Modern Life Is War 7-inch EP was released through Lifeline Records in early 2002. Their two subsequent studio albums, 2003's My Love. My Way. and 2005's Witness are now available through the Deathwish Inc. record label, which is owned and operated by Converge singer Jacob Bannon.
In mid-2005, after the release of Witness, guitarist Matt Hoffman and bassist Chris Honeck left the band. They were replaced by Sjarm 13 and Tim Churchman, respectively. On February 9, 2007, M.L.I.W. announced that they had inked a record deal with Equal Vision Records. The band's third full length album, Midnight in America, was released on August 21, 2007 to positive reviews.
On February 19, 2008, the band announced on their Myspace page that they would be breaking up, and that they were planning one final American tour, starting March 29 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and reconvening on April 26 in the band's hometown of Marshalltown. In a separate interview conducted several weeks before the tour, the band members discussed their hopes and achievements in playing together for the last six years: "I hope that we have made some people feel less alone. I hope we have motivated people to think for themselves; to be themselves and to take action. Punk rock changed our lives, and I hope that we as a band contributed something to keep the whole thing going. We are leaving soon, but the future is unwritten..."
In September 2012, the original lineup reunited and wrote an album in John Eich's basement. Modern Life is War formally announced its reunion in April 2013 and the intent to record and release the new album through Deathwish by September 2013. The band didn't expect to heavily tour during the reunion; as of April 2013, Modern Life Is War were only booked to headline This Is Hardcore Festival and a record release show. Retrospectively, Modern Life is War wished they hadn't broken up, but instead scaled back their efforts so they could do it, "without so much stress and life crushing commitment." The band released their fourth studio album Fever Hunting on September 9, 2013 through Deathwish, which was produced by Kurt Ballou of Converge. Modern Life is War embarked on a six-date tour in celebration of the new album in October 2013.
Jeffrey Eaton - Vocals
John Paul Eich - Guitar
Matt Hoffman - Guitar
Chris Honeck - Bass
Tyler Oleson - Drums
Useless Generation
Modern Life Is War Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The loneliness won't last.
Staring down the future.
Choking down the past.
Time is of the essence.
Watch the clock tick.
Youth is a waiting room.
I damn myself again.
Another egotrip.
Crawling sideways just to scratch the itch.
Now I'm running through the streets at dawn.
That hellhound is still on my trail
but the darkness is almost gone.
Most people never really come to know how fragile sanity is.
My doctor tole me to remember the good times
when I feel like I'm hitting the skids.
So I remember that Brooklyn rooftop.
I remember walking the tracks.
I remember everything I said
and I ain't taking nothing back.
Useless Generation: I sing your song against your will
Useless Generation: I am your prince of paranoia and thrills.
Useless Generation: I'm kicking over trash cans for your sins.
Useless Generation: As lights go on and another workday begins.
In "Useless Generation," Modern Life Is War addresses the feeling of hopelessness and disconnection experienced by many young people in modern society. The first verse sets the scene with the lines "Cut through the haze / The loneliness won't last / Staring down the future / Choking down the past." The singer is struggling to see through the overwhelming feeling of confusion and isolation that they experience on a daily basis. In the second verse, the idea of time becomes a central theme, with "Time is of the essence / Watch the clock tick / Youth is a waiting room / Pills to numb your fits." Here, the feeling of being stuck in a waiting room represents the frustration of feeling trapped in a society that values constant productivity and self-improvement, without offering any clear direction or purpose.
The chorus plays with the idea of rebellion and anger, with the singer proclaiming "Useless Generation: I sing your song against your will / Useless Generation: I am your prince of paranoia and thrills / Useless Generation: I'm kicking over trash cans for your sins / Useless Generation: As lights go on and another workday begins." The repetition of "Useless Generation" implies a sense of frustration and resentment towards society, but there is also a sense of empowerment in the line "I am your prince of paranoia and thrills." The final lines of the song offer a glimpse of hope, as the singer remembers positive memories from the past and asserts that they are "not taking nothing back."
Overall, "Useless Generation" is a powerful critique of modern society's role in creating a generation of disaffected and disillusioned young people. The song recognizes the difficulties of living in a world that seems designed to make us feel small and powerless, but ultimately advocates for a sense of agency and autonomy in the face of these challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut through the haze.
Let's cut through the distractions and focus on what's important.
The loneliness won't last.
Feeling alone is temporary, and better times will come.
Staring down the future.
We're looking towards what's ahead, while acknowledging the past.
Choking down the past.
We may be haunted by our past experiences, but we have to accept them and move on.
Time is of the essence.
Time is valuable and should be used wisely.
Watch the clock tick.
Be aware of the time passing and use it to your advantage.
Youth is a waiting room.
Young people wait around for something to happen, but it's up to them to create their own opportunities.
Pills to numb your fits.
Sometimes people turn to drugs or other vices to cope with pain or stress.
I damn myself again.
I criticize myself for my mistakes and shortcomings.
Another egotrip.
I let my ego get the best of me and act selfishly.
Crawling sideways just to scratch the itch.
I go through life taking shortcuts and making excuses to satisfy my temporary desires.
Now I'm running through the streets at dawn.
I'm trying to escape my problems by running away from them.
That hellhound is still on my trail but the darkness is almost gone.
I'm still dealing with my demons, but I'm hopeful that things will get better.
Most people never really come to know how fragile sanity is.
Many people take their mental health for granted and only realize how fragile it is when it's too late.
My doctor told me to remember the good times when I feel like I'm hitting the skids.
When I'm feeling down, I should focus on positive memories to help lift me back up.
So I remember that Brooklyn rooftop.
I recall a happy memory of being on a rooftop in Brooklyn.
I remember walking the tracks.
I remember walking along train tracks, perhaps feeling free or adventurous.
I remember everything I said and I ain't taking nothing back.
I stand by everything I've said in the past and don't regret any of it.
Useless Generation: I sing your song against your will
I criticize the current generation, who I see as entitled and lazy.
Useless Generation: I am your prince of paranoia and thrills.
I stir up fear and excitement in young people, as their misguided leader.
Useless Generation: I'm kicking over trash cans for your sins.
I'm causing trouble and making a scene, blaming society for its faults.
Useless Generation: As lights go on and another workday begins.
As people begin their day jobs, I'm still up causing chaos and rebellion.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.