Formed in 1998, 40 Below Summer came together after drummer and Peruvian native Carlos Aguilar met with singer Max Illidge. Joey D'Amico later joined the duo, followed by Jordan Plingos and Puerto Rican-born Hector Graziani. Their first album Side Show Freaks (1999) and EP Rain (2000) were self released.
Invitation to the Dance (2001-2002)
Eventually, a deal was signed with London-Sire Records. Their debut major label album Invitation to the Dance was released on October 16, 2001, and was produced by GGGarth. Two months after its release, Warner Music Group dissolved the London-Sire label, and the album was reissued by Warner's Reprise label.
After performing on the Jägermeister Music Tour with Drowning Pool, Coal Chamber and Ill Niño, and then again with Slipknot, Fear Factory, and Chimaira, but only on select dates. They started to write material for their second album. While the band started writing almost immediately after the release of their previous album, they threw out some fifteen songs before coming up with twenty one that they reduced down to the final ten (plus a bonus track, "The Day I Died").
The Mourning After (2003-2005)
Unsigned at this point, Razor & Tie Records saw the band in February 2003 when they played in New York with E.Town Concrete. A deal was signed in June just as the band entered the studio. The band would later strike a licensing deal with Roadrunner Records for the album's UK release.
Their second album The Mourning After was released on October 28, 2003. Two singles were released from the album in "Self-Medicate" and "Taxi Cab Confession". The video for the former received a fair amount of airplay on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. The band negotiated a release from their contract in 2004. Not long after this Jordan was temporarily replaced by Ty Fury. The band then recruited Ryan Juhrs (formerly of Flaw) to fill the spot officially and Carlos left soon after.
Ali Nassar replaced Carlos, and after playing two shows under the 40 Below Summer moniker, they decided to rename the project Black Market Hero. They were soon joined by another former member of Flaw, drummer Micah Havertape, who replaced Nasser. In January 2006, Graziani was forced to leave the band due to severe hearing loss he had suffered after years of performing. Former Confliction bassist Matt Fortin joined in August 2006. Black Market Hero's first single, "Freedom Dealer," was released in summer 2007.
The Last Dance (2006)
Despite breaking up, 40 Below Summer released The Last Dance on October 31, 2006 via Crash Music Inc. The album features nine demo versions of songs intended for their third LP, as well as a bonus DVD featuring footage of the band's "last" performance at the Starland Ballroom (September 2005). The album sold 1,095 copies during its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[1]
In October 2006, there was speculation that the band had reunited. This was later dismissed by guitarist Joey D'Amico who stated that the band was just going to do a few shows to promote the release of The Last Dance. However, D'Amico also stated that there was a possibility that 40 Below Summer would record a new album in the future.
The band filmed a music video for the single "Relapse" with director Frankie Nasso. The song was originally written by 2005 guitarist Ty Fyhrie (Fury). Ty went on to work with the band Murder Of Crows but now resides in the band Dirty Little Rabbits with Slipknot percussionist M. Shawn Crahan also known as Clown.
In a radio interview with All Knowing Force, Illidge stated that he expected 40 Below Summer would tour and play 5-10 shows a year. Although his main priority is with his new project Black Market Hero, he didn't rule out the possibility of the band one day recording another album. According to Max and Joey, 40 Below Summer is dead.
The band did however re-issued their independently released EP Rain with seven bonus tracks on July 31, 2007 via Crash Music. In addition to the five songs originally released, seven demo tracks have also been included, as well as all new cover artwork. Sideshow Freaks was also re-released on July 15, 2008 by ex-Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch's record label Driven Music Group.
Reformation and new album (2011–present)
On July 12, 2010 it was announced that 40 Below Summer would play a reunion show on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. God Forbid played support. 40 Below played "Invitation to the Dance" from cover-to-cover.
On April 20, Max Illidge posted on his Facebook stating "Starting pre production for the new 40 below record. Oh boy." indicating the band has reunited for a new record. The band's next two albums, "Fire at Zero Gravity" (2013) and "Transmission Infrared" (2015) were released by Super Massive Media Group.
Drown
40 Below Summer Lyrics
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And take this leash into your inner slave
Follow me into the open end
Now gather these pieces of broken man
I will set in motion, to open me up again
I will make the ocean, swallow me up and then
Drown
Close this cell, imprison your only friend
And I can't kill, but I'm not so innocent
Rid this place of me and everyone
And change this face to burn in the sun
I will set in motion, to open me up again
I will make the ocean, swallow me up and then
Drown
Stop this life, I can not stop this life
I can not stop this life, I can not die
The lyrics of "Drown" by 40 Below Summer speak to feelings of being trapped and wanting to escape, even if that means giving in to a destructive force like drowning. The first verse sets up the theme of surrendering control, as the singer urges someone else to join them in the waves and become their "inner slave." They're looking for someone to follow them into an unknown future, where they'll have to pick up the pieces of a broken life.
In the second verse, the singer turns their focus inward, describing themselves as imprisoned and unable to escape their own thoughts and feelings. They acknowledge their own dark side and the harm they've caused. The final lines, "Stop this life, I cannot stop this life, I cannot stop this life, I cannot die" reveal the desperation of a person who feels like they have no way out.
The repeated refrain of "I will set in motion, to open me up again, I will make the ocean, swallow me up and then, drown" suggests the singer believes in some kind of rebirth or transformation through extreme self-destruction. For them, a complete loss of control is the only way to break free from their current suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
Chase this tease into the open wave
Pursue this temptation as it leads you towards the vast expanse of the sea
And take this leash into your inner slave
Take control of your own desires and surrender yourself to their hold
Follow me into the open end
Come with me towards the abyss, where everything fades into nothingness
Now gather these pieces of broken man
Collect the shattered remnants of your broken self and let them guide you
I will set in motion, to open me up again
I will take action to expose my innermost thoughts and feelings once more
I will make the ocean, swallow me up and then
I will allow the sea to engulf me completely and become one with its vastness
Drown
Succumb to the power of the ocean and let it consume you entirely
Close this cell, imprison your only friend
Shut yourself off from the world and lock away the only companion you have left
And I can't kill, but I'm not so innocent
I may not have the ability to take a life, but I am far from guiltless
Rid this place of me and everyone
Erase myself and all those around me from existence in this world
And change this face to burn in the sun
Alter my appearance to the point of destruction, to the point where I am consumed by the sun's fire
Stop this life, I can not stop this life
Put an end to my existence, yet realize that there is no way to stop the unrelenting march of life
I can not stop this life, I can not die
Accept the fact that no matter what happens, death cannot be prevented nor can life be ended prematurely
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARLOS AGUILAR, HECTOR GRAZANI, JORDAN PLINGOS, JOSEPH D'AMICO, MAX ILLIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind