Sean Murphy accounts for the shift as “The new album really drew influences from everywhere. We've got guys obsessed with the Beatles and Elliott Smith. I'm obsessed with black metal and electronic music. But we all share a love for 90's hardcore and death metal. One thing we stayed away from was writing a basic verse/chorus structure like our older material. Its really hard to make something unique in the scene AND get noticed. The music industry just like all facets of media has developed extreme ADD. Its as if there's no time to develop anymore. You're either in or you're out. So I feel as though the past few albums have been us toying around with what we like and what we can do but its all led up to this and we're not going to stop growing and changing.”
Forming in 2003 and releasing three previous albums, the band’s adversity has been well documented. Keeping an ever shifting lineup across albums and problems with their former label. Murphy admits "When I started thinking of names for the record it didn't take long to land on 'Punishment' It was a subject that I had been unintentionally focusing on for quite some time lyrically, it's essentially the main driving force behind this band. We've given up everything for this, which might sound cliche but when you really look at it, its the cold truth. Money, health insurance, school, cars, girlfriends, birthdays, weddings, funerals, sleeping in your own bed, being comfortable, sanity, safety, a general sense of well being, eating right, eating at all some days and even hanging with your pets are some of the things that people take advantage of every day. When you're playing music every day in a new state or a new country these things just aren't in the cards. For us its always been about sacrificing one good thing for another, usually more fulfilling thing and in this case we welcome the punishment, it drives us to succeed.
In true hardcore fashion band members share time with other outfits including Pieter and Mike who are also in This Is Hell and Matt who plays in the current line-up of Deez Nuts. Murphy also filled in on vocals for a tour with As Blood Runs Black (on a tour that Endwell was also on!) and has a side project with Jesse from Emmure.
Endwell has toured with bands such as Emmure, As Blood Runs Black, The Ghost Inside, For The Fallen Dreams, A Day To Remember, Terror, Comeback Kid, It Dies Today, Deez Nuts, This Is Hell, The Amity Affliction, Shai Hulud, Oceano, Thick As Blood, Lionheart and Stray From The Path.
Dark Waves
Endwell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm back in hell again
I've been expecting this
I've been expecting this
The cycle never ends
Waiting for signs again
Waiting to lift this curse
Waiting for no response
This place is starting to resemble a tomb
I hear the dirt dance above
Must be in over our heads
Maybe it's time to give up?
Sometimes it doesn't add up
Sometimes you know when to stop
Sometimes the grief is too much
And when push comes to shove
Sometimes the shove ain't enough
Waiting for signs again
Waiting to lift this curse
Eyes to the sky again
Waiting for no response
Every step is in the shadow of death
As the change begins to take it's effect
The life you've led has brought you to this
Sometimes your hard on your luck
The world just can't give a fuck
It overwhelms and overstays
It's welcome here, it comes in waves
Until they carry me away, away
All the way back home, if I had my way
So this is living life? I'm not waiting to die
I'm not waiting
Can't go back, can't go back
I just keep telling myself
It's not so bad, so bad to be like everyone else
It's not so hard to fake your life, to fake your
I've been living like a ghost
So kiss the fucking ground
You can't escape the sound
Of all you've built falling down
Too far to turn back around
Too far to turn this around
I keep my eyes to the ground
I'm gracefully bowing out
This all has to end
And I'm sickened by the thought of it
There's no common sense
And the crime doesn't fit the punishment
If I can't exact my revenge
I'll face the consequence
And come down again
Down again, down again, down now
Waiting for signs again
Waiting to lift this curse
Eyes to the sky again
Waiting for no response
Waiting for no response
Waiting for no response
Waiting for no response
Waiting for nothing
The lyrics to Endwell's song Dark Waves weave together a narrative of a person who's caught in a never-ending cycle of pain and disappointment. The singer suffers from cold sweats and vertigo, probably a metaphor for the dizziness that comes with the emptiness of modern life. They express a feeling of doom and anticipation for what's coming next, suggesting that they've experienced this sense of hopelessness before.
The singer is waiting for a sign or an intervention that could lift his curse, but nothing comes. They look up to the sky, but there's no response. The place starts to resemble a tomb, and we get the feeling that their despair has been going on for far too long. The chorus repeats the same refrain, signaling the endlessness of their predicament.
The person feels overwhelmed and overpowered by something, and the change has already begun to take effect. They acknowledge that the life they've led has brought them to this point, but sometimes, it's just bad luck, and the world doesn't give a "f***." They consider giving up on their life, but the shove isn't enough, so they keep going, hoping for a way out.
Overall, the song speaks about the monotony and emptiness of life and how easy it is to get caught in a cycle of despair. The singer expresses frustration and helplessness but also a determination to keep pushing through. The lyrics are raw, poetic, and relatable, making the song a compelling and cathartic experience for the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold sweats and vertigo
Experiencing symptoms of anxiety and dizziness
I'm back in hell again
Feeling trapped and helpless in a difficult situation
I've been expecting this
Feeling like the bad situation was unavoidable
The cycle never ends
Feeling stuck in a repeating pattern
Waiting for signs again
Hopeful for a positive change
Waiting to lift this curse
Hoping to break free from a negative situation
Eyes to the sky again
Looking for guidance or help from a higher power
Waiting for no response
Feeling disappointed and abandoned
Sometimes it doesn't add up
Feeling confused and frustrated
Sometimes you know when to stop
Knowing when to give up on a lost cause
Sometimes the grief is too much
Feeling overwhelmed with sadness
Sometimes the shove ain't enough
Feeling like there's no way out of a situation
This place is starting to resemble a tomb
Feeling trapped and confined in a negative environment
I hear the dirt dance above
Feeling like the weight of the situation is overwhelming
Must be in over our heads
Feeling like the situation is too intense to handle
Maybe it's time to give up?
Questioning whether to continue or not
Every step is in the shadow of death
Feeling like danger is lurking everywhere
As the change begins to take it's effect
Noticing that things are starting to shift
The life you've led has brought you to this
Feeling responsible for current situation
Sometimes your hard on your luck
Feeling like life is unfair to you
The world just can't give a fuck
Feeling like nobody cares about your struggles
It overwhelms and overstays
Feeling like the negativity is too much to handle
It's welcome here, it comes in waves
Feeling like negativity keeps coming back
Until they carry me away, away
Wishing for an escape from the situation
All the way back home, if I had my way
Dreaming of returning to a better place or time
So this is living life? I'm not waiting to die
Questioning the purpose of existence
Can't go back, can't go back
Feeling like there's no way to undo the past
It's not so bad, so bad to be like everyone else
Feeling like conformity is easier than trying to stand out
I've been living like a ghost
Feeling invisible and unnoticed
So kiss the fucking ground
Feeling grateful to be alive despite challenges
You can't escape the sound
Feeling like the negative situation is always present
Of all you've built falling down
Feeling like everything is crumbling apart
Too far to turn back around
Feeling like it's impossible to fix things
I keep my eyes to the ground
Feeling unable to face reality
I'm gracefully bowing out
Accepting defeat and withdrawing from the situation
This all has to end
Feeling like the situation must come to a close
And I'm sickened by the thought of it
Feeling upset about the idea of things changing
There's no common sense
Feeling like the logic of the situation is unclear
And the crime doesn't fit the punishment
Feeling like the consequences are too severe
If I can't exact my revenge
Feeling the need to get even
I'll face the consequence
Being willing to accept the fallout
And come down again
Returning back to a low point
Waiting for nothing
Feeling hopeless and directionless
Contributed by Brayden N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.