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.”
Handshakes To Fist Fights
Devour The Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In those lonely city streets
But I have found redemption
From that road that buried me
No matter what they do or say
Don't let them take this dream away
Rise up, rise up
Gone too far, too far to go back
Relapse and go back to rehab
Made our way through hard days and long nights
Handshakes that turned into fist fights
We rise and we fall
We stand back up and evolve
We've come too far to just go back
I ain't going out like that
I ain't going out like that
Fort Wayne couldn't save me
Infatuation isn't love
I went fucking crazy
It showed me who I really was
No matter what they say or do
They can't take that away from you
Rise up, rise up
The world can't shut us down
Gone too far, too far to go back
Relapse and go back to rehab
Made our way through hard days and long nights
Handshakes that turned into fist fights
We rise and we fall
We stand back up and evolve
We've come too far to just go back
But I ain't going out like that
Come too far, too far just to go back
I ain't going out, I ain't going out like that
Come too far, too far just to go back
I ain't going out, I ain't going out like that
No, I ain't going out like that
I ain't going out like that
No, I ain't going out like that
I ain't going out like that
Gone too far, too far to go back
Relapse and go back to rehab
Made our way through hard days and long nights
Handshakes that turned into fist fights
We rise and we fall
We stand back up and evolve
We've come too far to just go back
I ain't going out like that
I ain't going out like that
The song "Handshakes To Fist Fights" by Devour The Day is about the struggles and challenges the lead singer has faced in his life, including addiction and self-discovery. The lyrics mention his experiences in Memphis and Fort Wayne, where he encountered death and infatuation respectively, leading him to realize his true self. The lines "No matter what they do or say, don't let them take this dream away" and "They can't take that away from you" emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself and not letting others dictate one's life.
The chorus, "Gone too far, too far to go back, relapse and go back to rehab, made our way through hard days and long nights, handshakes that turned into fist fights" portrays the struggles of addiction and the journey to recovery. The lines "We rise and we fall, we stand back up and evolve" show the resilience and determination to overcome obstacles and grow as a person.
Overall, "Handshakes To Fist Fights" is a powerful and inspiring song that encourages listeners to stay true to themselves, overcome obstacles, and keep pushing forward towards their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
I met death in Memphis
I faced a near-death experience in Memphis
In those lonely city streets
During a period of isolation and loneliness in an urban setting
But I have found redemption
Despite challenging circumstances, I found a way to overcome them and move forward
From that road that buried me
From the difficult path that once held me back
No matter what they do or say
Regardless of the actions or words of others
Don't let them take this dream away
It's important to hold onto aspirations and not let anyone discourage or undermine them
Gone too far, too far to go back
Too much progress has been made to turn back now
Relapse and go back to rehab
Returning to a treatment center due to relapsing into harmful habits
Made our way through hard days and long nights
Endured difficult or challenging times, including sleepless nights
Handshakes that turned into fist fights
Initial amicable interactions dissolved into physical altercations
We rise and we fall
Life has its ups and downs
We stand back up and evolve
We learn from our experiences and continue to grow and develop as individuals
We've come too far to just go back
It would be a disservice to ourselves to revert to past behaviors or setbacks
I ain't going out like that
I refuse to let my progress and growth be in vain
Fort Wayne couldn't save me
A location or external factor couldn't fix my personal struggles
Infatuation isn't love
A temporary or superficial attachment is not the same as true love
I went fucking crazy
I experienced a severe mental breakdown
It showed me who I really was
The difficult experience forced me to confront my true self
They can't take that away from you
No one can diminish or invalidate your personal growth or achievements
Come too far, too far just to go back
The progress made thus far would be negated by returning to past behaviors or setbacks
No, I ain't going out like that
I am determined to continue growing and evolving as a person
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BLAKE CARNEY ALLISON, JOSEPH DAVID WALSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
William Eastergard
I heard this song before I went to rehab. I’m out for a little bit before I go back and this song just screams “be selfish about sobriety and push through life” I absolutely love it. Gets the hype going too(:<
Melissa Quanstrom
I suppose it's difficult to shed the EC comparisons but Blake and Joey have shown just how versatile and talented they truly are. The lyrics, the riffs, just enough gritty edge to the singing at the right time ... Another great song, guys. I'm getting more and more anxious to get this cd. Thank you again ... and again ... AND again ...
chinchillaman1
Saw these guys live a few days ago opening for candlebox, they brought the roof down! Awesome live performance.
Lucas Paulucci
Im waiting for a band like this, in this last years .. nice lyrics and energy...
Dannie Henriksen
Great band. They should be wellknown around the world and headline stadiums😊
Darren Chandos
I saw these guys open for Hinder. When they first came out. They rocked. Hopefully they make another album
sweafcat
y'all still sounding strong as before. :) Man I can't wait for the coming cd. Continue to be Kick Ass.
Cody Johnson
This is definitely a song to listen to before a fight! Great song! Really looking forward to black out :D
chinchillaman1
Saw these guys at irving plaza in nyc a few months ago, they were the 2nd opening band and they blew the roof off the place. You should see them do this song live!
egioch
vocals has power and dedication, which is rare these days