The music and the musicians themselves are influenced and inspired by 70s progressive rock, 90s grunge and modern heavy music including such diverse touchstones as The Who, Opeth, The Grateful Dead, King Crimson, Mastodon, Tool, Zeppelin, Alice in Chains, John Coltrane and Faith No More.
The lyrics deal with, among other things, the breakdown of society, loss, decay, personal relationships gone down the tubes, corrupt leadership, world terrorism, first hand experience of the horrors of war, the sanctity of life, and anthropomorphic one night stands deep in the desert. Listen to the music and lyrics and experience the world Behind the Sun.
Their self-titled album was released in June 2009.
Behind the Sun will be playing Ozzfest Tel Aviv on September 28, 2010 opening the festival which will have Ozzy, Soulfly, Korn and Betzefer in its line up.
http://www.myspace.com/behindthesunmusic
http://behindthesun.bandcamp.com
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There are a few bands with the name Behind the Sun including the defunct metalcore band from New Jersey and the active RHCP cover band from Atlanta. The following information pertains to the metalcore band from NJ:
Behind The Sun (America)
Forming from the ashes of local New Jersey and Philadelphia hardcore bands No One Cares (NOC), and Burnside, Behind the Sun is a melodic Hardcore band featuring a combination of many influences over a long set of years.
The band formed in roughly late 2000, with their first album "Targeting My Greatest Weakness" being released in late 2001/early 2002, the first copies were available almost as soon as their debut show. The first 50 copies were distributed at a local show in Somers Point school Charter Tech. The first press of this CD contained 5 songs, including a cover of Pat Benatar's "Invincible", retailing for a flat $7. This track was later removed from the CD when repressed and two other unreleased tracks were put in place.
Within a matter of no more then 3 months, they were playing the Jersey and Philly circuit, and had a cult following like no other band of the time. They were generally received as the most talented act to come out of Jersey in years, fusing melodic hardcore with a new set of lighter rifts and vocals into vulgar gutterals with chunky breakdowns. Singer Alexis at this time also accompanied other Jersey local band "Last To Die" on vocals for a track recorded to their album "Through the eyes of a Fallen Angel". During this period they had also received and agreed to a record label contract with local NJ tristate area label "Too Damn Hype".
After a couple long tours, and having a large amount of their equipment stolen in the process, they returned to the studio with more determination then ever. During this period, they recorded their first full length album, "Broken Bones and Shattered Dreams". This album showed a much different side of BTS, one that prior to the album was only something available to shows.
This album showcased many different styles and was quoted from the band members as being "more experimental". Initially there were a few diehard fans were thrown off by this album. Though as time passed, many came to understand it was a more mature album for the band. This album was 12 tracks and included a cover of "River Runs Red" by Metal legends Life Of Agony. Several larger tours followed this album's release. Due to problems with the label owner of Too Damn Hype, other hardcore band Misura's CD track listing for their upcoming release was confused with Behind the Sun's CD. BTS's CD was fine and correct, though Misura's CD track listing on the back cover was all of Behind the Sun's track listing for "Broken Bones and Shattered Hearts". Following this catastrophe, Too Damn Hype went out of business and BTS was without a label.
After a long haul of gigs, both large and small, there was a long silence from the band. The tours calmed down and no one knew where they had went. Many were expecting a new album to be released at this point, predicting they had been in the studio. Over a year passed without much word, and contact with the band was difficult for anyone not directly knowing band members. Eventually people had assumed the band broke up, and slowly the NJ hardcore scene was dying out and being consumed by the metalcore scene, the toughguy scene, and the emo scenes respectively. By now it was late 2004 and word had came from the band that they had been hard at work writing the new songs for their next album which was to be released the following year.
A new website went up, and it looked as though BTS was set for a triumphant return. They announced they had been working with the engineer/producer of Lamb of God, and that the album was nearing completion, releasing 2 roughly mixed tracks, "Shape Shifter" and "Every Kiss Was Suicide" for download off their website. Also, they had made the official announcement that a new 2nd guitar player was onboard to join them. Sure enough by late 2005, the album was released with the only flaw being that it was not marketed strongly at release. The CD was by far the most professional release so far and had blended elements of both prior albums to create a vicious and unrelenting track list. This release was 12 tracks long and it's official title at release was "Blood Covered Love Letters".
After this release, the band performed many mid scale to large venue shows, and again toured around the US and few outside areas. Following these dates, in mid-2006 the band released only a single public statement on myspace announcing their official breakup. The message reads "R.I.P - B.T.S. / 2000-2006". Since then there has been little word from the band members concerning the reasons for the breakup, but the most likely reason people feel they ended the band was because of stress. There simply was too much pressure trying to professionally be a well known melodic hardcore band that the world knew, and beyond that they weren't happy with the overall turnout of the final album's acceptance. It is assumed that the members left on good terms. People speculate that there will be reunion shows in the near future, though no official word has come from the band about such.
During BTS's life, they shared the stage with virtually every large and small act in hardcore, metal, and every genre in between. Whether it was simply not being received strongly due to marketing, or just not being picked up by the right label, it is a shame to see a marvel such as this band exit the scene. From the entire original New Jersey and Philly hardcore scene, each member will always be wished the best and supported in whatever bands they move onto next.
http://www.myspace.com/behindthesun
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Running Water
Behind the Sun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I've outlived all my fears
All my worldly obligations have been fulfilled
No more reasons to remain here
I could live out my days in this familiar cage
Content to know these thoughts are mine
But after all these years I have no face left to save
I'm burning pages to fill the ink again
These flames consume my days
This delicate self-medication
In only one direction conveys
I could live out my days in this familiar cage
Content to know these thoughts are mine
But after all these years I have no face left to save
Just a random collection of lines
And when I break these chains that hold me down
They can never be repaired
I know reality is distorted through these lenses
Will I see it any better once I'm there?
Who needs running water, I've got space and time
If those two hands pull me forward I'll be fine
All these years of contemplation
Seem more distant than a foreign land
I see these notes I wrote myself on these four walls
In a language I don't understand
The lyrics to Behind the Sun's song "Running Water" tell the story of a person who has fulfilled all of their worldly obligations and is contemplating what to do with the rest of their life. They feel as if they've outlived all their fears and have nothing left to hold on to. The familiar cage they've been living in no longer offers any comfort or excitement, and they feel as though they've lost their sense of identity. The only thing left to do is to burn the pages and start anew, but the question remains, will they be able to see reality any better?
Throughout the lyrics, there is a sense of melancholy and uncertainty. The singer contemplates breaking the chains that hold them down but wonders if they'll be able to repair them once they're broken. The reality they see is distorted, and they wonder if they'll be able to see it any clearer once they've escaped their cage. The line "Who needs running water, I've got space and time" is a metaphor for the singer's desire for freedom from the everyday, mundane tasks of life. They have time to explore their surroundings and just be.
The last few lines of the song tie everything together. The notes the singer wrote themselves on their four walls are in a language they don't understand. It's as if they've written their own story, but they don't know how it will end. They're searching for a way to escape their cage and find a new identity, but they're not sure if they'll ever truly find it.
Line by Line Meaning
There is nothing left to hold on to
I have nothing left to cling onto
Because I've outlived all my fears
All my fears have been overcome
All my worldly obligations have been fulfilled
All my responsibilities have been met
No more reasons to remain here
There is no reason to stay here anymore
I could live out my days in this familiar cage
I could stay in my comfort zone
Content to know these thoughts are mine
I am satisfied knowing that I have control over my thoughts
But after all these years I have no face left to save
After so long, I no longer feel the need to keep up appearances
Just a random collection of lines
I am just a series of experiences and thoughts
I'm burning pages to fill the ink again
I am starting anew, wiping the slate clean
These flames consume my days
This process is all-consuming
This delicate self-medication
This process of rebuilding is fragile
In only one direction conveys
The only way to go is forward
And when I break these chains that hold me down
When I break free from my restraints
They can never be repaired
I cannot go back to my old ways
I know reality is distorted through these lenses
I acknowledge that my perception is flawed
Will I see it any better once I'm there?
Will things become clearer once I move on?
Who needs running water, I've got space and time
I have everything I need in my isolation
If those two hands pull me forward I'll be fine
I will be okay as long as I keep moving forward
All these years of contemplation
All these years of reflection and thought
Seem more distant than a foreign land
It all seems so far away now
I see these notes I wrote myself on these four walls
I see reminders of my past self everywhere
In a language I don't understand
But it all feels foreign to me now
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.