Since 2001, A BAND CALLED PAIN has been developing their muscular style and entertaining thousands. Allen Richardson (vocals), Shaun Bivens (guitar & b.g. vocals), Tony Providence (drums), and Bryan Dean, a.k.a Dark Kent (bass) form one of the best metal bands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whichever end of the spectrum a rock connoisseurs taste my lie, ABCP's versatile style satisfies. From ballads to thrash, they do it all, and do it well.
Allen's extensive vocal range and heartfelt lyrics, perfectly compliment the brooding music created by the trio of seasoned musicians. Simply put, his onstage demeanor is dynamic - the perfect conduit for the pulsating live energy of the band. Shaun's aggressive guitar riffs, screaming chords, and passionate love of the music shine through in each song. One cannot keep their eyes off of him while he shreds out a solo. Imagine a mad scientist melding the styles of Jimi Hendrix and Zakk Wylde.
The ominous beats Tony powerfully pounds onto the drums keep heads banging and crowds dancing. From the sound of it, one could imagine him having an extra set of arms in order to play as complexly as he does. His unique custom 28-inch kick drum provides the larger than life visual and sonics that go hand in hand with the bands vibe.
Dark Kent's pocket oriented style and huge tone are the rivets on the track that keeps the train running smoothly. His barefooted playing style shows that he is grounded and at one with both the sound and the audience.
Call them brothers in spirit, cousins in life, and a family bonded by rock and roll. A BAND CALLED PAIN is fresh, new, kinetic, energetic, accomplished, unexpected, and really, really good.
A BAND CALLED PAIN has been very productive over the last six years and continues to work hard on their present projects. Their first CD, "Broken Dreams" was voted one of the top 10 best California releases of 2006 by Zero Magazine. One track from the album "Holy" was featured on the soundtrack to the hit horror film "SAW 2". A second track, "Hellbound" was played during an episode of Dane Cook's television series on HBO. The buzz began when Billy Steel, the former, but longtime DJ at local rock radio station 107.7 "The Bone” featured ABCP, on the popular show, "The Metal Zone". As quoted by the DJ, "I gotta tell you, your CD is the kind that goes into the CD player and stays there!"
A BAND CALLED PAIN has shared stages with great bands such as Living Colour, Mushroomhead, Prong, Shinedown, and many others. They've also played larger gigs such as the Talking House Productions Special Industry Showcase, which included performances by members of Metallica, Guns and Roses, Velvet Revolver and Linkin Park. Most recently, ABCP traveled to Austin, Texas to perform at the internationally renowned South by Southwest New Music Festival.
Holy
A Band Called Pain Lyrics
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The midnight sky is black and blue
The galaxy surrounds me
You let me in, you get me high
The world revolves around me
Beneath my skin, deep down inside
I wear you like a tattoo
You're like the god, I need you
Take me to the river and make me holy
Teach me, show me
I feel your touch, you take my breath
You make it feel like heaven
You used to say I was the devil
Now you're trying to change me
You call my name in hopes that you could save me
You gave me life when I saw death
It was staring at me
And make me holy
Teach me, show me
Make me holy
Teach me, show me
I don't wanna meet your maker
I don't wanna meet your maker
I don't wanna meet your maker
I don't wanna meet your maker
Take me to the river
Make me better, wash my sins away
And make me holy
Teach me, show me
Make me holy
Teach me, show me
The lyrics to A Band Called Pain's song "Holy" depict a person who is searching for a sense of purpose and belonging. The first verse begins with the person feeling lost and disconnected from the world around them, but when they are with someone they feel high and important, as if the world revolves around them. The person compares their relationship to a tattoo, something permanent and ingrained in their being. The second verse reveals that the person was previously viewed as negative (the devil) but is now being seen in a new light (trying to change me). The chorus is a plea for guidance and redemption, asking to be "made holy" and taught how to be better.
Overall, the song speaks to the idea of redemption and transformation. The singer has recognized their flaws and negative past, but is seeking a way to become better and more "holy." The idea of being washed clean in a river and given new life is a common religious motif, and it is likely that the band is drawing on this imagery to underscore the song's themes.
Line by Line Meaning
The midnight sky is black and blue
The singer is describing their environment and setting the scene for the rest of the song.
The galaxy surrounds me
The singer feels small in comparison to the vastness of the universe.
You let me in, you get me high
The singer feels an intense connection and attraction to another person.
The world revolves around me
The artist is hyper-focused on themselves and their own experiences.
Beneath my skin, deep down inside
The artist is describing a deep emotional and physical connection to the other person.
I wear you like a tattoo
The other person has become a permanent fixture in the singer's life.
I taste your bread, I drink your wine
The singer is partaking in the other person's life and experiences.
You're like the god, I need you
The other person has a powerful and essential role in the artist's life.
Take me to the river and make me holy
The artist is seeking a transformative experience that will wash away their sins and make them feel purified.
Teach me, show me
The artist is open and receptive to learning from the other person.
I feel your touch, you take my breath
The other person's touch is intense and overwhelming for the singer.
You make it feel like heaven
The other person brings the artist intense pleasure and happiness.
You used to say I was the devil
The other person used to view the singer as bad or immoral.
Now you're trying to change me
The other person is attempting to alter the singer in some way.
You call my name in hopes that you could save me
The other person wants to help the singer and believes they can make a positive impact on their life.
You gave me life when I saw death
The other person has had a significant positive impact on the artist's life.
And make me holy
The artist is repeating their desire to be purified and transformed into a better person.
Teach me, show me
The singer is repeating their openness and willingness to learn from the other person.
I don't wanna meet your maker
The singer does not want to meet the other person's god or deity.
Make me better, wash my sins away
The artist is repeating their desire to be cleansed and transformed into a better person.
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.