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.
Ruined
Imperative Reaction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You decided you deserved this
You gave into all your failures
And somehow you thought time would put you back together
I have fallen back to nothing
No support can keep me standing
All is ruined all has failed
All your shattered words have ruined me
You said you'd never let me down
You said you'd never betray me
You said you'd never let me fall
Now your emptiness surrounds me
You said you'd never let me down
You said you'd never betray me
You said you'd never let me fall
But your emptiness destroyed me
Somewhere along the line
You decided you were worthless
You gave into all the pressure
And somehow you thought time could put you back together
I have fallen back to nothing
No support can keep me standing
All is ruined all has failed
All your shattered words have ruined me
The song "Ruined" by Imperative Reaction is a powerful and emotional portrayal of the devastation caused by broken promises and betrayal. The lyrics speak of a relationship that has fallen apart due to one person's failure to live up to their commitments. The first verse suggests that the person responsible for the breakdown of the relationship is aware of their failings, but has given up trying to rectify them. They have lost all hope of redemption and are resigned to the fact that they have ruined everything.
The second verse shifts the perspective to the person who has been let down. They were promised loyalty and support, but instead they have been left alone to pick up the pieces of their broken relationship. The repetition of the lines "you said you'd never let me down, you said you'd never betray me, you said you'd never let me fall" highlights the pain of broken promises and the sense of loss and betrayal that comes with it. The final lines of the song suggest that both parties may have a shared sense of hopelessness and despair. They both feel that they have fallen back to nothing and that there is nothing left to save.
In conclusion, "Ruined" is a poignant comment on the fragility of relationships and the impact of broken promises. It conveys a powerful message about the consequences of not living up to one's word and the devastation that can result.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere along the line
At some point in time
You decided you deserved this
You believed you were entitled to this outcome
You gave into all your failures
You succumbed to your past mistakes
And somehow you thought time would put you back together
You believed that time would heal your wounds
I have fallen back to nothing
I have lost everything I had
No support can keep me standing
I cannot rely on anyone to help me
All is ruined all has failed
Everything has been destroyed and nothing has survived
All your shattered words have ruined me
Your broken promises and lies have caused my downfall
You said you'd never let me down
You promised to always be there for me
You said you'd never betray me
You made a vow to never deceive or hurt me
You said you'd never let me fall
You assured me that you would always support me
Now your emptiness surrounds me
Your hollowness and deceit have engrossed me
You said you'd never let me down
You promised to always be there for me
You said you'd never betray me
You made a vow to never deceive or hurt me
You said you'd never let me fall
You assured me that you would always support me
But your emptiness destroyed me
Your lack of substance and lies have caused my ruin
Somewhere along the line
At some point in time
You decided you were worthless
You came to believe that you had no value
You gave into all the pressure
You succumbed to external influence and demands
And somehow you thought time could put you back together
You believed that time could heal your inner turmoil
I have fallen back to nothing
I have lost everything I had
No support can keep me standing
I cannot rely on anyone to help me
All is ruined all has failed
Everything has been destroyed and nothing has survived
All your shattered words have ruined me
Your broken promises and lies have caused my downfall
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind