The band formed in December of 1996, originally consisting of Skiba, Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals). 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, Sundials. This was followed shortly after by the departure of Doran. He was replaced by Andriano, who had been the singer for Tuesday and bassist for the ska band Slapstick. The band released their second EP, entitled For Your Lungs Only, in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fan base in the American Midwest. Later that year, they released their first full-length album, Goddamnit, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire in 2000. Both were released on Asian Man Records. Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously-released EPs on a self-titled album.
Following the success of their Asian Man releases, Alkaline Trio signed to Vagrant. Joined by new drummer Mike Felumlee (previously of the Smoking Popes), From Here to Infirmary was released in 2001. It was their first album to see any interest from alternative radio and the mainstream media, with the semi-hit punk single "Stupid Kid" and the inclusion of the song "Armageddon" on the Tony Hawk's Underground as well as Tony Hawks American Wasteland video games. Their cover of "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was included in the compilation The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show, an album made to pay tribute to the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After the release, Felumlee left the band too and was replaced by Grant, previously of The Suicide Machines.
Their next full-length album was Good Mourning, released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing a considerable amount of commercial success. The album was a significant departure from earlier works, featuring greater production value and a noticeable move toward a more mainstream sound.
The band has also appeared on various compilation albums, notably Plea for Peace Vol. 1 and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Skiba and Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album This is Unity Music by Common Rider. They have also recorded two split EPs with bands who are no longer together: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.
Alkaline Trio released their fifth studio album on Vagrant Records, entitled Crimson, on May 24, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.
In 2004 Andriano became a member of The Falcon, a super-group of consisting of The Lawrence Arms' bassist/co-vocalist Brendan Kelly (with who he had played with in Slapstick), and Neil Hennessy, drummer from The Lawrence Arms. The band released a 5-song EP in 2004, and its first full-length Unicornography in September of 2006.
In 2006 Matt Skiba collaborated with Josiah Steinbrick for the band Heavens.
In 2008 Alkaline Trio released Agony & Irony on Epic Records. The album charted at #13 on the Billboard 200.
Alkaline Trio's 7th studio album, This Addiction,was released on February 23rd 2010. This was their first album under their own label, Heart & Skull, an offshoot of Epitaph, and the album debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest the band has ever charted to date.
Alkaline Trio's eighth studio album, Damnesia,, was released July 12, 2011. Consisting of "a selection of beloved fan favorites selected from the group's extensive catalogue and presented in an intimate semi-unplugged format", the album also included two new songs, "Olde English 800" and "I Remember a Rooftop", as well as a cover version of the Violent Femmes' "I Held Her in My Arms".
On April 2nd, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "My Shame Is True".
On August 31st, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "Is This Thing Cursed?".
On June 8th, 2023, longtime drummer Derek Grant left the band due to mental health reasons and intentions to pursue music production as well as graphic design. He was replaced by Atom Willard, formerly of bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Against Me!. The band then released the single, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" on October 17th, 2023, and announced an album of the same name due for a release date of January 26th, 2024.
Armageddon
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind your back it goes
A little something like this is way too big to miss
I got a letter in the mail
The sender failed to let me know where
It came from
Opened it up and sure enough there we were
I know it's small but my last call's been called half an hour ago
I know it's late but do you think you could at least fix it for me
The I'll go I'll go alone I swear
I won't tell a soul
I'll drink this beer and write in fear of a song that everybody hates
Armageddon, let the light in
Before we say goodbye give us something to believe in
Armageddon, we're not begging
For too much I don't think
Just need a goodbye kiss (one last salute)
Before we sink
I wrote the words to this song on the back of a photograph
Behind your back it goes
A little something like this is way to big to miss
I got a letter in the mail
The sender failed to let me know where
It came from
Opened it up and sure enough there we were
Arm in arm (up in arms) again
Armageddon, let the light in
Before we say goodbye give us something to believe in
Armageddon, we're not begging
For too much I don't think
Just need a goodbye kiss (one last salute)
Before we sink
We sink
We sink
We sink
We sink
We sink
Armageddon, let the light in
Before we say goodbye give us something to believe in
Armageddon, we're not begging
For too much I don't think
Just need a goodbye kiss (one last salute)
Before we sink
The song Armageddon by Alkaline Trio is a poignant and emotional piece about a regretful lover who is on the verge of saying goodbye to their significant other. We learn that the singer has written these words behind the back of a photograph, implying that they may be hiding their true feelings from their partner. The first half of the song focuses on a letter that the singer has received, which shows them and their lover "arm in arm" in a photograph. This is a reminder of the happiness they once shared and a possible motivation for them to try to fix things between them.
The second half of the song focuses on their desire to have a final moment with their lover, even if it's just a simple goodbye kiss. They acknowledge that their relationship may be ending soon, and they plead for something to believe in before it's too late. The chorus repeats the phrase "Armageddon, let the light in," which could be interpreted as the desire for the end of the world (in this case, the end of their relationship) to be illuminated and for there to be some sort of understanding, acceptance, or closure.
In summary, Armageddon is a heartfelt plea to salvage a relationship that is on the verge of collapse. The singer is stuck between longing for something that they fear is lost forever and the realization that they may need to accept the end and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I wrote the words to this song on the back of a photograph
The songwriter has created a powerful message encapsulated in a song, captured the essence of the emotions in a photograph.
Behind your back it goes
The message is intended for someone but kept hidden, perhaps due to fear of rejection or misunderstanding.
A little something like this is way too big to miss
The significance of the message is too great to be ignored or overlooked.
I got a letter in the mail
The songwriter received a message or notification through conventional means of communication.
The sender failed to let me know where
The sender of the message chose not to disclose their origin or identity.
It came from
Opened it up and sure enough there we were
Arm in arm (up in arms) again
Upon receiving the message, the songwriter realized that it was from someone they had an intimate and troubled past with, and it reignited those emotions.
I know it's small but my last call's been called half an hour ago
The songwriter is aware that the request or message they are trying to convey may seem insignificant and it may be too late to do anything about it.
I know it's late but do you think you could at least fix it for me
The songwriter is reaching out to someone, hoping for their assistance in resolving the issue they're experiencing.
The I'll go I'll go alone I swear
I won't tell a soul
I'll drink this beer and write in fear of a song that everybody hates
The songwriter feels defeated and isolated, preparing to take on their problems alone with alcohol and cynicism as their only companions.
Armageddon, let the light in
Before we say goodbye give us something to believe in
With the world ending, the songwriter is begging for hope and a reason to believe in a better future.
Armageddon, we're not begging
For too much I don't think
Despite the desperate situation, the songwriter is only asking for a small gesture, a final moment of closure and peace.
Just need a goodbye kiss (one last salute)
Before we sink
The songwriter wants one final act of love and respect to mark the end of their journey, before the inevitable downfall.
We sink
The end of the journey has arrived, and the songwriter is resigned to their fate.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EVAN BOGART, TAWANNA DABNEY, JARED COTTER, ALEX DA KID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind