To thrive and ultimately succeed, this process requires shedding ego and letting go of pride. It resembles an active admission of humanity in all of its idiosyncrasies and imperfections. Most importantly, the message only resounds when the audience responds and resonates.
On their aptly titled third full-length album and first for Fearless Records, Signals, Devour The Day didn’t just blur the line between musician and listener; they abolished it entirely. The trio—Blake Allison [lead vocals, guitar], Joey “Chicago” Walser [bass, backing vocals], and Ronnie Farris [drums]—focused on getting closer than ever before by preserving the purity of these “signals” and honoring the crowd above all.
“If you’re part of the rock community, you’ve chosen to be a musical outsider,” says Joey. “The choice represents a certain integrity. We respect that so much. There’s no distinction or hierarchy between us and the people who listen to us. We’re all the same. A lot of times, that’s not clear in this business. It’s stuck in The Matrix where the artist is on a pedestal and the fan is below. We said, ‘Fuck all of this tired bullshit’,” he exclaims. “We’re admitting we don’t have ownership of these songs. Rather, they’re all gifts we’ve organized and put into the soundtrack for a community story. This is an escape from the norm. We’re just honored to have the opportunity to make another record and put everything into it.”
“We’re celebrating this community first,” adds Blake. “Whether or not we make music, we’re recognizing the fact we’re lucky enough to do this. We can’t take credit for the ability to create. We highlight the fact it’s a gift on this record by looking at everything from a different angle.”
A growing discography and countless gigs positioned the trio to do so. 2014’s Time & Pressure yielded the Active Rock Top 10 hit “Good Man,” which impressively sold 100,000-plus singles. Meanwhile, the band lit up festivals a la Rock on the Range in addition to touring alongside Sevendust, Three Days Grace, In This Moment, and many more. Most recently, 2016’s S.O.A.R. ignited a flurry of streaming success. “Lightning In The Sky” generated over 3 million Spotify streams and “The Bottom” cracked 2.6 million as the band regularly averaged nearly 200K monthly listeners on the platform.
Following tours alongside Skillet and Alter Bridge, the group returned from the road to commence work on what would become Signals in 2017. They eventually reteamed with S.O.A.R. producer Dan Korneff [Paramore, Lamb of God], but they revised and revamped the entire process prior.
Instead of penning a handful of songs and rushing to the studio, they accumulated nearly 100 pieces of music on their own. Without showing anyone outside of the core three-piece, they allowed the songs to evolve over six months, adding and tweaking along the way.
After laying down the music at Korneff’s spot, Blake personally tracked his vocals in his home studio.
“It was like being 12-years-old again and locking yourself in a room with your guitar amp and total freedom,” Blake smiles. “We got back to our roots and set about on our next creative evolution through doing so.”
The first single “Faithless” hinges on a hulking stomp brushing up against Blake’s guttural delivery. As a hyper-charged riff kicks in, the chorus rises in tandem to arena-size heights, seesawing between pummeling and passionate.
“The truth about so many aspects of our world has come to light,” the frontman goes on. “Dark secrets are being exposed in almost every corner of our society. The hidden prejudice of how we treat people is being uncovered. Power and greed have distorted our leadership. We are demanding a change. We must challenge the rules of conduct and refine them in every way to create an authentic world worth believing in.”
A barking dog trumpets the opener “One Shot” as muscular guitars and propulsive drums give way to another anthemic chant, “You only get one shot!”
Joey says, “Life moves like a passing shadow. We are a mist that appears and then vanishes. We can strive for success, power, glory, victory, fortune and acclaim but they too will fade. We have one shot at a legacy. We have one shot to be humble and gracious with a tireless and sincere conviction for something greater than ourselves. Keep your eye on the target.”
Elsewhere, “Wonderful Creatures” tempers thick beats and emotionally charged vocals as “Cliffhanger” encapsulates an all-encompassing theme, “There is a choice that begins all positive change.”
These Signals find Devour The Day stronger than ever, but they’re sharing their strength in the end…
“We want to level the playing field,” Joey leaves off. “We’re being real with our responsibility that we’re lucky to have.”
Faith
Devour The Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The forgotten congregation
Some people say it's dead
But you can't kill inspiration
Ready for a reason
Something to believe in
Something with a meaning
Will anybody listen
Can I get a witness?
What can move a mountain
Push the doubters out of my way
Faith is enough for me to die for
Faith is the only thing you need
Faith is the voice of my revival
Music is my God, my records are Jesus Christ
Let us not forget
What it gave and how it made us
We felt born again
We were lost and then it saved us
Living in the background
Feeling like a ghost town
Looking for a way out
Ready for redemption
Something with a message
Can I get an amen?
What can move a mountain
Push the doubters out of my way
Faith is enough for me to die for
Faith is the only thing you need
Faith is the voice of my revival
Music is my God, my records are Jesus Christ
Can I get a witness?...
Can I get an amen?...
Faith is enough for me to die for
Faith is the only thing you need
Faith is the voice of my revival
Music is my God, my records are Jesus Christ
The opening lines of Devour The Day's song "Faith" set the tone for a powerful message of hope and inspiration. The lyrics describe a group of people who have been forgotten by society and are in need of something meaningful to believe in. Despite the challenges they face, the singer maintains that inspiration cannot be killed and that they are ready for a reason to believe in. They are searching for something with a message that will resonate with them and offer redemption.
As the song progresses, the message becomes clearer: faith is the key to moving mountains and overcoming doubt. The singer declares that faith is enough for them to die for and that it is the only thing anyone needs to find their way. They see music as their god and their records as Jesus Christ, showing a deep reverence for the power of art to connect with the eternal.
The chorus of the song is especially powerful, drawing on religious imagery and calling for a witness or an amen. This evokes the feeling of a revival meeting or a church service, with the emphasis on the strength that comes from shared belief.
Overall, "Faith" is a song that speaks to the universal human need for something to believe in. It offers a message of hope and inspiration that can apply to anyone, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
We're gathered here today
We are here, as a group, present in the moment.
The forgotten congregation
We are a group that has been overlooked or disregarded by society.
Some people say it's dead
There are those who believe that what we stand for, as a community, is no longer relevant or existing.
But you can't kill inspiration
Our spirit and drive cannot be defeated.
Ready for a reason
We are longing for a purpose or motivation.
Something to believe in
We need something to have faith in or support.
Something with a meaning
We require something of significance or value.
Will anybody listen
Is there someone who will hear us out or pay attention?
Will anybody get this
Will anyone understand what we are trying to convey or the message we want to impart?
Can I get a witness?
Can anyone bear witness to what we stand for or support us?
Faith is enough for me to die for
I believe in this cause so deeply that I would be willing to give my life for it.
Faith is the only thing you need
Having faith in something is the only requirement to live a meaningful life.
Faith is the voice of my revival
My belief in this cause has resurrected my spirit and given me a new purpose.
Music is my God, my records are Jesus Christ
Music is the center of my world and my experiences with it are what I hold most dearly in life.
Let us not forget
We should acknowledge and remember the significance of our past experiences and how they have shaped us.
What it gave and how it made us
We should recognize and appreciate the positive impact our community has had on our lives.
We felt born again
We experienced a rebirth or renewal of our spirit through our shared experiences.
We were lost and then it saved us
We were without direction or purpose until our community gave us a new path and renewed us.
Living in the background
We have been living inconspicuously and unacknowledged.
Feeling like a ghost town
We have been abandoned and forgotten, much like a town with no inhabitants.
Looking for a way out
We are searching for a way to break free from our current state of being.
Ready for redemption
We are prepared to make amends for past wrongs and move forward in a positive direction.
Something with a message
We are seeking something with a meaningful or poignant message to rally around.
Can I get an amen?
Can anyone offer their support and affirmation to this message or idea?
Can I get a witness?...
Is there anyone who can testify to the truth of our cause or message?
Writer(s): BRIAN JOHN HOWES, BLAKE CARNEY ALLISON, JOSEPH DAVID WALSER
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Devour the Day (Official)
This song is not about rock or rap, country or dance. The genre is irrelevant to the ideal. It's about music as an art, a human expression of imagination, and on any given day, it can save you. - Joey
Assmagnus
Faith without works is useless.... Human spirituality is far more important than organized religion, thank you;
Jeff Rossi
+Devour the Day (Official) This song is EPIC! Saw you guys in Pittsburgh February 12th, 2017...you didn't play it probably because of the bands you toured with, but I cannot find this song to purchase ANYWHERE...iTunes...nope, Amazon...sorry, we couldn't find that page...I first heard this song on Samsung's Milk Music which phased out and users were directed to Slacker Radio...so now my only way of hearing this song is YouTube...PLEASE HELP A FAN OUT!!! I GOT MONEY!!! I WANT TO SPEND IT!!! LOL!
Kimberly Whitney Perez
+Devour the Day (Official) I want to see you guys again... Inspiration is alive I will make it smell even if it was the  Deep woods Off inscent repellent something like that .... what to fear the faith& believers or  haters with doubt sin and hatred will add fire to the wrath as the crowd grows louder louder and the ears all hear the same voice.... like the saints of a quior I sing a cheers to praise the glory wash away the sins... and breathe it all in as the wicked ones air gets thins they can smell their own shit it stinks.... makes them think about what they've done!!! we leave at dusk....xoxo ya heard
Kimberly Whitney Perez
+Devour the Day (Official) I loved rockin out to your songs during the my Sfgiants season.... love it xoxo Whisperz I wish I could be there at after shock! may come down to a wire... pray I can make it?
Brittany Pollak
Devour the Day (Official) I love this song. Music has become my religion. It has helped me through every dark time in my life. this song is incredible!
MrSubMojo
Wow. More than a nice song.
SynisterCinnamon
This song is no longer on Spotify...Why?
Faye Gray
Music definitely speaks to my soul - Amen!!
Samuel McClung
so far, this is my favorite song they have made