As I Lay Dying's fourth studio album, An Ocean Between Us peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200, and number 1 on the Top Rock chart. The band has performed at Wacken Open Air, With Full Force, Soundwave Festival, Sounds of the Underground, Warped Tour, Bloodstock Open Air and Taste of Chaos. In 2007, As I Lay Dying won the "Ultimate Metal God" award from MTV2 at the first annual "All That Rocks" special, was named "Artist of the Year" at the San Diego Music Awards in 2008 and was nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for the song "Nothing Left". Their latest album, The Powerless Rise was written over a three year period and was released in May 2010 to widespread critical acclaim.
After leaving the band Society's Finest where he played guitar, vocalist Tim Lambesis formed As I Lay Dying in 2000.[10]Starting out as a duet with drummer Jordan Mancino after they first met as a band in February 2001, the title of the band was taken from the novel of the same name by William Faulkner although there is no correlation between the band's musical theme to the theme of the novel.
Pluto Records took interest and offered As I Lay Dying a recording contract. After accepting the offer, one month later the band entered the studio to record their first album Beneath the Encasing of Ashes, which was released in June 2001. In 2002. The band recorded five songs for a split album through Pluto Records, with San Diego heavy metal band American Tragedy. As I Lay Dying realized it needed to expand to a five-piece to include another guitarist and a bassist. Mancino commented "we started going on tour and we needed obviously more people than that." Since they had no "solid" members besides Tim Lambesis and Jordan Mancino, the band recruited friends to perform with them and from there on the group encountered several line-up changes; bassist Noah Chase departed from band in 2001, Brandon Hayes and his subsequent replacement Aaron Kennedy departed in 2003; soon after forming the band The Tokyo Smash in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In July 2003, the band's second studio album, Frail Words Collapse was released. Produced by Lambesis, the album peaked at number 30 onBillboard's Independent Albums chart, and number 41 on the Top Heatseekers chart. William York of Allmusic thought the band "doesn't really add anything new to the mix from a musical standpoint" with the release, although praised it for being "solid enough and well executed, and the production is adequate." Sherwin Frias of Jesus Freak Hideout had similar sentiments and commented "As I Lay Dying didn't exactly break many boundaries in making this record", but praised that each song is "executed so well (and with such precision) that nary a song misses its target." Touring followed to promote the album with the bands Himsa, Shadows Fall, The Black Dahlia Murder, Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Sworn Enemy, and Hatebreed. Music videos for the songs “94 Hours” and "Forever received rotation on networks such as Fuse and MTV2's Headbanger's Ball.
As I Lay Dying entered Big Fish recording studio in Encinitas, California in January 2005 to record their third studio album. Shadows Are Security was released in June, and debuted at number 1 on the Independent Albums. It was the band's first release to enter the Billboard 200 at number 35. and sold about 275 000 copies. Wade Kergan of Allmusic called it "one of the strongest releases of 2005," and commented that new guitarists Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa, make the band "stronger." Rod Smith of Decibel Magazine commented "Tim Lambesis’ finely honed roar in bittersweet instrumental matrices augmented by occasional clean vocals by bassist Clint Norris. Guitarists Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa whip up a melodic cyclone on 'The Darkest Nights'." Guitarist Evan White had quit the band due to personal reasons after his mother had died. All the clean vocals were sung by Dave Arthur of Kings to You, because they sounded more powerful in the studio than Clint Norris'.
In 2007, As I Lay Dying started recording a new album titled An Ocean Between Us, which was released on August 21, 2007. Debuting at number 8 on the Billboard 200, and number 1 on the Top Rock chart with first-week sales of 39,000, the album was the highest charting release for the band. Co-produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and As I Lay Dying, and mixed by Colin Richardson, the album received generally positive reviews. Christa L. Titus of Billboard commented "Whatever the differences between As I Lay Dying's personal desires and what its fans demand, this album surely acts as a bridge," praising the song "Comfort Betrays" for its guitar solo. Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net described the album as "a well-rounded and often thrashy metalcore album, as the band has struck an effective balance between aggression and accessible melodies." Thom Jurek of Allmusic praised the band for expanding its musical range by including melodic choruses and clean vocals such as they had previously done on Confined from Shadows Are Security. It was the first time for bassist Josh Gilbert to be featured on an As I Lay Dying record since the time of the departure of previous bassists, Evan White and Clint Norris.
On September 28, 2009, As I Lay Dying announced that 6—7 songs had already been written for their then upcoming album, which followed onward to November 23 where Josh Gilbert announced through Twitter that half of the record was recorded. As I Lay Dying announced the title of their new album The Powerless Rise.
On May 7, The Powerless Rise was posted in its entirety through MySpace Music. The streaming lasted until May 10. The album was officially released on May 11, 2010 and received generally positive critical acclaim, with one critic saying "Fans of metalcore in general, and As I Lay Dying in particular, will be more than satisfied with The Powerless Rise, as the band's gradual progression and consistency makes this their best album."
As of January 2012, As I Lay Dying have been in the studio with producer Bill Stevenson (NOFX, Rise Against, Anti Flag) working on material for a sixth album, expected for release later in the year.
On June 22, 2012, the band announced that their sixth album would be titled Awakened and the first single "Cauterize" was released on June 25, 2012. On September 12, 2012, As I Lay Dying released their second single "A Greater Foundation" with a corresponding music video. The album was released on September 25, 2012 and "Cauterize" was available on the band's website as a free download for a 24-hour period. As I Lay Dying won the "Metal Band of the Year" award from Loudwire in 2012.
On May 7, 2013, Lambesis was arrested in Oceanside, California, US after hiring an undercover detective to kill his estranged wife. On May 16, 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in prison, with 48 days credit for time served.
Rather than continue on without Lambesis, Mancino, along with former members Phil Sgrosso, Nick Hipa, and Josh Gilbert, decided to focus on a different style of music under a different band name, Wovenwar, with Shane Blay (Oh, Sleeper) as the vocalist.
Lambesis was released from prison on probation in December 2016.
On September 2, 2017, Metal Injection reported that Lambesis was working on new music and planned to release it under the As I Lay Dying name and that none of the pre-hiatus lineup aside from Lambesis would be returning.
On June 8, 2018, the band released the music video for "My Own Grave", confirming through the video that the lineup of Lambesis, Hipa, Sgrosso, Gilbert and Mancino have reunited. They performed their first show—which sold out in four minutes—in five years at the SOMA Sidestage in San Diego. The band has stated the single was their first and only song written since their formal reunion in February 2018 and have no concrete plans past releasing the single and playing the SOMA show.
On June 16, 2018—the date of their comeback show at the SOMA, the band published a video on their official YouTube account addressing the questions and criticisms fans and critics of the band had and explaining the terms in detail of the reunion.
In July 2018, the band announced their first European headlining tour for December 2018. A day later, they announced their North American tour for November 2018. A vast majority of the shows sold out immediately.
In August 2021, Nick Hipa confirmed his exist of the band.
In May 2022, Josh Gilbert left and in June 2022 Jordan Mancino also left, which means that the current line-up consists of Tim Lambesis and Phil Sgrosso.
Band Members:
▪ Tim Lambesis – lead vocals
▪ Phil Sgrosso – rhythm guitar
Gatekeeper
As I Lay Dying Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've lost touch with the outcasts
Have you forgotten your own past?
Have you forgotten that your house is made of glass?
So while you're pointing your fingers
You are unable to use your hands
To help with solving
'Cause we're appealing
And you've become too perfect to understand
You're a gatekeeper
Blocking the entrance to nowhere
You're a gatekeeper
Trying to keep others in despair
Keeping others in despair
I don't want you to get dirty reaching down to a lowly creature
I don't want you to show mercy and make me like you, self-righteous preacher
Did you think you were the only one
The only one who held the keys?
Did you hope that your judgement would
Spread just like a disease?
You're a gatekeeper
Blocking the entrance to nowhere
You're a gatekeeper
Trying to keep others in despair
The self-importance of the moral elite
To think that their approval means anything, yeah
So eager to capitalize
Capitalize on other people's pain
But when the healing begins
So quick to turn away
Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten your own past?
You're a gatekeeper
Blocking the entrance to nowhere
You're a gatekeeper
Keeping others in despair
"Gatekeeper" by As I Lay Dying is a powerful critique of self-righteousness and hypocrisy, particularly within societal structures. The lyrics describe a person who has lost touch with the outcasts and forgotten their own past. This individual is portrayed as someone who lives in a glass house but is quick to point fingers at others. They are unable to extend a helping hand to solve real and present problems because they believe they are too perfect to understand. Instead, they become gatekeepers, blocking the entrance to progress and keeping others in despair.
The song condemns the gatekeeper's attitude towards those they perceive as inferior. They are unwilling to reach down to help the so-called lowly creatures and show them mercy, as they view themselves as self-righteous preachers. The gatekeeper believes they hold the keys to judgment, hoping their judgment will spread like a disease. However, the lyrics suggest that their morality is inflated and meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The gatekeeper is eager to capitalize on other people's pain but quick to turn away when the healing process begins.
Overall, "Gatekeeper" highlights the arrogance and negative impact of those who believe they are morally superior and try to keep others in despair. It challenges the notion that such individuals truly understand the complexities of the world and points out the hypocrisy in their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
You've lost touch
You have become disconnected
You've lost touch with the outcasts
You no longer understand or relate to those who are marginalized or rejected
Have you forgotten your own past?
Have you disregarded your own experiences and history?
Have you forgotten that your house is made of glass?
Have you forgotten that you yourself are vulnerable and not without flaws?
So while you're pointing your fingers
While you are busy accusing others
You are unable to use your hands
You are incapable of taking action
To help with solving
To contribute to finding solutions
Solving real and present problems
Addressing urgent issues that exist now
'Cause we're appealing
Because our cause is compelling and worthwhile
And you've become too perfect to understand
And you believe you are flawless and cannot comprehend
You're a gatekeeper
You obstruct the path forward
Blocking the entrance to nowhere
Preventing progress or growth toward a meaningful destination
Trying to keep others in despair
Attempting to maintain a state of hopelessness for others
I don't want you to get dirty reaching down to a lowly creature
I do not want you to lower yourself by assisting an insignificant being
I don't want you to show mercy and make me like you, self-righteous preacher
I do not want you to demonstrate compassion and turn me into someone who arrogantly preaches about moral superiority
Did you think you were the only one
Did you believe that you were the sole authority
The only one who held the keys?
The sole possessor of power or control
Did you hope that your judgement would
Did you expect your criticism to
Spread just like a disease?
Propagate like an infectious illness?
The self-importance of the moral elite
The arrogance of those who consider themselves morally superior
To think that their approval means anything, yeah
To believe that their endorsement holds any significance
So eager to capitalize
So enthusiastic about benefiting
Capitalize on other people's pain
Taking advantage of the suffering of others
But when the healing begins
Yet when the process of healing commences
So quick to turn away
So swiftly inclined to disengage
Have you forgotten?
Have you failed to remember?
Have you forgotten your own past?
Have you disregarded your own history?
You're a gatekeeper
You obstruct the path forward
Blocking the entrance to nowhere
Preventing progress or growth toward a meaningful destination
Keeping others in despair
Maintaining a state of hopelessness for others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Tim Lambesis, Jordan Mancino, Phil Sgrosso, Nick Hipa, Josh Gilbert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind