no purpose and everything is meaningless
We’re chasing the light in the darkest of graves
Trying to find hope and happiness even in the darkest of times
But the fortunate ones know to wait until mourning
People who have been through difficult times know that it takes time to heal and things will get better eventually
Be still. Serenity blesses us in waves
Find peace and calmness to help cope with the struggles of life
With eyes like mountains, we’re drawn to the brow
Having a strong vision and determination to overcome obstacles in life
Leave this life behind and take the next step in the right direction
Let go of negative experiences and focus on moving forward
Stare at the sky, and offer yourself to circumstance
Accepting whatever life brings and being open to new experiences and opportunities
Be the burn
Embrace pain and suffering as a way of growing and learning
Burn me alive
Take me as I am and push me to my limits
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind