The band formed in 2006 in the ashes of lead guitarist Ade Porwal's previous project Bit the Bullet. The original line-up consisted of Ade Porwal (lead guitar), Jak Noble (rhythm guitar), Sam "Woody" Woodgate (bass (who had worked previously with Porwal in Bit the Bullet)) and Ollie Coghill (drums). The band called themselves Cerulean Sky.
During 2006, the band practiced heavily and tried out vocalists Rob LeMare and Andy Coutts. They inducted Coutts into the band in early 2007 and began considering playing shows. After a disgreement with the band however, Coutts left and the band decided that Noble should assume the role of vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist. Shortly after this the band changed their name to Anathematize.
From 2007 to the summer of 2008, the band played various shows across Bristol and Bath including various shows at Bristol's famous Croft and a Battle of the Bands in Bath. During this time, a 4-track EP entitled 'Shred-Fucked' was released as a promo to be given out at shows. It was at the Bath Battle of the Bands, when the band suffered a bad performance and meagre crowd reception, that the members began to part.
In August 2008, Coghill left the band. However, due to the fact that he had created a 'name' for the band (by advertising them heavily), he was allowed to keep the band name, meaning that Porwal, Noble and Woodgate effectively left instead. Coghill then inducted local shredder Dan Anderson into the band and asked Jak Noble to rejoin the group to lend his vocal talents.
After a few months of downtime, Coghill began working with a new band named Floodsearch and Noble rejoined Porwal and Woodgate to create a new band titled Jenkins Theory. Anathematize was considered defunct from early 2009.
In October 2010, Porwal tragically took his own life. With almost all of the music being written by him, Jenkins Theory came to an end and the Anathematize legacy was over.
Since then, Noble has worked constantly on his solo project Returning We Hear the Larks, occasionally collaborating with others and forming projects such as Red Horizons, while Coghill has joined Melodic Hardcore band Failure to Follow, who have gained a following amongst the Bristol underground scene.
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Aftermath
Anathematize Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Highlights corpses strewn in gutters once more
The sickening sound of screaming echoes through haunted streets
Where children played before they came and stole equality
Children crying out, screaming for serenity, the sepulcher grows
This worldly chasm begins to spread as we lie weeping in cold blood
This parade of shame, defiling our nation's name
Scarred and mutilated, their hours wearing thin
Broken bodies turned to ash, but the fires still rage
Sons of something else, striving for a darker day
What's become of us? What's become of us?
This masquerade of hate, bleeding countries dry
Leaving scars so deep, this world will never reconcile
(Reconcile)
Break them down
{Lead: Ade Porwal}
Save our souls, crush their bones
The lyrics in Anathematize's song "Aftermath" paint a bleak and unsettling picture of a world torn apart by violence, chaos, and inequality. The opening lines describe shadows moving silently in the moonlight, setting the scene for what is to come - corpses strewn in gutters, the sound of screaming and crying in the streets, and a growing sense of despair and hopelessness. The song seems to be referencing some kind of conflict or war, with men being led to the ground as the sun sets and fires rage on. The repeated question, "What's become of us?" reinforces the sense that something terrible has happened, and that those left behind are struggling to come to grips with the aftermath.
The lyrics also touch on themes of oppression and injustice, with references to stolen equality and a masquerade of hate bleeding countries dry. The words "sepulcher" and "chasm" give the lyrics a sense of weight and depth, as if the situation being described is not just a passing moment of conflict, but a fundamental and irrevocable shift in the world as we know it. The call to "break them down" and "crush their bones" suggests a desire for revenge or justice, but it remains unclear who or what is being targeted.
Overall, the lyrics of "Aftermath" are dark and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a world in chaos and turmoil. While the specific events being referenced may be left up to interpretation, the emotions and themes addressed in the song are universal and timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
Shadows drift in silence as moonlight floods the floor
The darkness that has taken over after the chaos and destruction is overwhelming.
Highlights corpses strewn in gutters once more
The lifeless bodies of people are seen lying in the street.
The sickening sound of screaming echoes through haunted streets
The sound of agony and pain caused by this destruction and chaos is heard everywhere.
Where children played before they came and stole equality
The innocence of the children has been disturbed by the invasion of the people who wish to bring inequality.
Children crying out, screaming for serenity, the sepulcher grows
The children's cries are getting louder, and they are seeking peace from the chaos and destruction. But as they cry more, the death toll increases.
This worldly chasm begins to spread as we lie weeping in cold blood
The divide between people and the world is increasing, with everyone suffering and dying. People are crying for help, but still, their fate is sealed.
This parade of shame, defiling our nation's name
The destruction and chaos caused by people has caused a great deal of embarrassment to the nation.
The bleeding sun draws down as we follow our men to the ground
The end is near, and the people are following their leaders to death. The sunset signifies the impending doom.
Scarred and mutilated, their hours wearing thin
People are wounded, with their time running out.
Broken bodies turned to ash, but the fires still rage
Even though people are dying and their corpses turn to ash in the fire, the fire of destruction and chaos still keeps burning.
Sons of something else, striving for a darker day
The people who are causing this destruction are different from regular people, and they are seeking something far worse for themselves.
What's become of us? What's become of us?
The situation has become so out of control that seeing where they are going wrong has become impossible for the people.
This masquerade of hate, bleeding countries dry
The hatred that is spreading between countries is causing tremendous damage to the people and the entire nation.
Leaving scars so deep, this world will never reconcile (Reconcile)
The scars of war and destruction are so deep that they cannot reconcile and move on from the damage it has caused.
Break them down
Take action against the people causing destruction and chaos.
{Lead: Ade Porwal}
Lead musical instruments played by Ade Porwal.
Save our souls, crush their bones
Save the people caught in the crossfire while crushing the bones of the people causing destruction.
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.