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
A Brief Tutorial in Bachanalia
Fear Before the March of Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(When I've got a couple drinks in me, and I've got a couple drinks in me!)
"Hey man, heard you get the job done!"
(When I've got a couple drinks in me, I'm known to practice apathy!)
When you see me stagger
Know I'm being antagonized by what you can't hear
And just moving with the current
Current state of self embalment
Where I don't involve myself in human affairs
Just leave me an address on where I live
I'll make it slow and painful
I don't ask for much
(They will lead us out of town, straight out of town,
We can dodge the freight cars, just passerbys in the morning)
A few bills, and the occasional, occasional, occasional human touch
(I won't move if you won't move, and I won't move if you won't move,
Trade cigarettes for stories, you and I the Lords of the Rails,
Straight out of town and that is why we follow the pennies lay for we have stories and smokes)
Drink to take the edge off
I told you that I'd bring you my head
I told you I was better off dead
Have you heard the kind of shit that I've said?
Cause I'm a mad, mad man, no, I'm not a mad man.
I told you if you slipped me a drink...
I told you not to speak when I'm thinking
I told you I was having a hard time sleeping
I'm a sad, sad man, yeah I'm a real sad man!
There's empty bar stools
(To each of my sides)
And empty glasses
(So who the fuck's talking?)
And who's covering the tab?
Just a lonely man with a deathwish
(And a head full of crossed wires)
Making a deal with himself
(He keeps talking)
He keeps nodding
A SICK SON OF A BITCH
WILL ALWAYS END LIKE THIS
The lyrics of Fear Before The March Of Flames's song, A Brief Tutorial In Bachanalia, seem to follow the musings of a man who is drunk and possibly suffering from mental illness. The lines "Hey man, heard you're a real clean shot!" and "Hey man, heard you get the job done!" suggest that the singer of the song might be seeking validation for his violent tendencies. The subsequent lines, "When I've got a couple drinks in me, and I've got a couple drinks in me!" and "When I've got a couple drinks in me, I'm known to practice apathy!" convey the idea that the person speaking only feels free to express his dark thoughts and desires when alcohol loosens his inhibitions.
The chorus of the song, "I don't ask for much, a few bills, and the occasional, occasional, occasional human touch, Drink to take the edge off," seem to suggest that the character is estranged from society and seeks to escape from both reality and his own troubled mind. He speaks of a "current state of self-embalment," suggesting that he feels like he is already dead and that drinking is just a way to numb his eternal agony. The lines "I'm a sad, sad man, yeah, I'm a real sad man!" and "Just a lonely man with a deathwish (and a head full of crossed wires) making a deal with himself (he keeps talking) he keeps nodding" suggest that he is resigned to his fate and is unlikely to receive help from anyone.
Overall, the song portrays a person who is lost, hopeless, and self-destructive. It is unclear whether the character is seeking help or sympathy or whether he has fully embraced his madness and isolation. The lyrics are dark, harrowing, and introspective, and they paint a vivid picture of a person who has lost touch with reality and himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey man, heard you're a real clean shot!
After a few drinks, it's easy for me to appear cool and collected even though I don't care about anything.
Hey man, heard you get the job done!
After a few drinks, my apathetic nature helps me get things done with ease.
When you see me stagger, know I'm being antagonized by what you can't hear, and just moving with the current.
When I appear to be unsteady on my feet, it's because I'm being provoked by things that aren't audible, but I'm still going with the flow.
Current state of self embalment, where I don't involve myself in human affairs, just leave me an address on where I live, I'll make it slow and painful.
I'm in a state of self-preservation where I avoid human interaction and instead retaliate in gruesome ways if needed.
I don't ask for much, a few bills, and the occasional, occasional, occasional human touch, drink to take the edge off.
All I need is some cash, and very little human contact, except for the occasional drink to help me relax.
I told you that I'd bring you my head, I told you I was better off dead, have you heard the kind of shit that I've said? Cause I'm a mad, mad man, no, I'm not a mad man.
I mentioned before that I would rather die than stay alive, and with the things I say and do, I appear insane, but I know what I'm doing.
I told you if you slipped me a drink, I told you not to speak when I'm thinking, I told you I was having a hard time sleeping, I'm a sad, sad man, yeah I'm a real sad man!
I let you know that if you give me a drink, I won't be able to think properly, and I'm already having trouble sleeping because of how unhappy I am.
There's empty bar stools and empty glasses, and who's covering the tab? Just a lonely man with a deathwish and a head full of crossed wires making a deal with himself, he keeps nodding.
The bar is deserted, and I am alone with my thoughts, and even though I know the importance of the task at hand, I still spend most of my time alone.
A SICK SON OF A BITCH WILL ALWAYS END LIKE THIS.
Someone, who is extremely disturbed in his thoughts and behavior, will always meet an unfortunate end.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
GoFuck Yourself
I told you I was better off dead..