Counterparts are a Canadian melodic hardcore/metalcore band formed in 2007 … Read Full Bio ↴Counterparts are a Canadian melodic hardcore/metalcore band formed in 2007 in Hamilton, Ontario which currently consists of vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarists Alex Re and Jesse Doreen, bassist Tyler Williams and drummer Kyle Brownlee. Their two most recent albums, released through Pure Noise Records, have received critical acclaim from Rock Sound and Exclaim! magazines. They are among the most visible bands within contemporary melodic hardcore, while they are also considered one of the major powers of the metalcore revival wave.

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)

Stillborn
Counterparts Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A calm rushes over me
As I picture my corpse Ill-fated with the faults I can't escape
(A sigh of relief)
A sigh of relief used to signify the blight
That infects the last few fragments of my skull

Sometimes I swear I think that I'll be fine
I've made up my mind

Death is my birthright
I am a noose waiting to be tied

Still I try to elude the truth and embrace my disguise
Because this way of life takes its toll on mine
And I don't want to be alive

Bury me breathing so I can watch myself decay
Bury me breathing so I can watch myself decay
So I can watch myself decay

We are stillborns by definition
But our pulse-infected wrists will disagree
We burden ourselves with intent and ambition
When we've accepted that all hope is lost
So dance past my lips and disperse
Leaving no trace of human condition
Our bodies blind the world with a sense of selflessness
That only a trained eye can see
You blame me for your blindness
Open your eyes

You blame me for your blindness
Open your eyes

Overall Meaning

The song "Stillborn" by Counterparts is a dark and introspective insight into the internal struggle of the singer, who is unable to escape the flaws that hinder them from leading a normal life. The lyrics describe the calmness that comes with accepting the inevitable fate of their own death as a way out from their own psychological turmoil. The way in which they state "A sigh of relief" signifies a newfound sense of easiness now that they have accepted their mental faults that would always be a hindrance to their happiness throughout their life.

The singer's desire for death could be seen as an allowing, almost as if the weight of life had become too much for them to handle. They seem to be stuck between the realization that death is the only escape, yet there is still some indecision in their mind. This echoes in the lyrics "Sometimes I swear I think that I’ll be fine" which shows the singer's hesitation, uncertainty about their thoughts and actions. The chorus "Bury me breathing so I can watch myself decay" further exemplifies their mindset. They want to observe as their body deteriorates, acknowledging that the physical decay of their body is just a representation of what is going on inside their mind.

“Stillborn” is a commentary on the human condition and how our own ambitions and desires often lead to our downfall. It talks about how people feel lost, stranded, and hopeless in life, which makes them give up and embrace their own destruction. Though the song’s lyrics are ambiguous and often focus on death, they reflect the desire for peace that comes with escaping the fear and frustration that is an integral part of everyday life. The song is also a plea to people to open their eyes and acknowledge the emotional suffering of others instead of trying to invalidate their own emotions.

Line by Line Meaning

A calm rushes over me As I picture my corpse Ill-fated with the faults I can’t escape
I feel relieved knowing that my imminent death will end the burden of my flaws that I can't fix.

Sometimes I swear I think that I’ll be fine I’ve made up my mind Death is my birthright I am a noose waiting to be tied
I have resolved that death is my destiny and that it will release me from my pain and struggles.

Still I try to elude the truth and embrace my disguise Because this way of life takes its toll on mine And I don’t want to be alive
Despite knowing the truth, I try to pretend that everything's fine because living like this is too difficult and I don't want to exist anymore.

Bury me breathing so I can watch myself decay Bury me breathing so I can watch myself decay So I can watch myself decay
I want to experience the process of decay while still alive, as a way of embracing death and releasing myself from suffering.

We are stillborns by definition But our pulse-infected wrists will disagree We burden ourselves with intent and ambition When we’ve accepted that all hope is lost
We are all dead beings, imprisoned by our own unhealthy desires and aspirations, despite knowing that it's futile to hold on.

So dance past my lips and disperse Leaving no trace of human condition Our bodies blind the world with a sense of selflessness That only a trained eye can see
I want to be free from human sufferings and illusions, to become pure and selfless like a spirit, that can only be sensed and recognized by those with wisdom and insight.

You blame me for your blindness Open your eyes You blame me for your blindness Open your eyes
You criticize and judge me for your own incapacity to see the truth, so I urge you to recognize and take responsibility for your own blindness.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brendan Murphy, Jesse Diamond Doreen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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