Counterparts formed in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007.[7] Counterparts consisted of vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarist Jesse Doreen, guitarist Curtis Washik, bassist Eric Bazinet, and drummer Ryan Juntilla. In 2009, Washik departed from the band, and Alex Re joined the band temporarily as their guitarist before becoming their permanent guitarist. In March 2009 Counterparts toured Canada. In 2010 Shane Told, from the band Silverstein, signed them to his Verona Records label.
Lead vocalist Brendan Murphy was featured on the song "The Artist" on Silverstein's fifth album, Rescue. He also appeared in their music video.
The band's debut album Prophets was released 23 February 2010 on label Verona Records. In 2010, Juntilla left the band, and was replaced by Chris Needham. A split EP, featuring Needham on drums was released 21 November 2010 with hardcore punk band Exalt. The band toured North America in support of the album, which was inspired by Mussy.
In spring of 2011, the band was signed to Victory Records. The band continued to tour until the summer of 2011, when they announced that they were recording a new album. During this time, Needham left the band to see a speech therapist. A search for their next drummer was started, but ultimately, Juntilla rejoined the band, just in time to start recording for their second album, The Current Will Carry Us. The album was released 24 October 2011 on Victory. A music video was released for the song "Jumping Ship".
Kyle Brownlee, formerly of Canadian deathcore band Majesty, filled in for Juntilla for the entirety of the band's Canadian headliner tour, later on in summer of 2012, it was announced that Juntilla departed from Counterparts because he no longer wanted to be a part of the band. Days after the announcement, bassist Eric Bazinet commented on his Tumblr page that Juntilla had left the band in February and most of the members have not spoken to him since then. He had left to pursue interests in a band he was in during Counterparts. Bazinet added that on their last tour with Juntilla, "he was especially uninterested."
The band's third album The Difference Between Hell and Home was released on 24 July 2013 to positive critical reception. A music video for the track "Witness" was posted ten days prior to the release of the album.
In late 2013, guitarist Alex Re posted on his personal Facebook page that he had left Counterparts and would be playing his last show with the band at their hometown show in December. He was later replaced by Adrian Lee. In 2014, bassist Eric Bazinet announced that after seven years, he was leaving the band to pursue a career, and to spend time with family. After Bazinet's departure, Blake Hardman from Hundredth filled in on bass for the band on the "Fuck the Message Tour" that was headlined by Stick to Your Guns. Shortly afterwards, the guitarist of Kills and Thrills, Brian Kaczmarczyk, joined on bass, becoming the only non-Canadian member of the band.
In the spring of 2015, vocalist Brendan Murphy announced in an interview that their fourth album, Tragedy Will Find Us, is expected to be released in the summer of 2015. On 23 April, the band announced that they have signed to Pure Noise Records, and New Damage Records. Pure Noise will released the album in the U.S., while New Damage released it in Canada. The fourth album was released in July 2015. Tyler Williams, a bandmate of Hardman's in Nashville hardcore act on Point, also joined the band during this period. It was announced in March 2017 the band would play the 22nd annual Vans Warped Tour.
The band's fifth album, You're Not You Anymore, was released on 22 September 2017 via New Damage and Pure Noise Records. They have also shared singles from the album, called Haunt Me, Bouquet, and No Servant of Mine. "You're Not You Anymore" was the first recorded effort without the participation of Doreen due to his departure from Counterparts.
The band released their sixth studio album, Nothing Left to Love, on 1 November 2019 via New Damage and Pure Noise Records. The record marks the return of guitarist and backing vocalist Alex Re. "Nothing Left to Love" was the band's first record to break into the top 100 of the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at 97.
On May 31, 2022 Counterparts announced on all social media platforms their seventh studio album A Eulogy for Those Still Here due for release on October 7, 2022 through Pure Noise Records. The first single "Unwavering Vow" was released on June 1, 2022. The second single "Whispers Of Your Death" was released on July 26, 2022, and was written about Brendan Murphy's cat Kuma. The third single "Bound to The Burn" was released on September 7, 2022.
Current Members
Brendan Murphy – lead vocals (2007–present)
Alex Re – guitar, backing vocals, clean vocals (2009–2013; 2019–present)
Kyle Brownlee – drums, percussion (2012, 2016, 2017–present)
Tyler Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals (2017–present)
Jesse Doreen – guitar (2007–2016, 2021–present)
Former Members:
Curtis Washik – rhythm guitar (2007–2009)
Chris Needham – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
Ryan Juntilla – drums, percussion (2007–2010; 2011–2012)
Adrian Lee – rhythm guitar (2013–2019), bass (2017)
Eric Bazinet – bass (2007–2014)
Brian Kaczmarczyk – bass guitar (2014–2017)
Ben Leathem – drums, percussion (2016–2017)
Kelly Bilan – drums, percussion (2012–2016)
Blake Hardman – guitar, backing vocals (2016–2021), bass (2014, 2017)
Decay
Counterparts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The song "Decay" by Counterparts describes the inevitability and beauty of death. The lyrics depict death as a welcoming figure that cradles us in decay, allowing for a rebirth and a chance to bloom into something new. The song speaks of the natural cycle of life and death, as flowers grace the earth with their presence before withering away and exchanging their roots for legs.
The opening line, "The grave welcomes you with open arms," sets the tone for the entire song as it welcomes the listener into a journey of introspection and understanding about the inevitability of death. The lyrics also speak to the concept of rebirth, and the idea that something beautiful can grow from decay. The line, "From your decay grows a beautiful garden," highlights this message, as it speaks to the idea that death is not an end but a beginning.
The chorus, "Pray for your rebirth. Pray for your chance to bloom," adds a layer of hope to the song as it suggests that death is not the end, but rather a necessary part of the cycle of life. The song encourages the listener to embrace the process of decay and allow it to transform them into something new.
Overall, "Decay" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores the concept of death and decay in a unique and insightful way.
Line by Line Meaning
The grave welcomes you with open arms.
Death is inviting you to join it.
Last light escapes, last breath remains.
As you die, your body is still alive but your soul is departing.
Circling the body, brushing passed the skin and bone.
Death is embracing you by surrounding your physical body.
It cradles you, your holy manger.
Death is holding you as a mother cradles her child.
Born into ruin, we feel withdrawal. Death is your procreator, your predecessor.
We are born into a world that is bound to bring about our end. Death is the one who has given us life and will take it away.
From your decay grows a beautiful garden, The stalks caress your failure, and the petals bring you closer to eternity.
Even though we may fail in life, beauty will grow from our death and bring us closer to the afterlife.
Pray for your rebirth. Pray for your chance to bloom.
Hope for a new beginning and the opportunity to succeed.
The heart starts and stops, the mind disconnects. As flowers, we grace the earth with our presence.
As living beings, we flourish and provide beauty, but eventually, we will decay and leave the earth.
The tide rises and turns, and we simply expire.
Just like nature, we are born and will eventually pass away.
Over-saturated, our lungs fill with the essence of the universe. Until we feel the gentle kiss of dawn draw the water from our lungs, and we can breathe easy.
We take in so much of the world around us, until we can finally let go and take our last breath.
Like night and day, we have never met. Aching for one another, we aim for congregation.
Death has always been separate from us but we still long for its arrival.
You are my prey, you are the martyr.
Death is the one who seeks us out and we are the ones who surrender.
The blight takes its toll and our bodies grow black. Wilted, we fade away.
Death slowly takes over as we grow weaker and weaker.
Rotted from the root, we exchange our stem for legs. We blossom into our bodies, and the process has been reset.
After death, our bodies decay and return to the earth as we become one with nature once again.
Welcome to your new home.
Death is where our eternal home is and where we must all eventually go.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Eric James John Bazinet, Kelly Alexander Bilan, Jesse Diamond Doreen, Brendan Murphy, Alexander John Re
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DeviantBris4nce
"The grave welcomes you with open arms
Last light escapes, last breath remains
Circling the body
Brushing past the skin and bone
It cradles you, your holy manger
Born into ruin, we feel withdraw
Death is your procreator, your predecessor
From your decay grows a beautiful garden
The stalks caress your failure
And the petals bring you closer to eternity
Pray for your rebirth
Pray for your chance to bloom
The heart starts and stops
The mind disconnects
As flowers, we grace the earth with our presence
The tide rises and turns
And we simply expire
Over-saturated
Our lungs fill with the essence of the universe
Until we feel the gentle kiss of dawn draw the water from our lungs
And we can breathe easy
Like night and day
We have never met aching for one another
We aim for congregation
You are my prey
You are the martyr
The blight takes its toll and our bodies grow black
Wilted, we fade away rotted from the root
We exchange our stem for legs
We blossom into our bodies
And the process has been reset
Welcome to your new home"
@JCDenton2000
This song hits me so hard. A girl I knew from high school and used to have a crush on died after being hit by a car. She also worked in a flower shop, so the lyrics and album cover hit so close. RIP Alex. I wish I could've spoke to you one last time.
@waterfalleyes
i think this song's lyrics represents the album cover: the first photo is what seems like moments before death, (or suicide) then we're carried away to the sky, showing a picture of the sky , then we turn into a flower in a beautiful garden, then when we wither we exchange our stems for legs, and the process has been reset, showing a picture of a new home.
maybe I'm overanalyzing it, but that'd be cool
@M.TTT.
mewzickk yea, I can see that.
@AlejandroSanchez-yc6gu
wow
@jacksonharlton1616
great interpretation.
@Goldfourcash
heck!!
@noacog4u320
This is kinda beautiful, in a dark way.
@ShatteredToDust
The song beautiful and too short to miss a second.
Such is life.
@CB-rv2lj
This is it. This is the song. I think this is what it feels like.
@Jibster310
Lefty Forehand ...what exactly?