Their live performances gained a honorable reputation among the more prominent promoters in the bay area and soon after were invited to perform at such clubs and venues as Slim's, The Great American Music Hall, and The Pound, sharing the stage with such acts as The Aquabats, Yellowcard, Rufio, Rx Bandits, Tsunami Bomb, Home Grown, Slick Shoes, Suicide Machines, A Static Lullaby, No Motiv, Northstar, Audio Karate, Ozma, The Early November, Over It, Park, The Bled, The Higher, Don�t Look Down, The Bled, Steel Train, Hello Goodbye, The Matches, Say Anything, Bowling For Soup, and many more. As word of mouth spread, they later were asked to perform on the Drive Thru Records stage on the Vans Warped Tour in summer of 2002.
The band later put out two releases on their own: an EP entitled "It's Not Pretty Being Easy," and their debut full length album "Forever Broken," both produced by Andy Ernst (Green Day, Rancid, AFI). The tracks "Access Denied," "Lose It All," and "The Second I Asked For," made their way onto mainstream radio, including Live 105 KITS FM, the largest modern rock station in the Bay Area, as well as various college radio stations across the United States.
The band felt comfortable with the crew at Orange Peal records and signed a recording contract with them in March 2003. Later that year they took off for a self booked West Coast tour then, made an appearance at the 2003 Vans Warped Tour. The band then released the EP "Written In Blood" and embarked on their first national tour with the Berlin Project in October of the same year. In Spring 2004, they were invited to join various artists, including Drive Thru Records recording artists Steel Train on the national "Blossoming Media Tour." The band got national media attention through various regional publications as well as being featured on the Budweiser True Music series for HDNet programming. Having completed two national tours in a six-month time period turned out to be a learning experience and a reality check for the band at the same time. "We've noticed that the time of being on the road has made our skin tougher. We're able to endure the hardships of the road, and stay focused on the music,� says Aymen.
After continuing to tour nationally for the rest of 2004, the band went back in the studio in January of 2005 to record "Hellafornia" at Popsmear Studios in San Rafael, CA. The album was produced by Scott Llamas and Dexter Danger, and mastered by Dominick Maita (Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, Punchline, Less Than Jake,) at Airshow Mastering in Boulder, CO. "We had a blast recording, and it was incredible hearing all our songs come to life." says Aymen.
The band took a different approach to their music prior to recording, taking in a variety of influences not particularly familiar to them. As Aymen puts it, "It laid groundwork of powerful dynamics, energy, and melody that clearly shows throughout "Hellafornia". From the time spent writing each song, to bringing the songs to life in the studio, we feel that our time and efforts creating this album represented "Hellafornia" better than we ever imagined." The result is a maturely crafted rock-influenced punk album that will reach out to new fans while keeping the current fans satisfied.
The boys took 2005 by storm with a whopping 4 self-booked, self-funded national tours, and another spot on the Van's Warped Tour, while always keeping an eye on their hometown Bay Area scene. "This is the most touring we've ever done in an entire year, and the extraordinary response we've recieved with this album has acted as a catalyst to stay on the road." says Aymen.
The band will continue touring as they have been, looking for more fans around the country that find their music as enjoyable as they do in the Bay Area, all the while keeping their D.I.Y. mentality in full swing.
�Part emo, part punk-rock, this one�s definitely for the kids. All fans of AFI, GREEN DAY, take notice. This could be your next big discovery�.
- AMP Magazine
"Bottom line: The record is certainly proof that pop-punk can take a step in a better direction."
- The Spectator, Seattle, WA
"Dexter Danger has built themselves a solid foundation to become a great force in punk rock music."
- Hussieskunk.com, Internet Punk Rock Radio
See You In Hell
Dexter Danger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There ain't a word you can say now
Sit back and listen carefully
To all the words I have to say
A ticking time bomb on the run
And I don't regret a thing I've done
Always move forward don't look back
You point out all the faults I've made
As if you haven't done the same
Look in the mirror; what do you see?
Is it a face that looks like me?
I've got some knives stuck in my back
From all the friends I used to have
Revenge is sweet I hear her say
The only faith that I believe
I've got some voices in my head
That tell me what to do and when
Your savior isn't gonna help
So pack your bags, see you in hell
God forgive me for what I've done
For leading life the way I want
Turn the dials back up to ten
And sing this song to me again
The song "See You In Hell" by Dexter Danger is a powerful and rebellious song that speaks about the singer's defiance against those who judge him for his past. In the first verse, he says he'll rip the tongue out of anyone who tries to say something negative towards him because he is confident in himself and his choices. He then goes on to explain that he is a ticking time bomb and that he doesn't regret any of the things he's done in life. He lives life with no regrets and is always moving forward, displaying his past battle scars with pride.
The singer then addresses the people who criticize him for his mistakes, pointing out that they have also made mistakes. He challenges them to look in the mirror and see if they are any different from him. The verse then turns into a darker tone, where the singer reveals that he has been betrayed by his friends, and he seeks revenge. This is where the phrase "revenge is sweet I hear her say" comes from, and the singer repeatedly asserts that he'll see his enemies in Hell.
In the last verse, the singer becomes more introspective, admitting that he has voices in his head that guide him and that he doesn't believe in any savior who can save him. He asks for God's forgiveness and turns the dials back up to ten, ready to face any challenges that come his way.
Overall, "See You In Hell" is a defiant and unapologetic song that speaks to anyone who has been judged or mistreated in life. It encourages listeners to own their past, live life with no regrets, and not let anyone dictate their future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll rip your tongue out of your mouth
I have the power to silence you and there's nothing you can do about it.
There ain't a word you can say now
I have successfully rendered you speechless.
Sit back and listen carefully
I'm about to impart some important information.
To all the words I have to say
Pay attention to my message.
A ticking time bomb on the run
I'm living dangerously and time is running out.
And I don't regret a thing I've done
I stand by my choices, no matter the consequences.
Always move forward don't look back
I focus on the future and don't dwell on the past.
My battle scars display my past
My past struggles are evident in the physical evidence they've left behind.
You point out all the faults I've made
You're quick to highlight my mistakes.
As if you haven't done the same
As if you're perfect and have never made any mistakes.
Look in the mirror; what do you see?
Examine yourself before criticizing others.
Is it a face that looks like me?
Do we have more in common than you care to admit?
I've got some knives stuck in my back
I've been betrayed by those I thought I could trust.
From all the friends I used to have
My former friends are now my enemies.
Revenge is sweet I hear her say
I take pleasure in getting back at those who've wronged me.
The only faith that I believe
I have complete trust in my own abilities and strength.
I've got some voices in my head
My inner demons guide me.
That tell me what to do and when
They give me direction and purpose.
Your savior isn't gonna help
No one can save you from my wrath.
So pack your bags, see you in hell
You're not welcome here and will pay for your actions.
God forgive me for what I've done
I plead for forgiveness for the harm I've caused.
For leading life the way I want
I refuse to conform to societal norms or expectations.
Turn the dials back up to ten
Bring back the intensity and passion.
And sing this song to me again
Replay this anthem of defiance and rebellion.
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.