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
My Deer Hunter
Fear Before The March Of Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When we start, we lack a ruler's knowledge
When we grow, we gain the tools to conquer
I'll kill the king just for a taste of copper
Where did the fins go?
What are these limbs for?
I'll have his wife just to display my power
I'll have his wine and spit it right back out
Somewhere I grew legs
There's a wall out past the shallow waters
Where's there's god and all his faithful
Followers, they remained, endured the taste of salt
There's a beast who swallowed up his soldiers
Drew them out into the cities and shores
Gave them greed and made them slaves...
There's a wall out past the shallow waters
([Anthony Green:] And I'm a shark with legs in a tie)
Where I can't see but I can sense my father
([Anthony Green:] With a trophy wife at my side)
He can see me, oh so clearly
([Anthony Green:] And I'll beat her because she's mine)
There's a beast who had me at hello
([Anthony Green:] And birth a nuclear set of swine)
And a building where I never go
([Anthony Green:] But if they leave they wont return)
If we leave, we don't return
([Anthony Green:] And I'll eat her because she's mine.
And they'll kneel each and every night and when they sleep, they won't wake up.
And if they leave, they won't return)
The lyrics of "My Deer Hunter" by Fear Before The March Of Flames are cryptic and full of metaphors that make it difficult to interpret their exact meaning. The song begins by stating that when individuals are young, they lack knowledge, but as they grow, they acquire the tools to conquer. The repetition of "I'll kill the king just for a taste of copper" throughout the song suggests a desire for power and wealth. The line "somewhere I grew legs" could refer to a transformation or a feeling of newfound strength.
The lyrics also mention a wall beyond the shallow waters where God and his faithful followers reside, but there is also a beast that has swallowed up soldiers and made them slaves. This could be a metaphor for the battle between good and evil, with the beast representing temptation and corruption. The lines "And they'll kneel each and every night and when they sleep, they won't wake up" indicate that those who succumb to the beast's lure will never be able to escape its grasp.
The addition of Anthony Green's vocals adds a layer of complexity to the song's interpretation. His lines about being a shark with legs in a tie and having a trophy wife at his side suggest a desire for power and status. Overall, the song seems to be about the seductive lure of power and its corrosive effects on individuals and society.
Line by Line Meaning
When we start, we lack a ruler's knowledge
In the beginning, we are inexperienced and lack the expertise of a leader
When we grow, we gain the tools to conquer
As we mature, we acquire the skills needed to overcome obstacles
I'll kill the king just for a taste of copper
I will murder the ruler for the mere opportunity to possess riches
Where did the fins go?
What happened to our strengths and capabilities?
What are these limbs for?
What purpose do our bodies serve if we are unable to utilize them effectively?
If we leave, we don't return...
There will be no going back once we depart from our current situation
I'll have his wife just to display my power
I will take the king's spouse to exhibit my dominance and authority
I'll have his wine and spit it right back out
I will consume the king's wine only to reject it immediately afterwards
Somewhere I grew legs
At some point, I developed the ability to walk on two feet
There's a wall out past the shallow waters
There is a barrier beyond the surface of the water
Where's there's god and all his faithful
This barrier houses a deity and their devoted followers
Followers, they remained, endured the taste of salt
The followers persevered despite the difficulties they faced
There's a beast who swallowed up his soldiers
There is a monster that devoured an army of soldiers
Drew them out into the cities and shores
The beast brought the soldiers out of their homeland and into foreign lands
Gave them greed and made them slaves...
The beast influenced the soldiers' desires and rendered them as captives
There's a wall out past the shallow waters
The barrier past the water's surface still exists
And I'm a shark with legs in a tie
I am powerful and formidable, even with such a strange appearance
Where I can't see but I can sense my father
I am unsure of my father's whereabouts but have a feeling of his existence
With a trophy wife at my side
I have a beautiful and cherished wife accompanying me
He can see me, oh so clearly
My father has the ability to perceive me with great clarity
And I'll beat her because she's mine
I will harm my wife as an act of ownership and control
There's a beast who had me at hello
The monster immediately captivated and ensnared me
And birth a nuclear set of swine
The beast gave rise to hoards of destructive creatures
And a building where I never go
There is a structure that I avoid at all costs
But if they leave they wont return
One who departs from here will never return
And I'll eat her because she's mine.
I will consume my wife to assert my possessive nature
And they'll kneel each and every night and when they sleep, they won't wake up.
Others will bow down and worship me, obedient even in their dreams
And if they leave, they won't return
Escape is not an option, as they will never come back
Contributed by Stella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gloominescent
When we start, we lack a rulers knowledge
When we grow, we gain the tools to conquer
I'll kill the king just for a taste of copper
Where did the fins go?
What are these limbs for?
If we leave, we don't return...
I'll have his wife just to display my power
I'll drink his wine and spit it right back out
Somewhere I grew legs
There's a wall out past the shallow waters
Where there's God, and all his faithful followers
They remained, endured the taste of Salt
There's a beast who swallowed up his soldiers
Drew them out into the cities and shores
Gave them greed and made them slave...
There's a wall out past the shallow waters
Where I can't see, but I can sense my father
He can see me, oh so clearly!
There's a beast who had me at hello
And a building where I never go..
If we leave, we don't return.
@Alirech
On of their best jams, I miss the old days of finding great bands, and just going to see them that next weekend for like 11 bucks, take me back to 2009
@samuelcox1622
this shit was ahead of it's time...or just timeless
@thecomedian5933
Fear Before the March of Flames have some of the best lyrics. I mean that name alone is hard as hell.
@Thumpydolittle
Way before their time. Simply perfect this album
@hxytxwnrx
One of their best songs. 🖤
@kentallard589
still relevant as hell!!!!!! i remember when this came out
@bugosestfire
It was a long time now
@tehmodestmouse6275
I love you for loving them.
@gloominescent
Correct
@Sheahova
its fucking crazy how the two blend into eachother if you hear the message its crazy most think its just noise and random words but its more than that