Ted Phelps founded Imperative Reaction with David Andrecht in 1996. After g… Read Full Bio ↴Ted Phelps founded Imperative Reaction with David Andrecht in 1996. After gaining momentum in the Los Angeles Industrial scene, in 1999, the band released their first album entitled, Eulogy For The Sick Child. The debut was met with critical praise and a growing fan base. Songs like “Scorpio” and “The Longing” quickly found their way onto DJ playlists world-wide.

2002 saw the departure of Andrecht and the release of the sophomore album Ruined. The aggressive album led Phelps to recruit Sam P. and Jason DM of Los Angeles based Pulse Legion to complete the live line-up. Shortly thereafter, the growing band completed its first North American tour.

In 2004 Imperative Reaction unleashed Redemption. This album combined the rock feel of Ruined with a more club friendly sound which helped propel the first single “Giving In To The Change” to become a dance floor staple. Jason DM was replaced on keys by Clint Carney (System Syn, God Module) and the band set out on its second North American tour. The Redemption tour led to an invitation to join VNV Nation as direct support for their 2005 Formation Tour. Over the course of 36 shows Imperative Reaction transformed itself into a celebrated live act in front of over 25,000 fans.

As We Fall , released in 2006, was met with universal acclaim. Imperative Reaction joined EBM legends Covenant on their successful Skyshaper US tour. Shortly thereafter, IR was asked to join VNV Nation on their European Judgment Tour. Upon returning to the US, the band was picked to open for Combichrist on their 2007 North American tour. Further solidifying themselves as one of the premier electronic live acts, IR returned home to Los Angeles just in time to head out with psychobilly giants, Tiger Army on their US Razor’s Kiss Tour. The desire to expand and strengthen the live show led Phelps to hire Trevor Friedrich (Combichrist, Eighteen Visions, Suffer Well) to drum for the band.

In 2008, Imperative Reaction released Minus All and embarked on its most ambitious headlining tour to date. Shortly after the completion of the tour the band added guitarist/keyboardist Adam Vex (Seraphim Shock) and the live chemistry was solidified once and for all.

In 2009, the band took time off from writing to hit the road with fellow Metropolis Records artist, Psyclon Nine. The co-headlining tour, named "The Ruina Tour", saw the bands playing to capacity crowds across the US.

2010 was spent holed up in the studio creating the band’s most ambitious album to date. Imperative Reaction is an electronic rock masterpiece that showcases a band in its prime; ready to blow any preconceived notions out of the water. There is no escape.

Closed In
Imperative Reaction Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I used to care
It used to matter
But the meaning lost its way
Within this pattern
Closed in from the world
I had to find
Something inside to clear my mind

And though I wanted to
I just can't see it
Though I know it's true
I still can't feel it
I walked away from too much
And now I'm falling behind
The damage served me as a crutch
But it left me behind

I used to know
I used to need it
But the message has become
Too misleading
Closed in from the world

I had to find
Something inside to clear my mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Closed In" by Imperative Reaction suggest a sense of disorientation and disillusionment with the world. The first verse speaks to a loss of meaning and purpose, as if the singer once cared deeply about something, but now feels trapped within a pattern that has obscured the original meaning. The second verse reflects a similar sentiment, but with a more pronounced sense of disconnect. The singer acknowledges that they know something to be true, but cannot feel it, which raises questions about the trustworthiness of their own perceptions.

The refrain of being "closed in from the world" echoes the sentiment from the verses, suggesting that the singer feels cut off or isolated from the outside world. However, this refrain also implies a sense of self-imposed isolation, as if the singer has chosen to withdraw and seek something within themselves to "clear [their] mind." The final line of the chorus - "The damage served me as a crutch / But it left me behind" - perhaps suggests that the singer has relied too heavily on past traumas or emotional baggage to make sense of the world, but has come to realize that this approach is ultimately self-defeating.

Line by Line Meaning

I used to care
I used to feel a sense of responsibility

It used to matter
It used to be important

But the meaning lost its way
But its significance has become unclear

Within this pattern
Within this routine

Closed in from the world
Isolated from society

I had to find
I needed to discover

Something inside to clear my mind
Something within myself to bring mental clarity

And though I wanted to
Even though I desired to

I just can't see it
I cannot comprehend it

Though I know it's true
Even though I acknowledge its validity

I still can't feel it
I still cannot fully experience it