The band formed when vocalist Chris Volz answered an ad in a local paper placed by guitarist Jason Daunt, looking for a singer for an alternative/industrial band. The band's rhythm section progressed through several line-ups but solidified with the addition of bassist Ryan Jurhs in 1996. That same year the band recorded their first independent record American Arrogance.
Because they were low on money, the band ordered everything they needed to record from the Musician's Friend catalog, then returned it using the 30-day return policy. Their album gave them the opportunity to open for acts including Fear Factory and Econoline Crush. A local radio station, The Fox, broadcast the songs from Flaw's indie disc, giving them further notoriety.
Two more independent records, 1998's self titled album Flaw and 2000's Drama were later produced.
Flaw signed to Universal/Republic Records in 2000, and proceeded to release their debut album, Through the Eyes in 2001. The album eventually topped the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, due to moderate rotation of their music videos "Payback" and "Whole" on MTV2 and rock radio stations. In 2002, the band played at Ozzfest.
In 2004, after three years without releasing a new album, Flaw returned to the studio to begin recording their second studio album, Endangered Species. The band had parted ways with guitarist Jason Daunt and drummer Chris Ballinger and added Micah Havertape as their new drummer. The only single released from Endangered Species was "Recognize" and it received little amount of radio play. A music video was supposed to be filmed for the single but it never happened.
Endangered Species debuted at #42 on the Billboard Top 200, selling 27,527[citation needed] copies in its first week.
Flaw was dropped by their label Universal Records in late 2004 and eventually broke up. The band's final days left many people angry. The band had scheduled a few shows within their surrounding states, and when the break-up news began to circulate, no one from the band stepped forward to confirm or deny it. Some reportedly drove hundreds of miles to see the shows only to be told by club managers that the band unexpectedly canceled without notice. The group's website had, at the time, still displayed a notice which read "Flaw is still playing".
After Flaw broke up, Chris Volz eventually started up an entirely new band with drummer Ivan Arnold who had played with Flaw from 1998 to 2000. The new band, Five Bolt Main, signed with Rock Ridge Records and released a studio album and a live album before disbanding.
After leaving Flaw, Jason Daunt played in another Louisville band called Into Another, as well as going back to school for a law degree. Chris Ballinger played in a few bands and Lance Arny began playing guitar for a band called Nailgun Strategy in Louisville.
Micah Havertape went on to play with Black Market Hero alongside past 40 Below Summer members. Ryan Jurhs was also temporarily played them as well.
In 2006, Flaw reunited with four of the founding members: Chris Volz, Jason Daunt, Lance Arny, and Chris Ballinger. The band recruited bassist Alex Cando, formerly of Five.Bolt.Main, on bass. On March 11, 2007, at Headliner's Music Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, the band played its first show since their breakup, sharing the stage with Powerman 5000 before heading out on their own reunion tour with Arny's other band, Nailgun Strategy. On this tour, Flaw announced that they hoped to release an album in 2007 and were trying to find the right record company to sign with. Neither of those things ultimately happened that year.
The band went on to have numerous line-up changes and internal problems throughout 2007 and 2008. Daunt was only been able to make a couple of the shows due to his work as a full-time lawyer. For all the shows Daunt was unable to make, Andy Russ from Arny's other band, Nailgun Strategy, performed in Daunt's place. Eventually, Daunt left the band and was replaced full-time by Russ. Alex Cando also left, and was replaced by past member Ryan Juhrs.
Internal strife continued, with Volz and Daunt leaving to form a new band called Foundation. At this point the other three members of Flaw. Ballinger, Arny, and Juhrs, tried to carry on as Flaw, but Daunt and Volz reclaimed the name Flaw and applied it to their new band.
In December 2008 a MySpace bulletin was posted by Flaw stating that all future concert dates had been canceled due to conflicts between Volz and current members of the band.
However, in 2009, the band later came forward claiming that former "hired guns" in Flaw hacked the official MySpace and wrote this false information. They revealed that they were still working on a new album, and had a new drummer Sean Rued. Their third album, Home Grown Studio Sessions was later independently released for digital download via the website DiGiSTATION on November 16. 2009, and at all concerts since its release.
The band continued to tour into 2010, with Chris Marple filling in on bass until Ryan Jurhs could return due to work/scheduling conflict. However, in early july of 2010, signs of internal problems arose with Russ leaving for "health and personal reasons". In Mid July of 2010 Arny once again brought Chris Marple (Caldera & Kentucky Death Wish) back into the picture. This time Marple would be playing guitar, along with Arny, Jurhs, Volz & Rued to complete the full line up once again.
Flaw tour dates were scheduled immediately & posted from July through October of 2010. During the course of each run, these tours were with TANTRIC/BURN HALO/SATURATE. Unfortunately, somewhere during the course of these 3 tours, there was animosity between certain members & Flaw canceled all remaining tour dates with no explanation, on November 2, 2010.
Members
Current members
Chris Volz - vocals (1995–2004, 2006–present)
Lance Arny - guitar (1998–2004, 2006–2007, 2008–present)
Chris Marple - guitar (2010–present)
Ryan Jurhs - bass, backing vocals (1995–2004, 2008–present)
Sean Rued - drums (2009–present)
Former members
Jason Daunt - guitar (1995–2002, 2006–2008)
Ivan Arnold - drums (1995–1998)
Nick Haupt - drums (1998)
Dave Wathen - drums (1998–99)
Chris Ballinger - drums (1999–2003, 2006–2007)
Micah Havertape - drums (2003–2004)
Alex Cando - bass (2006–2007)
Nathan McDaniel - guitar (2007–2008)
Tyler Mathews - bass (2007–2008)
Terry Harper - drums (2008–2009)
Andy Russ - guitar (2008–2010)
Final Cry
Flaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We summon existence
This distance is not what it seems
Painstaking process
It pulls at our instincts
We're living outside of our means
So long, I've hoped
To be strong
And the damage will commence
The beginning of the end
And the damage will commence
All these occurrences bring me to life
All that I've sacrificed makes it seem right
Don't underestimate how hard I'll try
This is our final cry
Placing a marker
On what I must offer
It's slowly becoming unfair
Will I recover
From being pulled under
I'm desperate and gasping for air
So long, I've hoped
To be strong
Down-sloped
This is not anything that came from me
You have embedded it within my seed
All of my memories are blending in
Now the real damage will begin
And the damage will commence
The beginning of the end
And the damage will commence
All these occurrences bring me to life
All that I've sacrificed makes it seem right
Don't underestimate how hard I'll try
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
It's the beginning of the end
All these occurrences bring me to life
All that I've sacrificed makes it seem right
Don't underestimate how hard I'll try
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
The lyrics of "Final Cry" by Flaw seem to be an introspective look at accepting the consequences of one's actions, while acknowledging that hard work and effort alone may not be enough to turn things around. The opening lines, "Forging a difference, we summon existence/This distance is not what it seems," suggest that the singer is making an attempt to make a change in their life, but that the task is much more difficult than they initially thought. The phrase "living outside of our means" further emphasizes the idea that the singer is struggling to keep up with the demands of their life.
The chorus, "All these occurrences bring me to life/All that I've sacrificed makes it seem right/Don't underestimate how hard I'll try/This is our final cry," seems to be a rallying cry for the singer to continue fighting, despite the odds against them. They acknowledge that they have put in a lot of effort, but that there is still a long way to go. However, they are determined to see it through to the end. The repeated phrase "this is our final cry" could perhaps mean that this is the last chance for the singer to turn things around, and that it's imperative that they give it their all.
As the song continues, it becomes clear that the singer is referring to someone or something that has caused them harm. The lines "This is not anything that came from me/You have embedded it within my seed" suggest that the source of their struggle is something that was imposed upon them, rather than a result of their own actions. The phrase "Now the real damage will begin" hints at the idea that the consequences of this external influence will only get worse from this point on.
Overall, "Final Cry" seems to be a song about perseverance in the face of difficult circumstances, even when the odds seem insurmountable. The singer is determined to continue fighting, even when things seem hopeless, and is willing to do whatever it takes to make a positive change in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Forging a difference
We are making a change towards something meaningful.
We summon existence
We bring forth a new purpose for existing.
This distance is not what it seems
There is more to our current situation than what meets the eye.
Painstaking process
The process of change requires great effort and discomfort.
It pulls at our instincts
The change we seek goes against our natural inclinations.
We're living outside of our means
Our current way of life is unsustainable and requires change.
So long, I've hoped
To be strong
Down-sloped
I have been hoping to remain strong despite being pulled down by the weight of change.
And the damage will commence
The beginning of the end
And the damage will commence
The start of change will bring pain and destruction.
All these occurrences bring me to life
All that I've sacrificed makes it seem right
Don't underestimate how hard I'll try
This is our final cry
All the struggles and sacrifices have given me purpose, and I will not give up until we succeed.
Placing a marker
On what I must offer
It's slowly becoming unfair
I am identifying what I can contribute, but it feels like it is too much to bear.
Will I recover
From being pulled under
I'm desperate and gasping for air
I am struggling to stay afloat despite being overwhelmed by change.
This is not anything that came from me
You have embedded it within my seed
All of my memories are blending in
Now the real damage will begin
I realize that the change did not come from me alone, but from the environment around me. My past experiences are shaping the present, and this will lead to further repercussions.
It's the beginning of the end
All these occurrences bring me to life
All that I've sacrificed makes it seem right
Don't underestimate how hard I'll try
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
This is our final cry
Despite the hardships, this is the moment where we begin to make a meaningful change. We will give it our all, and this will be our final effort to change for the better.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind