During 2007's The Summer Slaughter Tour, drummer Lech was kicked out the band due to personal differences with the other members. He was replaced with Ryan Thomas from the band The Serpent Son. This event led to some serious online bashing from fans, as Lech was their only remaining founding member who in fact recruited the other members of the Allegiance lineup, and wrote much of Allegiance's material beforehand. This also brought dismay to the fans as Allegiance was mostly noted by Lech's unique and extremely technical drumming style.
In 2008, vocalist (Chris) and guitarist (Sal) left the band to settle down and after their departure Lech was recruited back into the band. Later In 2009, lead guitarist (Ernie) decides to leave the band to settle down and pursue school. In 2010, Lech recruited Greg Kirkpatrick (Gift of Prophecy), Daniel Sugarman (Fallen Figure) and Sonik Garcia (Fallen Figure).
Their second album entitled "Instinct" was released March 15th, 2011, with. single titled Visions being released on 2014 that would later reappear on their final album, Ground Zero. The bands breakup was announced on August 12th, 2014 by Lech, saying that the bad would play one final tour to support the album. In August of 2021, however, the band released a preview video showcasing new music the band has been working on.
Instinct
As Blood Runs Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This was the last thing that I had to prove
Have all my struggles amused you?
This was the hardest thing to do
I chewed through the chains
With broken teeth in my mouth I was finally free
Free in my own mind (free in my own mind)
But I was always trapped inside
I will escape from this cage and extend my broken wings
I will escape from this cage and extend my wings
I walked out on everything that I ever knew and now
And now I find myself cold and alone
Searching for strength
The strength to stand on my own two feet
Approaching the edge, taking the leap
A leap of faith with my broken wings
As I rise to my feet I realize
I should be standing up for myself
Why haven't you? What do you have to lose?
When there is so much to gain
I will escape from this cage and extend my broken wings
I will escape from this cage and extend my wings
Why haven't you? What do you have to lose?
When there is so much to gain
The song "Instinct" by As Blood Runs Black presents a metaphorical journey of personal growth and self-discovery. The lyrics speak of breaking free from chains that have held the singer down, and the struggle to stand up for oneself in the face of difficult challenges. The opening lines "I knew that this was the last thing / This was the last thing that I had to prove" suggest that the singer has been striving towards a goal or objective, and this is the final step before achieving it. The line "Have all my struggles amused you?" implies that there have been external forces that have been watching and waiting for the singer to fail.
The next stanza "...With broken teeth in my mouth I was finally free / Free in my own mind (free in my own mind) / But I was always trapped inside" suggests that the singer has been emotionally and physically battered in the process of achieving freedom. The inner turmoil and pain contrast with the newfound sense of liberation. The line "But I was always trapped inside" implies that there has been a psychological barrier that has prevented the singer from fully being themselves.
The chorus "I will escape from this cage and extend my broken wings" speaks of the desire to escape from the limitations and expectations placed upon the singer. The line "Approaching the edge, taking the leap / A leap of faith with my broken wings" reinforces the idea that there is no guarantee of success but it is necessary to try. The final section "Why haven't you? What do you have to lose? / When there is so much to gain" is a call to action, urging the listener to take control of their own destiny and take risks in order to achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew that this was the last thing
I had a feeling that this was my last opportunity for proving myself.
This was the last thing that I had to prove
I realized that this was the final challenge that was left for me to conquer.
Have all my struggles amused you?
Did you find my efforts entertaining?
This was the hardest thing to do
It was the most difficult task that I had ever encountered.
I chewed through the chains
I overcame the obstacles in my path.
With broken teeth in my mouth I was finally free
Even though I was wounded, I was liberated from my constraints.
Free in my own mind (free in my own mind)
I felt liberated from my own psychological barriers.
But I was always trapped inside
Despite my freedom from external limitations, I was still confined by my internal struggles.
I will escape from this cage and extend my broken wings
I will break free from my limitations and soar high, even with my damaged wings.
I walked out on everything I ever knew and now
I abandoned my past experiences to explore a new path in life.
And now I find myself cold and alone
I am experiencing the consequences of my actions and feel isolated and vulnerable.
Searching for strength
I am in dire need of motivation.
The strength to stand on my own two feet
I require the courage to support and rely on myself.
Approaching the edge, taking the leap
I am about to take a risky decision by stepping out of my comfort zone.
A leap of faith with my broken wings
I am taking a risk even though I am not fully prepared for the outcome.
As I rise to my feet I realize
As I pick myself up, I come to the realization.
I should be standing up for myself
I need to give myself the importance and respect that I deserve.
Why haven't you? What do you have to lose?
What is holding you back from taking control of your life? There is nothing to lose.
When there is so much to gain
There is a lot to be gained by taking ownership of your actions and living life on your own terms.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOMMY BAXTER, ADAM MIDGLEY, GERALD O'CONNELL, Gerard O'Connell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind