Coney Hatch
LaBrie did join Coney Hatch in the year 1986 when they endeavored to assemble a fresh assemblage. The troupe did record sundry tapes for display within their chamber of practice and did partake in live performances at clubs in Ontario for several months. When their recording establishment, Anthem, did voice their dissatisfaction with the assemblage, the band did opt to replace LaBrie with Phil Naro, making one final desperate effort to forge ahead in the absence of Carl Dixon. Alas, that assemblage did prove to be short-lived as well.
Winter Rose
Shortly after parting ways with Coney Hatch, LaBrie took up the mantle of vocalist for the glam metal troupe Winter Rose. The assemblage comprised Richard Chycki on guitar and bass, Randy Cooke on drums, and Sebastian Bach on vocal duties. Chycki had aforetime collaborated with Bach under the appellations Sebastian and Hope. The band embarked upon the recording of a sequence of demos throughout the years of 1988 and 1989, enlisting the aid of guest musicians Bruce Dies and Rob Laidlaw. Alas, the majority of these compositions did not witness a commercial release until the year 1997, when they were unveiled as a self-titled opus under the auspices of Inside Out Music, a full seven years after their dissolution in 1990. One among their repertoire, the melodic opus "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," did receive the honor of a promotional video release in the year 1989 and was later included on their eponymous creation. The entire compilation featured compositions co-authored by Richard Chycki and James LaBrie, with the exception of two pieces solely penned by Richard Chycki.
Dream Theater
In the year 1990, LaBrie received word that the American progressive metal band Dream Theater sought a new minstrel, and thus he proffered a tape and swiftly journeyed to New York for a comprehensive audition. The trial proved fruitful, and he surpassed 200 other aspiring candidates to assume the role of full-time vocalist in said troupe.
Henceforth, LaBrie hath exerted a substantial influence upon the vocal melodies woven within each Dream Theater opus. However, until recently, he hath had limited involvement in the instrumentation of their music. The album "A Dramatic Turn of Events" from the year 2011 doth bear LaBrie's name in the music credits for three songs. To this day, he hath penned or co-penned lyrics for no less than one composition upon ten of the fifteen albums released by Dream Theater during his tenure. Albums such as "Images and Words," "Black Clouds & Silver Linings," "Dream Theater," and "The Astonishing" doth lack his lyrical contributions.
When queried by Prog-Sphere.com regarding his favored song to perform live, James declared, "The song that most delights me is 'Scarred'; I thoroughly enjoy its execution before an audience. And... well, 'Octavarium,' that comprehensive piece, doth captivate me entirely."
Apart from his collaborative endeavors, LaBrie hath released five solo albums under various appellations, including "Mullmuzzler," "James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler," and simply "James LaBrie."
In an interview with Beyond The Dark Horizon on June 12, 2010, James LaBrie revealed that his forthcoming solo endeavor, titled "Static Impulse," lieth in the stage of mixing and shall comprise twelve compositions. James professed, "It is of a weighty nature, and I am exceedingly excited."
On the twenty-seventh day of July in the year 2010, Dream Theater's website did proclaim that "Static Impulse" would be unveiled on September 27, 2010, courtesy of Inside Out Music. The assemblage boasts the talents of longtime collaborator Matt Guillory upon the keyboards, Marco Sfogli (who hath also graced LaBrie's previous work, "Elements of Persuasion") upon the guitars, Peter Wildoer of the Swedish melodic death metal band Darkane, who doth provide percussion and bellowing vocals, and Ray Riendeau upon the bass.
James LaBrie did express, "The unveiling of 'Static Impulse' is an event that engenders fervor within the entire band. This is modern metal, as robust and pertinent as any other ensemble embarking upon a similar musical path. There are riffs that shall rend the mind asunder, and melodies—both instrumental and vocal—that are mesmerizing. Take the reins and let the ears bleed. Enjoy, and we shall encounter you on the road to accompany and bolster this release."
In an interview with Prog-Sphere.com in 2011, LaBrie mentioned that the planned tour in the United States had been canceled, remarking, "Forsooth, for it was disarrayed ere this occasion. Where we find ourselves now, by the time thou dost procure the necessary visas, we shall have scarce a rehearsal ere we embark. I declare, 'I shall not partake in such a venture.'"
Come the month of July in the year 2013, LaBrie's album "Impermanent Resonance" was unveiled by Inside Out Music. "Beautiful Shade of Grey" followed suit in the year 2022.
Albums
MullMuzzler
Keep It to Yourself (1999)
MullMuzzler 2 (2001)
Solo
Elements of Persuasion (2005)
Static Impulse (2010)
Impermanent Resonance (2013)
I Will Not Break (2014) (Compilation EP)
Beautiful Shade of Grey (2022)
Afterlife
James LaBrie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a moment no hostile termination
Just reflection on the facts (on the facts)
(as I see them)
All that I, all that I have tried to do is be honest
with myself (yeah)
Now my agenda is shifting focus
Running against the tide of time
I've created for myself
In my afterlife - I've come of age
A generation late - my essence and my rage
A state of being here - my spirit soars
After time - after more
Laughter in the left field
Hanging on the ledge of what is real
I think it's gonna be all right
And I know you hear me
'Cause we're not that far apart
Now that I can see beyond myself
Last trip on a strange, strange ride
Every head a big world inside
Hey, it's my turn
Jawbreaker - jawbone
When the truth is finally known
Now that I can see beyond myself
Now the truth is stranger than fiction
In my revolution of resistance
(now that I, now that I can see)
In a manic manipulation only contradictions follow
No exoneration in my afterimage I've created...
In my afterlife - I've come of age
A generation late - my essence and my rage
A state of being here - my spirit soars
After time - after more
In my afterlife - a soul of years
Beyond the frame of man
The boundaries and the years
In my afterlife the language grows
Feast on purpose - afterglow
The song “Afterlife” by James LaBrie is a contemplative piece about personal growth and the acceptance of one’s own flaws. The opening lines describe a moment of reflection where the singer comes to terms with his own mistakes and shortcomings. He admits to attempting to be honest with himself, but recognizes that he has created a confusing image of himself. The lyrics shift to speak of a journey of self-discovery and the realization that being honest with oneself is not always easy.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges the importance of connection with others in this journey. He speaks of laughter in the “left field,” which could represent unexpected joy or celebration. He also acknowledges the enormity of the world and the complexity of other people’s lives in the line “Every head a big world inside” which emphasizes the idea that there is always more to people than meets the eye. The lyrics suggest that it is through connecting with others and seeing beyond oneself that true growth and understanding can be achieved.
The final lines of the song describe a sense of purpose and fulfillment that comes with personal growth. The singer speaks of a language that grows and a feast on purpose, which could represent the rich experiences and connections that come with living an authentic life. The repetitive line “After time – after more” may suggest that this journey of self-discovery is ongoing and never truly ends.
Line by Line Meaning
In the aftermath of an afterthought, we come to terms
Reflecting on past decisions, we finally accept the consequences
In a moment no hostile termination
No abrupt or forceful end to a situation or relationship
Just reflection on the facts (on the facts)
Simply recognizing the reality of the situation
(as I see them)
From my own perspective
All that I, all that I have tried to do is be honest with myself (yeah)
My main goal has been to be truthful to myself
Now my agenda is shifting focus
I am now changing my priorities
Running against the tide of time
Resisting the inevitable passage of time
In an ocean of complexity and confusion in the afterimage I've created for myself
My self-made image is complicated and confusing
In my afterlife - I've come of age
I have matured in my understanding of myself
A generation late - my essence and my rage
My character and emotions have developed later than expected
A state of being here - my spirit soars
I feel alive and free in the present moment
After time - after more
After experiencing life and learning more
Laughter in the left field
Humor in unexpected situations
Hanging on the ledge of what is real
Holding onto what is tangible and genuine
I think it's gonna be all right
I believe everything will be okay
And I know you hear me
I am aware that I am being listened to
'Cause we're not that far apart
We are closer than we might think
Last trip on a strange, strange ride
Final experience on a surreal journey
Every head a big world inside
Every person has a complex and individual perspective
Hey, it's my turn
It is now my chance to take control
Jawbreaker - jawbone
An object that can both break and provide structure
When the truth is finally known
Once the reality is revealed
Now that I can see beyond myself
Having a broader perspective than just my own
Now the truth is stranger than fiction
The reality is more unusual than any made-up story
In my revolution of resistance
My effort to oppose established norms and beliefs
(now that I, now that I can see)
Currently that I have a clearer understanding
In a manic manipulation only contradictions follow
When I act impulsively, I just create inconsistencies
No exoneration in my afterimage I've created...
I cannot be absolved for the self-made image I have established
In my afterlife - a soul of years
In my later years in life
Beyond the frame of man
Transcending human boundaries
The boundaries and the years
The limits and duration of life
In my afterlife the language grows
I continue to learn and expand my knowledge after death
Feast on purpose - afterglow
Enjoying the meaning and satisfaction in hindsight
Writer(s): Charlie Dominici, Trent Gardner, Kevin James la Brie, Michael S. Portnoy, John P. Petrucci, John Myung, Kevin Moore Copyright: Tool And Die Music, Ytse Jams Inc., Quill In Hand Music, MCA Music Publishing A.D.O. Universal S
Contributed by Ian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.