They released their debut album, Odd How People Shake, in 2003 on Rise Records, and after gaining some notoriety, were signed to Equal Vision Records, who re-released their debut in the January 2004. Their debut was primarily in the vein of post-hardcore, featuring a mix of screamed vocals on the part of David Marion and clean singing provided by Adam Fisher. The instrumental work on Odd How People Shake is best described as typical of that of most melodic metalcore artists of the day, and it is rumoured that every song on the album is based on a movie ("Sarah Goldfarb, Where are Your Manners?", for example, is supposedly about Requiem for a Dream, while on their sophomore album, Art Damage, "The Story of the Curious Oysters" has more to do with the Disney movie, Alice in Wonderland). It is interesting and worth noting that the band's cover art on all three of their albums feature skyscrapers.
Their sophomore album, Art Damage, was released on Equal Vision Records in September 2004, and was a marked change in direction for the band. Art Damage as an album was much heavier and darker than their debut; the band left behind the relative simplicity and, arguably, tiredness of the instrumental work of their debut in favor of the abrasiveness characterizing bands such as Converge and Every Time I Die. In addition, virtually all of the vocals are screamed, with the exception of an odd chorus or verse.
The critical consensus seems to favor their new direction, and in concert, the band plays few if any songs from their debut. On their website, they explicitly state that they will not play one song in particular from their debut, "On the Brightside, She Could Choke;" interestingly enough, this song also has the most prominent elements of emo of all the songs in their catalogue, which could be one of the reasons they have grown so adverse to playing it.
Their new album, The Always Open Mouth, was released on Tuesday, September 19, 2006. This album marks a considerably different sound from previous recordings. This album contains a much more experimental side, such as more emphasis on antiphony between the lead singer and guitarist and a considerable lesser amount of screaming. It features layered guitar chords (a second guitarist was added to the band before the recording of this album), and many electronic sounds used with heavily-distorted or otherwise-effected guitars and synthesizers, or sequencers and drum machines, giving it a more industrial feel. As a result, it is not as hard or fast as their previous two albums, but instead, is more experimental and well-crafted.
With newly added members and a new approach at performing music, they set off on numerous tours mid-2006 to promote their latest CD The Always Open Mouth, touring with bands such as Thursday, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, HeavyHeavyLowLow, The Jonbenet, and the Radio Rebellion Tour with bands The Fully Down, The Confession, blessthefall, Misery Signals, Between the Buried and Me, and headliners of the tour Norma Jean. During a show on November 4th in San Diego, California, bassist Mike Madruga accidentally hit singer Dave Marion on the side of his face with the headstock of his bass, knocking him unconscious on stage. When he awoke, there was a hole that went all the way through his cheek, and although the band continued to finish the set, he had to be rushed to the hospital to be treated for the injury, and because of this, the band missed the following 3 days of the tour, but Dave is now fine and has finished the rest of the Radio Rebellion Tour.
On 2008]-09-09, Fear Before the March of Flames officially shortened their name to Fear Before.
Current line-up
* David Michael Marion - vocals
* Adam (Rupert) Fisher - guitar, vocals, keys
* Michael Madruga - bass
* Clayton (Goose) Holyoak - drums
Former members
* Billy Johnson - guitar, keyboards
* Brandon Proff - drums
* Zachary (Binks) Hutchings - guitar
Dog Sized Bird
Fear Before The March Of Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the dog sized bird on the tracks
I have an unhealthy handful of options
And a couple of trains on my back
I'm picking at remains of other lives
And watching colors and tragic looking passerbys
Picking at bones
Losing my nerve
Constantly calculating
There's time between trains, I know
There's time between trains, I know
And a right moment
To find a new set of tracks
There's time between trains
I know exactly how long
But I'm testing my conviction
And I may be primed for picking at any time
The lyrics to Fear Before the March of Flame's "Dog Sized Bird" tell the story of a bird that is struggling to navigate the world around it. The bird is described as being "dog sized" and is perched on a set of train tracks, with a couple of trains on its back. The bird has an "unhealthy handful of options" and is constantly calculating its next move.
As the bird watches the world around it, it picks at the remains of other lives and observes the tragic-looking passersby. The bird is losing its nerve and constantly calculating its next move. It knows that there is time between trains and a right moment to find a new set of tracks, but it is uncertain and is testing its conviction. The bird may be primed for picking at any time.
The lyrics to "Dog Sized Bird" suggest a sense of uncertainty and anxiety. The bird is struggling to navigate the world around it and is constantly calculating its next move. The metaphor of the bird on the train tracks suggests a sense of being trapped or stuck in a certain place, while the sense of picking at the remains of other lives is one of desperation and neediness.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you seen me lately?
I haven't been around for a while, have you noticed?
I am the dog sized bird on the tracks
I am small and insignificant, but I'm still on this path that may lead to destruction
I have an unhealthy handful of options
I have too many choices, none of which are good
And a couple of trains on my back
I'm burdened with responsibilities and consequences
I'm picking at remains of other lives
I'm scavenging for scraps and living off of someone else's misfortune
And watching colors and tragic looking passerbys
I'm observing the world around me, where everyone else seems to be struggling or hurting
I am the dog sized bird
I'm still small and insignificant, but I have some control over my reality
Picking at bones
I'm living off the remains of something else
Losing my nerve
I'm becoming less confident and more anxious
Constantly calculating
I'm always thinking about the next move
There's time between trains, I know
I have some control over the direction of my life, but I need to act quickly
And a right moment
There is a perfect opportunity waiting for me
To find a new set of tracks
To change my path and start fresh
I know exactly how long
I'm aware of the timing and consequences of my decisions
But I'm testing my conviction
I'm doubting myself and questioning if I have what it takes to make a change
And I may be primed for picking at any time
I'm vulnerable and could be forced to continue living off of scraps at any moment
Contributed by Kaelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lamieklaurence8319
They opened with this when I saw them live. It was the best thing I ever saw.
@kettlecookedjalapenochips
Still so fucking solid
@Andy_Paris
One of my favorite tracks! This album is on my top ten list of all time favorite albums, along with Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Killswitch Engage's Alive or Just Breathing and Lorna Shore's Pain Remains, to name a few.
@gofuckyourself6688
Have you seen me lately..