Jacobs can sum up Mutiny Within’s sound as “shred with clean vocals, with a little bit of screaming, metal riffs, accessible parts and a lot of melody. We wanted to get all the melody in there. That is the number one thing for us. We want the music to reach metal fans and beyond. We want to reach everyone in between.”
While these metal upstarts Mutiny Within may have started out as a Children of Bodom cover band – and they’re not embarrassed to admit it since they did grow out of it quickly only to become their own shred-happy entity- the sextet truly stepped on the path to recognition when they started writing their own songs. With origins in the great state of New Jersey, known for producing some of the top, up and coming metal talent in recent years, Mutiny Within also demonstrated their ability to remain ahead of the curve by embracing technology (and we’re not talking about the studio trickery kind) and social networking features to take their band to the next level.
Jacobs formed the band in 2002 and endured a turbulent yet typical early existence until he solidified the lineup. His younger brother Brandon actually plays guitar and was a mere 18-years-old when he recorded the album. Vocalist Chris Clancy was imported from England after the band discovered this talented vox over a YouTube video and now resides in New Jersey. This is a band, who with their self-titled debut, are on the verge of being the valedictorians of the Guitar Hero generation. They play with astonishing technical skill with a forward-thinking songwriting style that can be viewed as modernly progressive, but definitely not “prog.” The band’s use of keyboards also elevates their sound above and beyond just another up and coming metal band.
“We were looking for a vocalist and we saw a video of Chris singing, so we contacted him and asked him to try putting vocals over one of our songs,” Jacobs recalls. “He was the first audition and he rocked it. It was perfect. The only problem was that he lived in England, but he took a risk, flew over and made it work. He lives in my house now.” Indeed, Mutiny Within keep things in the family, since the band practices in the basement of drummer Bill Fore, who lives a mere twenty minutes from the Jacobs’ abode.
Once Clancy committed to making the trek across the pond- he had nothing else to lose as a 23-year-old English kid working at a T-Mobile store- this band of hungry, young turks, who play like a troupe of seasoned, shredding veterans, wrote a whopping 50 songs together, fuelling one another’s creativity. The flurry of activity surrounding the band, including their enthrallingly intense live show, captured the attention of Roadrunner Records, which signed the band. After the signing, the band kept writing and eventually went to work with producer Jason Bieler. Clancy’s college friend, Dan Bage, eventually joined the band in the middle of recording, which not only makes Mutiny Within an unintentionally “international band,” but was a situation that invigorated them, too. “Dan was so good that it wasn’t like we were in the middle of making the record and got a stranger,” Jacobs recalled. “It was Chris’ friend and the best guy for the job technically. He flew over, we threw him in the studio, and he did seven solos, wrote four verses and helped rewrite parts, so he is just as important to the band.” Clearly, Mutiny Within are a band that can be thrown into the crackling fires of chaotic situations and emerge stronger and more focused than before.
Clancy started singing when he was 15-years-old and consistently worked to hone his craft through noted vocal coach Melissa Cross, so he could truly learn to sing, which only adds to the depth of dynamics on Mutiny Within. He was not hesitant to abandon his native England in order to pursue his rock ‘n roll and heavy metal dreams, either. Clancy said, “I wanted to do this since I was a kid and first started playing in bands. I got myself in a band in Wales and then I dropped my social life there and abandoned my friends to write music and to practice, but that didn’t go past the interest stage, so it wasn’t a hard decision to come to America. I quit the job, got on a flight and came over. I spent my life trying to be in a band. That was always my plan, so I told myself if I have to move to do it, I’ll do it.”
“We have all these technical guys who can play so many types of music and have so many different tastes, so for those 50 songs, we went around the world and back,” Jacobs says. Obviously, not all 50 songs made the cut, but the sheer numbers demonstrate the band’s abilities and range. “The 11 songs we picked for the record are our best songs,” Jacobs adds.
The band was introduced to the metal world in Fall 2009, via their first national tour with Soulfly, Prong and Cattle Decapitation, in addition to the dozens of local, hometown shows they’ve logged and tucked under their belts and will spend much of the year following the release of Mutiny Within touring and turning heads.
The opening track “Awake” is one which defines the band’s sound, with Jacobs saying, “we get more diverse, with different keys, tempos and styles throughout, but that’s the song that defines our sound.” “Reflections” is another band favorite, thanks to its unforgettable melodies. While Jacobs says that “Forsaken” is the song where “we stepped outside the box to show a different side of the band, with clean guitars.”
It appears as though the Mutiny Within story is just beginning and that the ins and outs of their formation will lead to a happy ending. “We dedicated our whole lives to this,” Jacobs said. “Two guys dropped their lives in England and didn’t know if it would work, since we weren’t even signed at the time, but we had that dedication to do it.”
Certainly, Mutiny Within aren’t a traditional band, having used technology and the Internet to their benefit and thus forcing the band to work in different ways. “Most bands get in a van, go out, play, tour, tour, tour,” Jacobs said.
“We’re at that chapter now. The focus for us was always just writing songs. That’s been our lives. We played 30 shows with Chris and then got signed. We made every song as special as the next. Each track has lots of time put into it. We were a band that aspired to get a deal and make records, so we made the focus of efforts the songs.”
Mission accomplished on Mutiny Within: 11 songs that usher in a new generation of me
Balancê
Mutiny Within Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A limitation of what's right,
So draw a line into the sand,
Take your side, make your stand
It's all on you
Can't take this away from you,
Never a doubt in mind,
Raise up my head
Rain starts to fall
Drops of my conscience
Soak through my soul
Burning alive
Just give me this life,
And wake me up again,
No remorse,
No repent,
Not a second guessing why,
Fuel the fires that will burn us all,
Burn me alive,
You're so far away from me,
Never a time,
Never a second goes by,
Raise up my head
Rain starts to fall
Drops of my conscience
Soak through my soul
Burning alive
Just give me this life,
And wake me up again,
Raise up my head
Rain starts to fall
Drops of my conscience
Soak through my soul
And wake me up again,
Speech by David Icke:
Unity is what will bring this to an end. Not looking the other way because it doesn't affect us in the moment. It will affect us eventually. And look at your children and grandchildren in the face I say to those people, and tell them what you were doing.
Enough of being enslaved by these people. Enough of being enslaved by our manipulated ignorance. Enough of being enslaved by the fear of being who we are.
Raise up my head
Rain starts to fall
Drops of my conscience
Soak through my soul
Burning alive
Just give me this life,
And wake me up again,
Raise up my head
Rain starts to fall
Drops of my conscience
Soak through my soul
And wake me up again
The opening lines of Mutiny Within's "Balance" lay out the conflict that the song addresses. The lyrics refer to a point that can't be crossed, a limitation to what is deemed right. The following line establishes that each individual must take a stand on this issue, positioning themselves according to their beliefs. This idea is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "It's all on you" throughout the song. The lyrics emphasize the individual's responsibility to take a stand and decide what is right for themselves.
The chorus of the song features the singer expressing their devotion to the beliefs they hold. They do not doubt their stance and are willing to risk everything for it. The lines "Raise up my head, rain starts to fall" create an emotional image of someone facing the challenges of their convictions with determination, while the lines "Burn me alive" and "Fuel the fires that will burn us all" suggest that this is a dangerous path to take.
The song concludes with a speech by David Icke, an English conspiracy theorist who advocates for a confrontational approach to social change. In the speech, Icke calls for unity and an end to ignorance and fear, advocating for people to stand up for what is right.
Overall, "Balance" is a song that encourages individual conviction but warns of the dangers of taking an extreme position. It underscores the importance of using our voices and taking action in the face of social injustice.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a point that we won't cross,
There are boundaries which we will not transgress
A limitation of what's right,
A limit to what is considered moral
So draw a line into the sand,
Create a definitive boundary
Take your side, make your stand
Choose a position and take a stand
It's all on you
You are responsible for your own actions
Can't take this away from you,
No one can take your beliefs away from you
Never a doubt in mind,
You are completely certain and unwavering
Raise up my head
I become alert
Rain starts to fall
A challenge arises
Drops of my conscience
Aspects of morality
Soak through my soul
They permeate my being
Burning alive
The challenge is intense
Just give me this life,
I want to fight for what I believe in
And wake me up again,
I want to feel alive and engaged in the world again
No remorse,
No regret or sorrow for actions taken
No repent,
No intention to apologize or make amends
Not a second guessing why,
There is no questioning of intent or motive
Fuel the fires that will burn us all,
Actions taken for personal gain will harm everyone
Burn me alive,
The challenge is strong enough to harm the singer
You're so far away from me,
The challenge feels distant and insurmountable
Never a time,
There is no respite from the challenge
Never a second goes by,
The burden is constant
Speech by David Icke:
Quotation from a speech by David Icke
Unity is what will bring this to an end. Not looking the other way because it doesn't affect us in the moment. It will affect us eventually. And look at your children and grandchildren in the face I say to those people, and tell them what you were doing.
Only when we unite and confront issues will they end. Ignoring problems can only harm us in the long run. We must consider future generations and be responsible for our actions.
Enough of being enslaved by these people. Enough of being enslaved by our manipulated ignorance. Enough of being enslaved by the fear of being who we are.
The singer is calling for an end to oppression and manipulation, and for people to embrace their true selves.
Contributed by Chase I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
reiScarred
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES OMG theres finally a new album i dont believe it. THANK YOU RECON for bringing this to my attention. you're the best
KentuckyBucky
Vocals are extremely clear... sounds amazing.
Louis-Philippe Fournier
that's not what they said january 21st. "The response for our new album has been completely overwhelming, we are really speechless. We want to say thank you, and also say that because of you, Mutiny Within has decided to continue making music. We are already making plans to write, and perform again....thank you all so much, you have kept our dream alive."
Johnny Reaper
One of the most epic intros of the age
Jody Hughes
New Mutiny Within Album is out!! Sounds Killer....just as good as this older stuff and even better!
bce5150
Hey man, we've been exchanging comments for years now - just wanted to say how much I love your channel. MW is from my home state of New Jersey (with 2 members from london) and it's awesome how stuff like this has become so global.
Peef
Awesome! I thought these guys had broken up. Regardless, I`m glad they`re back
Vic
Omg i love it!!!
PetPineTree
omg! This is beautiful!
Shaun Smith
why dont century media grab these guys