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.
Back to Hell
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And like the bugs in your bed, under my skin now
Devouring all that's left of me
Devouring all that's left of me
In the palm of your hand, a resting place
All the guilt in the land resting on me
And we're crushing beneath it, falling beside ourselves
Send us back to hell, we've had our fill of heaven
Give us back our sins dead no one could sell them.
Keep us from their hearts, saving us like ashes
Cut us down with dust, never trust in anything we're told
Like the pills in your hand, I'll never let you down
And like the bugs in your bed, under my skin now
They're devouring all that's left of me
Yeah they're devouring all that's left of me
Send us back to hell, we've had our fill of heaven
Give us back our sins dead no one could sell them
Keep us from their hearts, saving us like ashes
Cut us down with dust, never trust in anything we're told.
The lyrics of Alkaline Trio's song "Back to Hell" depict a desperate plea of two individuals to be returned to their old ways, to their past mistakes and sins. The song explores the consequences of isolation, addiction, and reckless behavior. The opening line, "Like the pills in your hand, I'll never let you down" portrays the everlasting effect that addiction can have on an individual. The reference to the bugs in the bed alludes to the fact that the actions of the past continue to haunt and consume the present. The line, "Devouring all that's left of me," epitomizes the destructive nature of addiction and how it can consume one entirely.
The song's chorus, "Send us back to hell, we've had our fill of heaven, Give us back our sins dead no one could sell them," vividly portrays the desire for escapism and a need for a change from the monotony of heaven. The line "Keep us from their hearts, saving us like ashes," is an acknowledgment that their actions have caused damage to others, and they wish to be kept away from causing further harm. The final verse, "Cut us down with dust, never trust in anything we're told," speaks to disillusionment and the loss of faith in the good intentions and actions of others. The song's subject acknowledges the futility of trying to break the cycle and settle for returning to the familiar but baneful past.
Line by Line Meaning
Like the pills in your hand, I'll never let you down
I will always be there for you just like the pills you cling onto for support
And like the bugs in your bed, under my skin now
Your thoughts and fears have become a part of me, just like the bugs making a home in your bed
Devouring all that's left of me
Your presence is slowly consuming and destroying everything that I have left within me
In the palm of your hand, a resting place
You have the power to control my life and my future rests in your hands
All the guilt in the land resting on me
I am burdened with the weight of everyone's guilt which weighs heavily on my conscience
And we're crushing beneath it, falling beside ourselves
The guilt is overwhelming and we are losing control, consumed by our own thoughts and actions
And we're wishing to break this neverending spell
We long to escape from the cycle of guilt and regret that we are trapped in
Send us back to hell, we've had our fill of heaven
We are tired of pretending to be perfect and want to get rid of the facade of heaven that we have created
Give us back our sins dead no one could sell them.
We want to take back our mistakes that no one else can profit from
Keep us from their hearts, saving us like ashes
We want to avoid hurting others and destroying their hearts, and instead be saved from our own destructive tendencies
Cut us down with dust, never trust in anything we're told
We want to be brought back to reality, stripped of everything we thought we knew and never believe in the idealized version of ourselves again
They're devouring all that's left of me
The consuming thoughts and feelings that you have brought into my life are continuing to destroy all that I have left within me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL MICHAEL ANDRIANO, DEREK R. GRANT, MATTHEW THOMAS SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheMadisonmccarthy
Man all the memories of this band.. pure nostalgia
@01mhall
i just love matt skiba's voice
@jamesbullet55
People moan about this album but it's fucking incredible! Albeit "experimental" for the trio, it's still a classic! :D Seeing them next month, can't fucking wait!
@jaerancilio3950
Back when it came out I loved it the first time I heard it, and it's still one of my favorite alk 3 albums...My shame is true?..not so much. All I like on that album is Dan's songs
@jonasvohrna
♪ Send us back to hell, we've had our fill of heaven
Give us back our sins, the deadly one through seven
Keep us from their hearts, saving us like ashes
Grind us down to dust, never trust in anything we're told ♫
@darthsizzle
three years and two dislikes? Things still rock.
@LukeCurryMusic
This song is fucking mind blowing
@shgazda
@yyteboy Yeah, I bought Damnesia Deluxe Edition, had to pay (clo) duty (I'm from Czech Republic), so the price raised twice, but stil worth it! And LOVE it - forever, thank whoever, I listened Alkaline Trio in radio..
@94_Fxiry_94
Send this back to hell 🎵 we’ve had our fill of heaven 🎶 give us back our sins The 🎵 deadly One through seven keep us from their hearts 🎶 saving us like ashes Grind us down to dust
@bellinghamsucks306
send us back to hell...we've had abit of there heaven...