(drums) who was later replaced by Aaron Gainer.
After performing no more than 12 live shows, the band recorded a demo and went to New York City where they performed at an industry showcase, where the band encountered some minor difficulties,:"Here we are, our first few hours in New York City," McCoy recalls, "and Kevin is puking in the bathroom and I'm chasing some guy who stole my wallet just a few hours before we play the showcase. It was crazy."After that, the band was signed up by Wind-Up Records. The situation improved once 12 Stones signed with Wind-up and began recording with producer Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, Alien Ant Farm), who helped pump up Eric Weaver’s searing guitar solos in the belief that a new guitar hero might be born. Combined with the propulsive rhythm section of Dorr and drummer Aaron Gainer and McCoy’s distinctive lyrics, the 12 Stones sound conveys real emotion with a visceral punch.
The band's eponymous debut album was released in 2002, produced by Jay Baumgardner. They gained more fame when vocalist McCoy performed in Evanescence's song "Bring Me to Life" opposite Amy Lee. The song was included in both Evanescence's album, Fallen and in the Daredevil film soundtrack. McCoy quotes:"Our songs are about some of the really tough times I went through growing up as a kid," McCoy says. "I really wanted to target subjects in our songs that kids going through tough times can relate to and help them get through tough times. It doesn't mean you can’t be angry and the songs powerful. We just want to stream negative energy in a positive way."
In 2004, Kevin Dorr quit the band and touring guitarist Greg Trammell later became an official member.
Their second album, Potter's Field came out in 2004. Both albums were supported with heavy touring. Clint Amereno and then Aaron Hill were brought in to play bass for the shows. After the tour, the band decided to take a break from the band to be with their respective families.
Trammell left prior to the recording of the next album, leaving the band without a second guitarist. After completion of the CD, one of its collaborators, ex-Breaking Point guitarist Justin Rimer, took over this position. The new lineup was later completed with the addition of former Presence bassist DJ Stange.
Their third album, Anthem For The Underdog, was released in 2007. The album is said to be inspired by the effects of Hurricane Katrina on their hometown.
Shortly after the album's release, Stange quit and was replaced by Shawn Wade, formerly of the band Silence Is Broken.
12 Stones released an EP entitled "The Only Easy Day was Yesterday in the summer of 2010. Shortly after its release, the band left Wind-up Records.
After a lengthy search, they found a new home with EMI. EMG's Jacob Capricciuolo said of the latest expansion move of the company, "signing 12 Stones marks a pivotal turn for Executive Music Group to not only continue its established rock success, but to now elevate its presence in Rock to a much broader audience. Myself and VP Jimmy Swan believe 12 Stones has been underrated within the music industry for far to long. We live for radical movements and artists ready to make radical changes within those movements such as 12 Stones. The excitement to work with their amazing talent is more than exhilarating to say the least! It's an honor to have on our roster a group of hard working guys stopping at nothing for global success!"
They entered the studio in the spring of 2011 to record their 4th full length LP. The first single "Bulletproof" from the new album entitled "Only Human" was released on July 11, 2011 to much fanfare.
World So Cold
12 Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Followed by hate
Fueled by the endless questions no one can answer
A stain covers your heart, and tears you apart
Just like a sleeping cantor
I don't believe men are born to be killers
I don't believe the world can't be saved
An innocent child with a thorn in his heart
[Chorus]
What kind of world do we live in
When love is divided by hate
Losing control of our feeling
We all must be dreaming his life away
In a world so cold
Are you sane
Where is the shame
A moment of time passes by
You cannot rewind who's to blame
When did it start
Is there a cure for your sickness
Have you no heart
I don't believe men are born to be killers
I don't believe the world can't be saved
How did you get here and when did it start
An innocent child with a thorn in his heart
[Chorus]
There's a sickness inside you that wants to escape
It's a feeling you get when you can't find your way
So how many times must you fall to your knees
Never, Never, Never, Never, Never do this again
It starts with pain (with pain)
Followed by hate (followed by hate)
I don't believe men are born to be killers
I don't believe the world can't be saved
What kind of world do we live in
When love is divided by hate
Losing control of our feeling
Were dreaming his life away
What kind of world do we live in
When love is divided by hate
Selling our souls for no reason
We all must be dreaming his life away
In a world so cold, in a world so cold
The song "World So Cold" by 12 Stones addresses the issue of violence in today's society. The opening lines bring forth the idea that pain, hate, and the endless search for answers can lead to a person's heart being stained and feeling like they are being torn apart. The songwriters question the nature of human beings and express their disbelief that people are born to be killers. They question how one can turn into a violent individual and when it all started.
The song also highlights the idea of love being divided by hate and the loss of control of one's feelings. The lyrics suggest that there’s a sickness inside people that wants to escape, and it’s a feeling that is experienced when an individual can’t seem to find their way. The chorus repeats the question of the type of world we live in, where such distortions exist, while selling our souls for unknown reasons.
According to the band, the song is about drug addiction and the pain that addiction can cause to both the addicted person and those around them. It seeks to shed light on the negative side of addiction and the effects it can have on society, and so, the songwriters attempt to encourage the listeners to seek help and not to give up even though things may seem hopeless.
Line by Line Meaning
It starts with pain
The feeling of pain triggers a sequence of events.
Followed by hate
These events are followed by the emotion of hate.
Fueled by the endless questions no one can answer
The perpetrator is motivated by questions which cannot be answered.
A stain covers your heart, and tears you apart
The individual's actions of hate cause internal damage to their heart and emotions.
Just like a sleeping cantor
This damage takes place gradually over time unnoticed, like a cantor who is unaware of what is happening around them.
I don't believe men are born to be killers
The artist believes that people are not born with a killer instinct.
I don't believe the world can't be saved
The artist has hope that positive change can happen.
How did you get here and when did it start
The artist questions how the individual became so full of hate and when this began.
An innocent child with a thorn in his heart
The person who is full of hate may have had a traumatic experience as a child or young adult which has left a lasting emotional scar.
What kind of world do we live in
The artist is questioning the state of the world with regards to love and hate.
When love is divided by hate
The artist is highlighting the irony of a world where love is overpowered by hate.
Losing control of our feeling
People are losing control of their emotions under the influence of hate.
We all must be dreaming his life away
People may be living in a false reality where hate is the norm.
Are you sane
The artist is questioning the sanity of someone plagued with hate.
Where is the shame
The artist is calling for accountability and remorse for actions wrought with hate.
A moment of time passes by
Time passes regardless of the actions committed by the individual towards themselves or others.
You cannot rewind who's to blame
Regardless of the desire to change, the past cannot be undone.
Is there a cure for your sickness
The artist is questioning the ability to heal someone from the emotional disease of hate.
Have you no heart
The artist is questioning the level of emotional empathy someone full of hate may possess.
There's a sickness inside you that wants to escape
The artist believes that emotional disease is contained within the person but the person desires to be free of it.
It's a feeling you get when you can't find your way
The feeling of sickness increases when one is lost, directionless and unsure.
So how many times must you fall to your knees
The artist is calling for the perpetrator to surrender and change their ways.
Never, Never, Never, Never, Never do this again
The artist is imploring the person to never repeat the behavior of hate.
Selling our souls for no reason
People are losing what makes them human by embracing hate.
In a world so cold, in a world so cold
The world can feel heartless at times due to the darkness that hate brings upon it.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: ANTHONY MCCOY, JUSTIN MARK RIMER, SKIDD MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind