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
Moving Forward
As I Lay Dying Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But guided by humanity
What was compassion?
Soon controls the way we think
Familiarity has left me desensitized
And inanity keeps deception disguised
To find the truth we must turn around
History reveals an inviting
Sense of compromise
Our customs destroyed
What was once unique
Traditions started with useful intention
Now Subjugate those too numb to question
We are lost but keep moving forward
To find the truth we must turn around
We are lost!
To find the truth we must turn around
I desire to wake from Sedation
And begin to separate
The truth from tradition
We are lost but keep moving forward
To find the truth we must turn around
We are lost but keep moving forward
To find the truth we must turn around
We are lost but keep moving forward
To find the truth we must turn around
The lyrics in As I Lay Dying's song "Moving Forward" discuss the idea of being trapped in a cycle of traditions and customs that we are blindly following. The first verse talks about how we are born helpless and are initially guided by humanity and compassion, but soon these traits become the way we think. Later, familiarity leaves us desensitized and inanity keeps deception disguised. The chorus describes how we are lost but continue to move forward, even though the only way to find the truth is to turn around and go back to where we started. The second verse speaks of history as revealing a sense of compromise, where our customs have destroyed what was once unique. Traditions that were once started for a useful intention now subjugate those who are too numb to question them.
The final verse, sung with determination, talks about a desire to wake up from sedation and start separating the truth from tradition. The rest of the chorus is repeated, emphasizing the idea that we are lost but must turn around to find the truth. Overall, the lyrics urge the listener to question the unquestionable and to start looking for what is true and authentic.
Line by Line Meaning
We're born helpless
From the moment of our birth, we depend on others for survival.
But guided by humanity
As we grow up, we learn from others' guidance and develop our humanity, the qualities of being empathetic, compassionate, and kind.
What was compassion?
Compassion is the ability to feel and understand the pain and struggles of others, but how often do we truly embody it?
Soon controls the way we think
Compassion, or lack thereof, can often determine our thought processes and actions.
Familiarity has left me desensitized
The more exposed we are to something, the less impact it has on us, and we become desensitized to it.
And inanity keeps deception disguised
We are easily fooled by trivial or meaningless things that veil the truth and reality of the situation.
We are lost but keep moving forward
Despite feeling aimless and uncertain, we continue to push forward in the hope that we will find our way.
To find the truth we must turn around
Sometimes, the only way to discover the truth is to retrace our steps and confront our past.
History reveals an inviting
When we look back at history, we are often drawn to the aspects that seem appealing or attractive.
Sense of compromise
Compromise is a necessary element in maintaining peace and negotiating agreements, but it can also entail sacrificing one's principles and beliefs.
Our customs destroyed
The traditions and practices of our culture or community may be lost or forgotten over time, either intentionally or inadvertently.
What was once unique
The distinctive qualities that set us apart and made us special may no longer be present.
Traditions started with useful intention
Customs or rituals may have originated with practical or meaningful purposes for the well-being of the group.
Now subjugate those too numb to question
However, these traditions can be enforced through conformity and coercion, silencing those who challenge or question them.
I desire to wake from Sedation
The singer longs to break free from a state of apathy and indifference and become more aware and engaged with their surroundings.
And begin to separate
To truly understand the truth and reality, one needs to sift through the layers of complexity and nuance that exist.
The truth from tradition
While traditions can hold immense value and meaning, they can also obscure or distort the truth, and it is our responsibility to differentiate the two.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JORDAN D. MANCINO, JOSH GILBERT, PHILLIP J. SGROSSO, SAMUEL NICHOLAS HIPA, TIMOTHY LAMBESIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind