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)
Uncertainty
Counterparts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
death. After all is said and done, I won’t have a clue what to do next. Will I
struggle to find the answer? Will I take an easy way out? Or will I find the
strength inside to carry on? My greatest fear is amounting to nothing. I
fucking hate the fact that I feel no sense of security. But more importantly, I
hate the fact that I can’t confide in myself. It feels like nothing good will
stay, unless I stay the same. I need to find a way to dissolve the uncertainty.
This is who I am, and this is who I’ll always be. I refuse to be afraid, of
find a way to keep all the worry from head. Before it sends me to an early
grave. I refuse to let fear define me.
The lyrics of Counterparts' song "Uncertainty" tell a story of someone who is afraid of the future and unsure about the direction their life is headed in. The singer is honest in acknowledging their fear of the unknown, as they are scared to death of what lies ahead. They admit that even after everything is said and done, they won't have a clue what to do next, as they are uncertain about their future plans. The lyrics explore the struggle between finding a sense of security and embracing change.
The songwriter expresses their fear of "amounting to nothing," and their desire for a sense of stability and security that they currently lack. They question whether they will take an easy way out or find the strength inside to carry on. The song also touches on the theme of self-doubt, as the singer hates the fact that they cannot confide in themselves. They recognise that nothing good will stay, unless they stay the same, which further contributes to their sense of uncertainty. The singer yearns to dissolve this uncertainty and finds a way to keep all the worry from their head, so it doesn't send them to an early grave. They acknowledge that they refuse to let fear define them, and they must find a way to pick themselves back up.
Overall, the song explores themes of insecurity, fear of the unknown, and self-doubt. It expresses the inner struggles that many individuals face while dealing with life's uncertainties. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and honesty, which allows the listener to connect on a personal level.
Line by Line Meaning
Though I look forward to my future, just know I’m scared to death.
Even though I am excited about my future, I am absolutely petrified.
After all is said and done, I won’t have a clue what to do next.
When everything is said and done, I will be confused and unsure what steps to take next in my life.
Will I struggle to find the answer? Will I take an easy way out? Or will I find the strength inside to carry on?
I am unsure if I will have the strength to persevere or if I will take shortcuts in order to find my path in life.
My greatest fear is amounting to nothing.
I am most afraid of living a life without meaning or significance.
I fucking hate the fact that I feel no sense of security.
I strongly dislike the feeling of not having any certainty or assurance in my life.
But more importantly, I hate the fact that I can’t confide in myself.
What troubles me even more is the fact that I can not trust myself or rely on my own decisions.
It feels like nothing good will stay unless I stay the same.
I am afraid that all the things I cherish will disappear unless I remain stagnant and not change anything in my life.
I need to find a way to dissolve the uncertainty.
I am searching for a strategy to eliminate my fears and doubts and replace them with assurance and confidence.
This is who I am, and this is who I’ll always be.
I am determined to remain true to myself and my identity always.
I refuse to be afraid of something I don’t know to be true.
I refuse to allow the unknown to control me and cause me to be fearful.
I need to pick myself back up, I need to find a way to keep all the worry from head before it sends me to an early grave.
I need to find a way to recover and continue forward without being bogged down by worry and stress.
I refuse to let fear define me.
I am determined not to allow my fears to take control over my life and who I am as a person.
Contributed by Juliana R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.