Created by Barre Gambling and Jesse Haff in 1996, Daylight Dies is often noted as one of the first American bands of their kind to exhibit a strong Scandinavian metal sound. The majority of the metal underground first became aware of Daylight Dies with their demo "Idle" which was released on Tribunal Records in 2000 and featured original vocalist Guthrie Iddings. Egan O'Rourke joined as the bassist in 2001. The band then signed to Relapse Records in 2002 and released their debut album "No Reply". Daylight Dies toured Britain, Ireland, Belgium and The Netherlands in 2003 with Katatonia, and the United States and Canada with Lacuna Coil in support of the album. After the tour, vocalist Guthrie Iddings left and was replaced by Nathan Ellis. Charley Shackelford also joined as a second guitarist. In late 2005, Daylight Dies signed to Candlelight Records. They released their second album "Dismantling Devotion" in March 2006. Daylight Dies played to capacity crowds in New York city on July 13th and 14th 2006 as direct support for Emperor. The band premiered their first music video for the song "Lies that Bind" on August 9th 2006, which was later accepted by VH1 and MTV. Later that year, they embarked on a 4 week North American tour with Moonspell and Katatonia.
The band entered the studio in December 2007 to begin recording their third album "Lost to the Living". Like "Dismantling Devotion", the album was mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios. It was released on June 24, 2008. A month prior to the albums release, the band toured with Candlemass across the U.S.
This band creates a style of melodic doom rarely heard outside of Europe, and does so with such proficiency that one may be surprised to discover their American origin.
Strive to See
Daylight Dies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
our failure
draped in vows
A dead letter
an altar stripped
to the ground
To all things
and all we lost
For all the faith that
we will cast aside
and all we lost along the way
Dead silence
that echoes
in our stare
Dead ending
abandoned lives
in disrepair
To all things
we could not overcome
and all we lost
For all the faith that
we will cast aside
and all we lost along the way
Dissolving
in slow motion
this deathbed
of devotion
The lyrics to Daylight Dies's song "Strive to See" explore the theme of failure and loss, as well as the struggle to overcome these obstacles. The first stanza describes a situation where things are deadlocked - no progress is being made, and vows made in the past have become meaningless. The altar, a symbol of faith, has been stripped to the ground, representing a loss of hope and trust. The second stanza goes deeper into the sense of despair, with the lines "Dead silence that echoes in our stare" and "Dead ending abandoned lives in disrepair". Here we see the toll that failure and loss have taken on the individuals involved, with a sense of hopelessness pervading the scene.
The chorus brings in the idea of faith, and how it has been cast aside. This can be interpreted in a religious sense, but also in a broader sense of having faith in oneself, in others, or in a particular endeavor. All of these things have been lost along the way, adding to the feeling of defeat and desolation. Finally, the last stanza speaks to the process of dissolution that is taking place, represented by "slow motion" and "deathbed of devotion". There is a sense that the hope and faith once present have been slowly eroding, and now there is little left to hold onto.
Overall, "Strive to See" is a poignant and introspective look at the human struggle to overcome obstacles and maintain hope in the face of adversity. The lyrics are skillfully crafted to evoke a mood of despair and loss, while also hinting at the possibility of redemption and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
This deadlocked
Our situation has become stuck and unchangeable, with no clear path forward.
our failure
Our inability to succeed or achieve our goals.
draped in vows
We made promises or commitments to each other, but they now hang heavy, unfulfilled, and meaningless.
A dead letter
Our communication has reached a point where it is no longer useful or effective.
an altar stripped
The foundation or guiding force of our relationship has been removed or destroyed.
to the ground
To utter ruin or devastation, with no hope of recovery.
To all things
Reflecting upon all aspects of our past experiences and hardships.
we could not overcome
Despite our best efforts, there were some obstacles or challenges that we simply could not conquer.
and all we lost
By failing to overcome these obstacles, we lost something important or valuable.
For all the faith that
Despite the challenges we faced, we held onto a belief or hope that we could still find a way forward.
we will cast aside
We have given up or rejected that faith or hope, recognizing that it is no longer tenable or realistic.
and all we lost along the way
Reflecting upon all the other things we may have lost or missed out on as a result of our struggles and failures.
Dead silence
There is no sound, no conversation, no communication - just a stark and empty silence.
that echoes
This silence seems to reverberate or amplify throughout our interactions and relationship.
in our stare
The way we look at each other conveys this silence, this lack of connection or intimacy.
Dead ending
Our relationship has reached a point where there is simply no future, no hope of growth or progress - it is a dead end.
abandoned lives
We have left behind the lives we once envisioned or hoped for, and are now living in a state of stagnation or decline.
in disrepair
Not only have we given up on our dreams and hopes, but our relationship is also deteriorating and falling apart.
Dissolving
Our relationship is breaking down and disappearing before our eyes, like something slowly dissolving in acid.
in slow motion
This dissolution is not quick or sudden, but is a gradual, drawn-out process that may have gone unnoticed for some time.
this deathbed
Our relationship is like a sick or dying person, lying on a bed with no hope of recovery or revival.
of devotion
The devotion or love that once held us together is fading away, and taking our relationship down with it.
Contributed by Scarlett B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Plak Kafa
Great fukin metal 👊
EnvyMachinery
Ha, 777 views. This should be an interesting day.
burada
Was it ?
EnvyMachinery
@burada Dunno.
Tig Fewton
best fucking band fucking ever? think so. only album that trumps this is katatonia with ackerfeldt on the lead