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.

Divide
Imperative Reaction Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just tell yourself you don't need it
And hope it's enough
to convince yourself to stop feeling
And believe it's the truth
I've made it through the storm
But I'm here standing still
This broken mask I've worn
Is too hard to conceal

I tried to find another way
But these fears
Grow stronger by the day
Inside I am failing as the years go by
This divide is prevailing
No matter what I try

I forced myself to stop feeling
What I couldn't control
I believed that I could stop bleeding
But it's taken its toll
I've made it through the storm
But I'm here standing still
This broken mask I've worn
Is too hard to conceal

So I've let go for the last time
I'm sorry I should have known
But I once believed that I could be
All I thought was inside of me

But now I see these injuries
Were never meant to heal

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Imperative Reaction's song "Divide" paint a vivid picture of the struggle one goes through when trying to suppress their feelings and emotions. The first verse encourages the listener to convince themselves that they don't need the source of their pain and hope that it's enough to stop feeling. The second verse shows the singer's internal battle with their fears, feeling like they're failing and unable to overcome the divide that's separating them from their true emotions. The chorus talks about the toll that it's taken on the singer, wearing a broken mask that's too hard to conceal.

In the second verse, the singer admits to forcing themselves to stop feeling what they couldn't control. They believed that they could stop the bleeding of their emotions, but it's taken a toll on them. Even though they've made it through the storm, they're still standing still while wearing a mask that's too broken to conceal. The final verse is a sad resignation that they've let go for the last time, knowing that the injuries they carry inside will never truly heal.

The song itself is a powerful work of art that explores the difficult and often painful process of trying to suppress emotions. It resonates with many people who have gone through similar experiences and serves as a reminder that it's important to confront our feelings instead of trying to push them away.

Line by Line Meaning

Just tell yourself you don't need it
Persuade yourself that you can live without it

And hope it's enough
Desire that the persuasion would work

to convince yourself to stop feeling
To make oneself stop experiencing emotions

And believe it's the truth
To trust that it is true

I've made it through the storm
Survived a difficult situation

But I'm here standing still
Presently alive and stationary

This broken mask I've worn
The facade that I put on is shattered

Is too hard to conceal
It is difficult to disguise

I tried to find another way
Attempted to find a different solution

But these fears
Anxiety and phobias

Grow stronger by the day
Developing further each day