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
The Lisbon Girls Oh the Lisbon Girls
Fear Before the March of Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This hollow throbbing.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
And your name will come in time.
For now take a number.
This is a surrender skin
This is hanging on
This is giving up
Faces on! Faces on!
We are pretty when we are faking.
I am such a liar when I smile.
Son comes home to take solace in his mirror
(the stains of God's loving embrace still ripe around his throat)
Only to find he is no longer human
Father don't you cut the rope I want to die here
Open eyes, dimmer, a chandelier
This empty chest.
This hollow throbbing.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
And your name will come in time.
For now take a number.
A chandelier.
Not another breather.
The sirens must flock to a new destination.
The song "The Lisbon Girls Oh The Lisbon Girls" by Fear Before The March Of Flames is a beautiful yet dark song that explores feelings of emptiness, surrender, and the destructive power of faking it. The opening lines, "This empty chest, this hollow throbbing, this empty shell. Will help you sleep, and your name will come in time. For now, take a number", speaks directly to the idea of surrendering oneself to something that makes us feel empty, with the promise of a reward at some point in the future. The lines highlight the idea of being lost and feeling helpless and alone, a common theme throughout the entire song.
As the song progresses and the chorus kicks in, we are introduced to the idea of faking it. Fear Before The March Of Flames sings, "We are pretty when we are faking. I am such a liar when I smile." The lines speak directly to the idea of putting on a facade for others, of pretending to feel a certain way when in reality, we are anything but. The chorus is a reflection on the toxic and damaging effects of not being true to oneself and trying to please others.
Towards the end of the song, we hear the lines "Son comes home to take solace in his mirror (the stains of God's loving embrace still ripe around his throat). Only to find he is no longer human. Father, don't you cut the rope, I want to die here. Open eyes, dimmer, a chandelier." These lines convey a sense of self-loathing and the ultimate realization that there is no escape from the emptiness and pain that one feels. The chandelier represents a final, desperate attempt to find solace, even if it is a false one.
Line by Line Meaning
This empty chest.
The feeling of emptiness inside their chest.
This hollow throbbing.
The hollow feeling accompanied by a throbbing pain.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
Feeling empty will enable you to sleep better.
And your name will come in time.
Your name will be called out when it is your turn.
For now take a number.
In the meantime, take a number and wait your turn.
This is a surrender skin
A state of surrender where skin is used as a metaphor.
This is hanging on
Holding on to something that is slipping away.
Sing the high notes, touch his hand.
Singing high notes while touching someone's hand in a desperate attempt to hold on.
This is giving up
Accepting defeat and giving up.
Faces on! Faces on!
Keep a straight face and put on a brave front.
We are pretty when we are faking.
We look attractive when we pretend to be okay, even when we are not.
I am such a liar when I smile.
I am lying when I appear happy with a smile.
Son comes home to take solace in his mirror
Returning home to seek comfort in a familiar place.
(the stains of God's loving embrace still ripe around his throat)
The marks left from a religious belief's physical expression are still visible.
Only to find he is no longer human
Realizing he has lost his humanity.
Father don't you cut the rope I want to die here
Requesting the father not to interfere when he decides to end his life.
Open eyes, dimmer, a chandelier
Faintly seeing the surroundings, which include a chandelier.
A chandelier.
A hanging light fixture.
Not another breather.
No more time to breathe or take a break.
The sirens must flock to a new destination.
The emergency sirens need to go somewhere else now.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cathory
"This empty chest.
This hollow throbbing.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
And your name will come in time.
For now take a number.
This is a surrender skin
This is hanging on
Sing the high notes, touch his hand.
This is giving up
Faces on! Faces on!
We are pretty when we are faking.
I am such a liar when I smile.
Son comes home to take solace in his mirror
(the stains of God's loving embrace still ripe around his throat)
Only to find he is no longer human
Father don't you cut the rope I want to die here
Open eyes, dimmer, a chandelier
This empty chest.
This hollow throbbing.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
And your name will come in time.
For now take a number.
A chandelier.
Not another breather.
The sirens must flock to a new destination."
Ryan Martin
gotta be their best album they will ever come out with
Conspiracy Library
@Snickks i second art damage.
User Name
You might be right man. We’ll see.
Snickks
Art Damage was sick too!
Yari Vasquez
this album reminds me of good ol times. THANK YOU RISE RECORDS
Cathory
"This empty chest.
This hollow throbbing.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
And your name will come in time.
For now take a number.
This is a surrender skin
This is hanging on
Sing the high notes, touch his hand.
This is giving up
Faces on! Faces on!
We are pretty when we are faking.
I am such a liar when I smile.
Son comes home to take solace in his mirror
(the stains of God's loving embrace still ripe around his throat)
Only to find he is no longer human
Father don't you cut the rope I want to die here
Open eyes, dimmer, a chandelier
This empty chest.
This hollow throbbing.
This empty shell. Will help you sleep.
And your name will come in time.
For now take a number.
A chandelier.
Not another breather.
The sirens must flock to a new destination."
Nectratoplixs
Before the march of flames will always be better than Fear Before
They're trying to weaponize it
This band reminds me a lot of a less heavier Usurp synapse. Or at least the screams vocals. Not gonna lie the bands first 2 albums are amazing.
Rodrigo Medeiros
YOOO THIS WAS POSTED ON MY BIRTHDAY IT'S MY FAVORITE SONG BY THEM
Rodrigo Medeiros
@J. Hastings i'm not gonna disagree tbh