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
Under Serious Attack
Emery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now it has to stop
You've taken this too far
Once again
The table's turned
And I'm behind
Picking up the pieces from the night
My face is scarred
Sometimes
I feel that I can't trust myself at all
And every time the sky
(every time the sky)
Breaks open with sunshine
As streaming swords collide
(streaming swords collide)
It takes me back in time
I float away
To another place
Where heaven is waiting
Right outside
This is war
Cannot take it anymore (cannot take it anymore)
I'm falling faster and bleeding more
Than I have bled before
Certain death (the pain will cause a purpose)
Lingers on the other hand (and if you feel defeated)
But I will fight you
And victory will be mine in the end
Circumstances mean nothing
When it's over
We will be
Heroes constantly
Pushing forward without any fear
If I erased the line between
Forgotten names and memories
I'd never change
Resolution made in vain
To face
[?] the day
Life is yours to save (save it)
Or take (take it) away
The lyrics of Emery's "Under Serious Attack" seem to paint a picture of a person who has been pushed too far and is ready to fight back. The first few lines of the song show that someone has crossed a line and now things have to end. The singer admits that they are scarred by what has happened, and that they sometimes feel like they can't trust themselves anymore. But then things change. Every time the sky breaks open with sunshine and swords collide, the singer feels like they are transported to another place, "where heaven is waiting right outside."
The chorus of the song picks up the pace and uses war metaphors to describe the struggle that the singer is facing. The pain involved is intense, and the singer acknowledges that they are bleeding more than they ever have before. But despite the threat of "certain death", the singer is determined to fight and win in the end. In the bridge, the lyrics hint at the idea that this fight is meaningless in the grand scheme of things, and that being a hero isn't about the circumstances you find yourself in, but about how you handle them. The final lines of the song leave the listener with a cryptic message about the power of life and death, and the choices we make every day.
Line by Line Meaning
You've taken this too far
You have gone beyond the limit and now it must come to a stop.
Now it has to stop
The situation has escalated and must now end.
Once again
This scenario has occurred in the past.
The table's turned
The roles have reversed.
And I'm behind
I am at a disadvantage.
Picking up the pieces from the night
Attempting to recover from the events of the previous evening.
My face is scarred
I am physically marked by my experiences.
Sometimes
Occasionally.
I feel that I can't trust myself at all
There are moments where I lack faith in my own judgement.
And every time the sky (every time the sky)
Each instance when the heavens...
Breaks open with sunshine
...are illuminated by the sun's rays.
As streaming swords collide (streaming swords collide)
Like two opposing forces coming together in direct conflict...
It takes me back in time
...it transports me back to events of the past.
I float away
I become disconnected from reality in a state of reverie.
To another place
A separate mental or physical location.
Where heaven is waiting
An idealized or perfect setting.
Right outside
Just beyond immediate reach.
This is war
The current situation is one of strife and conflict.
Cannot take it anymore (cannot take it anymore)
I am unable to endure this situation any further.
I'm falling faster and bleeding more
I am quickly losing control and suffering greatly.
Than I have bled before
More than I have ever suffered previously.
Certain death (the pain will cause a purpose)
The outcome appears grim due to the overwhelming agony.
Lingers on the other hand (and if you feel defeated)
Alternatively, surrender is unacceptable.
But I will fight you
I am determined to engage in conflict.
And victory will be mine in the end
Ultimately, I will overcome my opposition.
Circumstances mean nothing
The situation is irrelevant.
When it's over
Once the struggle comes to an end.
We will be
Together, we will...
Heroes constantly pushing forward without any fear
...be brave warriors that never falter.
If I erased the line between
Were I to remove the distinction between...
Forgotten names and memories
...names and memories that have faded from existence.
I'd never change
I would remain the same.
Resolution made in vain
An effort to improve the situation without success.
To face
To confront.
[?] the day
Unclear or unspecified.
Life is yours to save (save it)
You have the power to preserve your own existence.
Or take (take it) away
...or to choose your own demise.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind