Both as a band and as individuals, Awake At Last continue to stand for positivity, spirituality, self-help and making an impact every single day. After the successful release of their debut full-length, The Change, they have returned with a brand new single THIS MEANS WAR featuring lead singer Rick DeJesus of band Adelitas Way. Released on June 26th, the song originally was written about a post-apocalyptic world that can be seen reflected in the track's artwork. However with everything happening in the world, the song took on a double meaning. "To stand up and use your voice to fight for what you believe in, to be the change you want to see reflected in the world." says lead singer Vincent Torres. The lyric video shows imagery of both the recent Black Lives Matter protests as well as the viral footage of Flint, Michigan police sergeant Chris Swanson and his men marching together in unity with the protestors and allowing their voices to be heard.
The collaboration came about after having done dates together with Adelitas Way in May 2019, which sparked a friendship between the two bands. Awake At Last and Rick hung out together in Las Vegas on an off day of the Octane Accelerator Tour in Las Vegas and the idea was sparked. Rick Dejesus commented "I loved the song the second I heard the original demo! Awake At Last is a hard working band and I believe they are capable of having a long bright future. I always love teaming up with friends and This Means War is a hit song that I was excited to be a part of!"
The band's debut full length album The Change. was a massive success - earning some impressive first week chart placings - #2 on the Heatseeker Chart, #3 Hard Music Album, #8 Independent Album and #27 Top Billboard Albums, after selling a combined 3700 units week 1 alone. The response from fans has been “astronomical and amazing”, and has only served to make them more intent to get their message out there. “We pushed ourselves to our limits as songwriters,” states guitarist Imran Xhelili. “There is more variety on this record and there are songs that lean in a heavier rock/metal direction with other songs being a lot lighter and more dynamic. All of the choruses on this album have huge hooks, and there are more sections that are less guitar heavy and carried by different elements, like pianos and orchestral instruments. The lyrics are also more direct in how they carry across the messages we have always had at the forefront of our music.” While making waves with their previous output, this combination is the sound of a band who have truly come into their own, and this has been borne out in the critical reception, with Devolution magazine writing ‘Driven by a ‘nothing worth having comes easy’ spirit, full of anthems for self-belief, and a resource for self-help, Awake At Last’s solid soul-baring gem sounds young and fresh – and is full of encouragement to live, love and follow your dreams.’ From front to back, every song carries a message of hope. Having commenced writing for it even before the release of their Life/Death/Rebirth EP in 2017, the finished result is not something that came easily. “We all had demons we had to battle mentally and physically,” explains vocalist Vincent Torres. “You wouldn't believe the pressure that comes down on you when you begin the process for a full length record. After we pushed through the turmoil and embraced the wonderful things that came as a reward it became pretty clear that what we had made should be called The Change. I think this is a perfect name, because it represents the spiritual evolution that we all went through.”
The band went on to achieve a lot in 2019 after the initial successful charting of the album on Billboard - going out to support From Ashes To New and Palisades immediately upon its release, and performing mainstage on massive rock festivals such as InkCarceration Fest and ROCK USA that summer. They then went on to open the Octane Accelerator Tour in the fall alongside Ice Nine Kills, Fit For A King and Light The Torch. Sirius Octane went out to play four songs off of the album to help champion the band - rounded out by guitarist Eric Blackway and drummer Jon Finney - giving four tracks from The Change extensive airplay, helping to get their core message of positivity out to the masses as they continue to place their fans first, and wanting to do all that they can to help improve their quality of life. “I want people to understand the symbiotic relationship between a band and its fanbase and I want them to feel like they're along for the ride with us,” Torres states. “We are a band that is built on the foundation of endurance and perseverance, and nothing we've accomplished has been easily accessed. I want our fans to know that the reason we are able to live this dream is because they continue to support us and allow us to do so, but most of all I want them to understand that whatever it is that nurtures their soul can also be obtainable if they strive for it and believe in themselves.” Xhelili expounds on this, noting “As individuals, it can feel hard at times to find our own identity and our individual greater purpose. It all may feel rather heavy and bog us down constantly. However, we are here to take a stand and try to rise above all of that and be a respite for all of the darkness around us, as a shining light.” The casual listener also might be unaware of the interconnectedness of Awake At Last’s releases, with Torres explaining that there’s a deep-rooted storyline following a character on their journey through multiple lives. The Change in fact serves as a direct sequel to Life/Death/Rebirth.
My enemy
Awake At Last Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm reaching for a hand to feed
I can't control the world below me
Possessed by all the blood we need
The voices in the air surrounding
Are telling me what I believe
I can't control the world below my feet
A slave to the war
A slave to a means
Of breathing cause I know what's killing me
I know I'm alive, I know I can see
But tell my why I can't learn to believe in my enemy
I'm swimming through the void of meaning
The emptiness inside of me
It's burning like a fire igniting
This mess of me I hate to see
I'm a slave to the war
A slave to a means
Of breathing cause I know what's killing me
I know I'm alive, I know I can see
But tell my why I can't learn to believe in my enemy
I feel like a ghost left alone
Cause what I wanted the most took my soul
I'm selling all I know for glory
While breaking every part of me
I'm bound by my determination
A soul for sale is all I'll be
I'm a slave to the war
A slave to a means
Of breathing cause I know what's killing me
I know I'm alive, I know I can see
But tell my why I can't learn to believe in my enemy
I feel like a ghost left alone
Cause what I wanted the most took my soul
I know I'm alive, I know I can see
But tell my why I can't learn to believe in my enemy
The lyrics to Awake At Last's song My Enemy convey a deep sense of struggle and conflict between one's beliefs, desires, and reality. The first stanza begins with the singer trying to break away from the noise and chaos around them, seeking something stable and nourishing. However, they feel powerless in the face of the world's demands and obsessions, symbolized by "all the blood we need." The second stanza expresses the confusion and pressure from external voices, which prevent them from finding clarity and control. The singer is trapped in a vicious cycle, feeling like a "slave to the war" and the need to survive, although it is slowly killing them.
The third stanza reveals a sense of loneliness and desperation, describing the singer as a ghost who has lost their soul, driven by their pursuit of glory, regardless of the cost. They are willing to sacrifice everything they know and believe in order to achieve success, even if it means breaking themselves apart. The last chorus returns to the central theme of the song, questioning why the singer cannot find a way to coexist with their enemy, or at least learn to believe in them to move forward. The song's overall message seems to be that the conflict within oneself and with others is a constant struggle, but acknowledging and understanding it is the first step towards finding resolution and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm climbing through the noise above me
I'm pushing through the distractions that prevent me from focusing on what is important
I'm reaching for a hand to feed
I am looking for support and guidance
I can't control the world below me
I cannot always control the circumstances around me
Possessed by all the blood we need
I am driven by my own desires and needs, just like everyone else
The voices in the air surrounding
I am influenced by the opinions of those around me
Are telling me what I believe
They are shaping my thoughts and beliefs, consciously or unconsciously
I'll learn to take a breath and be
I strive to find inner peace and clarity in the midst of chaos
A slave to the war
I am a prisoner of my own struggles and battles
A slave to a means
I am desperate to find a way to cope with my pain and anxiety
Of breathing cause I know what's killing me
I am aware of what is hurting me, but I cannot break free from it
But tell my why I can't learn to believe in my enemy
I wonder why it's so hard to see the good in those who oppose me or cause me harm
I'm swimming through the void of meaning
I am lost in a sea of confusion and uncertainty
The emptiness inside of me
I feel a deep sense of loneliness and emptiness in my soul
It's burning like a fire igniting
It's a painful, intense sensation that is hard to ignore
This mess of me I hate to see
I am struggling with my own flaws and shortcomings, and it's a source of shame and regret
I feel like a ghost left alone
I feel invisible and disconnected from others
Cause what I wanted the most took my soul
My obsession with a certain goal or dream has drained me of my energy and joy
I'm selling all I know for glory
I am sacrificing my values and beliefs for the sake of achieving recognition or success
While breaking every part of me
This pursuit is damaging me in every way possible
I'm bound by my determination
I am committed to my cause, but it is also limiting my perspective and growth
A soul for sale is all I'll be
I am losing my authenticity and identity in the process
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: CURTIS MARTIN, ERIC THOMAS BLACKWAY, IMRAN XHELILI, JONATHAN DAVID FINNEY, JOSHUA BENJAMIN LANDRY, KYLE ODELL, VINCENT COLLIN TORRES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind