Formation and Early Years (2000 – 2001)
Emery formed in 2001 in Rock Hill, South Carolina but moved to Seattle, Washington in search of a better musical environment. The band was named after a first grader that Toby Morrell met while working as an intern for a teacher in college. The four members in the band at the time, Toby Morrell (vocals/guitar), Devin Shelton (drums), Matt Carter (guitar/keyboards), and Joel "Chopper" Green (bass) actually left Rock Hill, South Carolina for Seattle on September 11, the day of the terrorist attacks; they found out about the attacks when they stopped at a local diner in South Carolina. Most of the members are from the bands Sachul, Joe 747, Simply Waynes and Oogie Brown. After a little while Seth Studley, who was one of the original members of the band, broke out of a serious relationship and followed them to Seattle and resumed his post as drummer. Since Seth took over drums, Devin went ahead and took the position of guitarist.
The Weak's End (2002 – 2004)
After making Emerald City their new home in Seattle, Washington, Emery signed a record deal with Tooth & Nail Records, also of Seattle, in 2002. Wasting no time, Emery paired up with producer/engineer Ed Rose and worked on their debut album, The Weak's End. It was produced at the Black Lodge Studio in Eudora, Kansas. The record was released in January 2004 by Tooth & Nail Records. Emery toured extensively to promote their new release.
The Question (2005 – 2006)
While touring, Seth Studley decided to leave the band in order to get married and Emery had to look for a new drummer. While touring with Haste the Day, Dave Powell was brought out to audition. Powell was officially put in the band on November 2005. Powell originally played in the Indianapolis-based metalcore/hardcore band The Bowels of Judas.
Soon after touring, Emery went back into the studio to record their next record with production done by Aaron Sprinkle this time around. The band took five weeks in recording sessions. The Question was released on August 2, 2005. "Studying Politics" was released as the album's first single with a video emerging on June 29, 2005. On November 21, 2006, Emery re-released The Question, adding a DVD, five acoustic versions of previously recorded songs and two new demo tracks, which were produced by Matt Carter. The DVD included a documentary film of Emery, live songs and bonus footage.
After the re-release, Joel "Chopper" Green decided to leave the band. On September 19, 2006, Emery posted a blog on their website explaining the departure. Devin and Toby since then switched bass parts in concerts and in the studio.
I'm Only A Man (2007 – 2008)
While touring with Underoath in Australia, Emery announced that they were releasing a new album. The album, I'm Only A Man, leaked onto the internet before its official release on October 2, 2007. The album was produced by Ryan Boesch and Matt Carter and recorded at Dark Horse Studio in Tennessee. It received mixed reviews. Emery released a deluxe edition of the album as well, which featured four acoustic songs that were recorded while on the Take Action Tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and DVD with a live footage and a documentary. The iTunes version of the deluxe edition also added a bonus track called "Whoa! Man".
While Broken Hearts Prevail and ...In Shallow Seas We Sail (2008 – 2010)
Emery announced in an interview on TVU that they finished a new 8-track EP entitled While Broken Hearts Prevail, which was released on October 28, 2008. They began premiering some of the new material while on tour opening for The Almost, including a song entitled "Edge Of The World".
In an interview with Toby Morrell, Emery announced that would be releasing a new album called ...In Shallow Seas We Sail. Up until the announcement of Emery resigning to Tooth & Nail Records, it was unsure if the band would seek a new label, since their contract had expired. They re-signed with Tooth & Nail and soon gave out information on their new release.
On April 7, 2009, Emery released a new song entitled "Cutthroat Collapse" on their Myspace, Purevolume, and iTunes. On May 29, 2009, Emery put ...In Shallow Seas We Sail in its entirety up on their Myspace. On June 2, 2009, ...In Shallow Seas We Sail was officially released.
During their headlining U.S. tour, Emery had selected dates filmed for a DVD in the works. The release date is unknown at this time. Emery set out on tour supporting Underoath on their fall/winter headlining tour for the rest of the year. In the summer of 2010 they went on the "Scream it Like You Mean it" tour with Silverstein, Ivoryline, Dance Gavin Dance, We Came as Romans, Sky Eats Airplane, and I Set My Friends On Fire.
We Do What We Want (2011- 2012)
On January 26, 2011 it was announced that the band's fifth album We Do What We Want is set to be released on March 29, 2011. The band also released a clip of a song titled "Scissors". Another song titled "The Curse of Perfect Days" has been released to Christian rock radio stations.
On January 31, 2011, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and bassist Devin Shelton announced he was taking an "indefinite hiatus" from Emery.
On February 1, 2011 a song titled "The Cheval Glass" was released on the band's Facebook, Youtube and Myspace page. On February 17, 2011, the band announced that We Do What We Want would be released through both Tooth & Nail and their hardcore/metal subdivision Solid State Records reflecting the heavier sound of the album.
In 2012, Toby Morrell and Matt Carter formed a side project duo, simply called Matt & Toby, with a more acoustic/electronic type sound. The duo released a self-titled album in November of that year via Tooth & Nail.
Bad Christian Music (2013 - present)
In 2013 Emery did not resign with Tooth & Nail records, subsequently leaving the label. Later that year, they founded Bad Christian Music, a blog & podcast website, as well as an indie record label.
In 2014, the band released two books, Bad Christian, Great Savior, and The M Word.
On May 19th, 2015 Emery released their sixth full length album, their first album via Bad Christian Music, You Were Never Alone. The album peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard 200, No. 1 on Top Christian Albums, No. 6 on Independent Albums, No. 8 on Alternative Music[ No. 10 on Top Rock Albums and No. 31 on Top Album Sales.
Bands such as Abandon Kansas and The Classic Crime have also joined the artist roster of Bad Christian Music.
Members
Toby Morrell: lead vocals, guitar
Matt Carter: guitar, aggressive vocals
Josh Head: keyboard, vocals, aggressive vocals
Dave Powell: drums
Former Members
Devin Shelton: guitar, lead vocals (on indefinite hiatus now)
Seth Studley: drums
Joel Green: bass
Joey Svendsen: bass
Bloodless
Emery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Far from all that's wrong and
(let these)
Fears collapse inside
(take me)
Back to when I
(believed)
Tries to hide his eyes
With reeds and rituals
With paper and a knife
The fire will always burn
The skin and forgery
An answer when you won't
The bloodless hands of fear
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know
He was hungry
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know
He was hungry
Someone had a knife (someone had a knife)
Took away my eyes (my eyes)
The last time is right know
This choice will take or make every thing
Your face is fading out
(wash those days)
(from your eyes and let them fall away)
(drown the fear that holds you)
(wash those days)
(from your eyes and let them fall away)
(drown the fear)
He felt the wake
Of torrid days
Ushered through
By warm mistakes
Suddenly (suddenly)
His broken feet (his broken feet)
Took their rest
On bended knee
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know
He was hungry
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know (he didn't know)
He didn't know
He was hungry
He was hungry
Someone had a knife (someone had a knife)
Took away my eyes (my eyes)
The last time is right know
This choice will take or make everything
Your face is fading out
I won't stand here
This dance won't stop the music
Your promise will help me lead
Until the end
(if this is the last time)
What words have you to say
(i won't forget you)
(exhale the last breath)
(tear down the statues)
(this scar will reamin' here)
Before we spill this blood
(to mark where we severed)
(my hands from your hands)
(your hands from my heart)
(if this)
This time you will be afraid
(is the last time)
(if this)
You've cost me your word now
Or
You've crossed me you're done now
(is the last time)
(this is the last time)
(this is the last time)
(this is the last time)
The song "Bloodless" by Emery is a reflective song about fear and the desire to return to a time when fear didn't hold as much power. The lyrics "take me far from all that's wrong and fears collapse inside" express the yearning for a sense of safety and security. The reference to a little boy hiding his eyes with "reeds and rituals, with paper and a knife" is a metaphor for how we try to protect ourselves from fear, but ultimately it still burns like fire.
The lines "he didn't know he was hungry" is a symbolic representation of how we don't always know what we need, and sometimes our hunger for something deeper and more meaningful gets lost in the noise of fear. The mention of someone taking away the singer's eyes with a knife could also be interpreted metaphorically as someone taking away their ability to see beyond their fear and into a more hopeful future.
The song builds towards the idea of making a choice that could change everything, with the lyrics "this choice will take or make everything, your face is fading out." The choice mentioned here could refer to facing one's fear and stepping forward into a more hopeful future, or staying stuck in a state of fear.
Overall, "Bloodless" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the complex relationship between fear and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
(take me)
Please take me
Far from all that's wrong and
Take me far away from all my problems and pain
(let these)
Allow these
Fears collapse inside
My fears will go away and disappear
(take me)
Please take me
Back to when I
Back to the time when I
(believed)
Believed in something
And as a little boy
When I was just a little boy
Tries to hide his eyes
Tried to hide my eyes
With reeds and rituals
Using reeds and rituals to cope
With paper and a knife
Using paper and a knife to create distractions
The fire will always burn
My pain will always remain
The skin and forgery
My fake smiles and facades will never last
An answer when you won't
An answer to my problems when I can't find one on my own
The bloodless hands of fear
Fear is holding me back
He didn't know (he didn't know)
I didn't know, I was unaware
He was hungry
I was searching for something but didn't know what it was
Someone had a knife (someone had a knife)
Someone hurt me physically or emotionally
Took away my eyes (my eyes)
I lost the ability to see things clearly
The last time is right now
This is my last chance
This choice will take or make everything
The decision I make now will determine my fate
Your face is fading out
I am losing my focus
(wash those days)
Wash away those days
(from your eyes and let them fall away)
Erase those memories and forget them
(drown the fear that holds you)
Get rid of the fear that is holding you back
(wash those days)
Wash away those days
(from your eyes and let them fall away)
Erase those memories and forget them
(drown the fear)
Get rid of the fear
He felt the wake
I felt the effects
Of torrid days
Of my difficult times
Ushered through
Pushed through
By warm mistakes
By the mistakes I made in comfortable situations
Suddenly (suddenly)
All of a sudden
His broken feet (his broken feet)
My broken self
Took their rest
Found comfort
On bended knee
Praying and pleading for help
This time you will be afraid
This time, I have to face my fears
You've cost me your word now
You broke your promise to me
Or
Alternatively,
You've crossed me you're done now
You betrayed my trust and our relationship is over
(this is the last time)
This is the final chance
(what words have you to say)
What do you have to say?
(i won't forget you)
I won't forget about you
(exhale the last breath)
Taking your last breath
(tear down the statues)
Destroying what was once held in high regard
(this scar will remain here)
This scar will always be with me
(before we spill this blood)
Before we fight or hurt each other
(to mark where we severed)
To remember where we went our separate ways
(my hands from your hands)
Our relationship is over
(your hands from my heart)
I no longer love you
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind