To date, they have released four studio albums and four EPs.
History
Early Years and The Approach (2002-2004)
I:Scintilla was conceptualized in Champaign, IL in Jim Cookas' bedroom in October 2002. In January 2003, Chad Mines joined the group as bassist followed shortly by Jason Allen on guitar and programming in March. Upon formation, they immediately began writing their debut album, The Approach while still searching for a vocalist. Many singers were auditioned before finding Brittany Bindrim, who they found to be a perfect fit. The album was finished and self-released on July 29, 2004. The album contained early versions of many songs that would appear on later albums.
Alfa-Matrix and Havestar (2005-2006)
After a previously full year of nonstop live performances, I:Scintilla was discovered and signed by Belgian electro label Alfa-Matrix. In March 2005, Jason Allen left the band and Chad Mines moved to guitar. Bethany Whisenhunt was brought on to play bass.The band continued to work on the release of its first EP, Havestar, while providing material for a future full-length album.
The Havestar EP was released by Alfa-Matrix in the summer of 2006. In addition to a few re-mastered songs from The Approach, remixes by Combichrist, Diskonnekted, Neikka RPM, Implant, and Klutae are included.
The Havestar EP also highlights the first collaboration with producer and artist Wade Alin, who is known for music works Christ Analogue, The Atomica Project, and Scanalyzer. This collaborative process adds a consistent working sound quality that carries forward to I:Scintilla's following full-length album Optics.
After its release, Havestar peaked at #13 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts Top 20 Singles list.
Optics and The Immortal Tour (2007-2008)
I:Scintilla released their second full-length album Optics in June 2007. The album consisted of many older, reworked songs as well as multiple new releases. Optics was released in single-CD format as well as a two-disc edition, containing a second disc entirely of remixes by bands such as Combichrist, Clan of Xymox, and Ego Likeness.
While this album was being made, Mines and Whisenhunt departed the band. Instead of replacing the members, Jim Cookas began programming the bass parts and played all of the guitar parts.
Optics peaked at #6 on the Deutsche Alternative Charts Top 10 Albums list, and was featured in multiple alternative magazines. Preceding the album release, I:Scintilla performed at Wave-Gotik-Treffen in May 2007.
I:Scintilla joined with the then-Tallahassee-based darkwave band The Crüxshadows and Canadian electro act Ayria for the U.S. stretch of The Crüxshadows' Immortal Tour in 2008. At this point, the band incorporated two new members, Justin Pogue (keytarist) and Vincent Grech (drums). Up until then, the drums had all been done through a drum machine.
Dying & Falling (2009-2011)
In 2009, keytarist Justin Pogue left the band and moved to Florida, where he was a DJ under the name DJ Halon at the now-closed Club Rayn's popular Industrial music and Alternative Rock night, Blue Monday. In the band he was replaced by Brent Leitner (guitar/programming).
On December 4, 2009, I:Scintilla released an EP titled Prey On You. The EP contained three new songs and five remixes of these songs. Two songs, Prey On You and Ammunition, were later released on I:Scintilla's third full-length album Dying & Falling (formerly called Redshift), which was released on November 26, 2010. Like Optics, this album was released with a single disc version and a limited edition containing a second disc. This second disc contained the third song from the Prey On You, another previously unreleased track, and nine remixes.
Over the next year I:Scintilla toured lightly, with most of their shows being in their hometown of Chicago. Around December 2012, Brandon Chase was brought in to fill the long empty bass position, making the band a quintet. However, he left I:Scintilla the following August to focus on his own bands.
The Marrow EPs (2012-Current)
In 2012, I:Scintilla announced they would be releasing a series of EPs entitled "Marrow". The first of these EPs, Marrow 1, was released on October 15, 2012. This album was a dramatic change in musical styles. Abandoning their signature metal-electronica style, this album had a more acoustic sound to it. With five tracks, Marrow 1 contained one new song, Drag Along, two reworked versions from songs previously on Dying & Falling, as well as two covers.
Shortly after the December 12, 2012 release of Marrow 1, a new single was digitally released containing a new song, Skin Tight, and two remixes of Skin Tight. A month later, I:Scintilla announced a remix contest for Skin Tight as well as a new album, Marrow 2. The winning remix artist would have their song featured on the upcoming album. The band received 64 submissions and allowed their fan base to vote on which song should be included on the album. The votes were cast in a unique fashion counting cash donations as votes. All proceeds from the votes were donated to the Amnesty International charity.
Marrow 2 was released on May 2, 2013 and marked a return to their signature style. The album contains four new studio recordings as well as four remixes.
In January 2013, Brittany Bindrim launched her own company, Black Dove Design Company. The company focuses on graphic design, programming, and fine arts. The Marrow series album covers are all illustrated by Brittany and are part of her illustration portfolio for Black Dove.
On September 21, 2018, i:Scintilla released Swayed, their first full-length studio album in nine years.
Face the Kill
I:Scintilla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Red winged man in a papal throne
Czar says at least he's alive
Yet evidence proves otherwise
Where is heaven then over shadows of weaponry
Time bomb, dormant, hungry for a casualty
You desperately try to rebuild
Now that will is eroded
Face the man or face the kill
Now braced face hydra skies
Girl whispers, 'Look into these eyes'
Reflect, illumine verities
Sit with the intense clarity
She moves in real close
Not for the weak and not for most
Let go, unfurl, transitional underworld
With blissful memories corroded
You desperately try to rebuild
Now that will is eroded
Face the man or face the kill
Looking back through the timeline
Confront thief that took the young lives
The sickness will spread until
You face the man or face the kill
Now braced face hydra skies
Girl whispers, 'Look into these eyes'
Czar says at least he's alive
Yet evidence proves otherwise
Exhale, crawl in, into desire you're colored with
Entrust, forgive, to find comfort in your skin
The lyrics in I:Scintilla's song Face the Kill paint a vivid picture of the struggle between good and evil, life and death, and the search for truth in a world marred by war, violence, and corruption. The opening lines suggest that there is a thin line between what we know and what we don't know, and that what we see on the surface may not always be the truth. The "red winged man in a papal throne" could be a symbol of the corrupt power of the Catholic Church, which has been tied to many atrocities throughout history, such as the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the sexual abuse scandals. The "czar" mentioned later on may represent any authoritarian ruler who values power over the lives of their subjects.
The next lines speak of the search for heaven amidst the chaos of war and weaponization. The "time bomb, dormant, hungry for a casualty" could refer to the constant threat of violence and destruction, always lurking in the shadows, waiting to be unleashed. The chorus suggests that even in the face of such adversity, we must try to hold on to our memories and rebuild our lives, even if that will to live has been eroded. We must ultimately choose to either face the man (the oppressor, the abuser, the tyrant) or face the kill (the death that may come as a result of standing up to them).
The second verse adds another layer to this narrative, introducing the idea of looking back through the timeline and confronting the "thief that took the young lives." This could refer to any number of injustices, from school shootings to police brutality to the victimization of marginalized groups. The "girl whispers, 'Look into these eyes'" could symbolize the voice of reason and compassion, urging us to reflect on the truth and seek clarity. The final lines suggest that to find comfort in our own skin, we must forgive, entrust, and exhale.
Line by Line Meaning
Thin line hides the unknown
The distinction between what is known and unknown is not clear
Red winged man in a papal throne
A figure of authority with red wings is seated on a throne, likely to be the Pope
Czar says at least he's alive
The czar claims that the person is still alive
Yet evidence proves otherwise
However, there is evidence to the contrary
Where is heaven then over shadows of weaponry
Amidst the violence and chaos of war, it is difficult to imagine a place of peace like heaven
Time bomb, dormant, hungry for a casualty
A dangerous weapon ready to cause harm is waiting for a victim
With blissful memories corroded
The happy memories are fading away and being destroyed
You desperately try to rebuild
Attempting to reconstruct what has been lost due to the corrosion of memories
Now that will is eroded
The motivation and energy to rebuild is being diminished
Face the man or face the kill
The choice is to confront the perpetrator or suffer deadly consequences
Now braced face hydra skies
Prepared to confront something frightening and terrifying
Girl whispers, 'Look into these eyes'
A woman is urging someone to look deep into her eyes as an act of trust
Reflect, illumine verities
Think deeply and bring to light the truth about something
Sit with the intense clarity
Stay still and absorb the clear and vivid understanding of something
She moves in real close
The woman is coming closer to the person
Not for the weak and not for most
This act of closeness requires strength and courage
Let go, unfurl, transitional underworld
Release your fears and inhibitions to journey through a transformative and dark period
Looking back through the timeline
Reflecting on the past events
Confront thief that took the young lives
Facing the person responsible for the loss of young lives
The sickness will spread until
The problem will continue to grow and worsen
Exhale, crawl in, into desire you're colored with
Let out a deep breath, crawl into the place where your passion lies
Entrust, forgive, to find comfort in your skin
Forgiving others and trusting in oneself is the key to inner peace
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.