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
Embers
Mutiny Within Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Priceless nothings,
I've got nothing left,
Oh save me,
Watch as the world burns tonight,
Never to ignite again,
These flames so old,
Cry out in vain? (cry out in vain)
'cos the story's the same (can't say goodbye)
If the embers keep burning,
We'll keep it alive,
There's still time to save this life,
Just a light in my head,
Never to burn like a flame,
Just a dream that died,
Oh can you still hear me?
Cry out in vain? (cry out in vain)
'cos the story's the same (can't say goodbye)
If the embers keep burning,
We'll keep it alive,
There's still time to save this life,
We are burning,
We are burning inside,
We burn 'til the fires go cold inside,
Cry out in vain? (cry out in vain)
'cos the story's the same (can't say goodbye)
If the embers keep burning,
We'll keep it alive,
There's still time to save this life,
If the world keeps on turning,
We'll keep it alive,
There's still time to save this life
The lyrics of Mutiny Within's song Embers convey a sense of despair and hopelessness, as the singer laments the loss of their dreams and the emptiness that follows. The use of imagery, such as "shattered dreams made of gold" and "priceless nothings", highlights the singer's sense of loss and disillusionment. The repeated phrase "cry out in vain" suggests a feeling of futility, as if the singer has tried to reach out for help but has received no response.
The chorus, however, offers a glimmer of hope. The metaphor of embers suggests that even though the flames may have died down, there is still potential for a spark to reignite them. The lines "If the embers keep burning, we'll keep it alive" and "If the world keeps on turning, we'll keep it alive" highlight the importance of perseverance and not giving up, even in the face of adversity. Overall, the lyrics of Embers offer a poignant commentary on the fragility of our dreams and the importance of holding onto hope, even when it seems like all is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Shattered dreams made of gold
My hopes and aspirations were once so high, but now they lie broken and worthless
Priceless nothings
All the things that mattered most to me are now of no value
I've got nothing left
I feel empty inside, as if all of me has been taken away
Oh save me
I am crying out for help and begging for someone to rescue me from this despair
Watch as the world burns tonight
I feel like everything is falling apart around me and there is nothing I can do to stop it
Never to ignite again
The flames of hope have died and there seems to be no chance of them coming back
These flames so old
The fire that once burned in me has been extinguished for a long time
Oh can you still hear me?
I wonder if anyone is listening to me and if anyone cares about what I'm going through
Cry out in vain? (cry out in vain)
Am I just wasting my energy and emotions by shouting out to the world?
'cos the story's the same (can't say goodbye)
The same sad story keeps repeating itself and I can't seem to let go of the pain
If the embers keep burning,
If there is even a little bit of hope left, if I can just hold on to the tiniest spark,
We'll keep it alive,
Then maybe there is a chance to breathe life back into my soul and not give up on everything completely
There's still time to save this life,
I am hopeful that there is still a chance to turn things around and make a change for the better
Just a light in my head,
There is a glimmer of hope within me, no matter how faint it may be
Never to burn like a flame,
It may not be a strong feeling, but it's there and it's enough to keep me going
Just a dream that died,
All the things I once hoped and dreamed for seem to be slipping away from me
We are burning,
I am consumed by my pain and my emotions feel like they are on fire
We are burning inside,
The agony within me is overwhelming and it feels like I'm being consumed from the inside out
We burn 'til the fires go cold inside,
I feel like I will never escape this torment until I am completely numb and devoid of any feeling
If the world keeps on turning,
If life goes on and things continue to move forward,
We'll keep it alive,
Then I will not let myself be defeated by my struggles and will continue to fight
There's still time to save this life,
No matter how bleak things may seem, there is always a chance to turn things around and start anew
Contributed by Mateo J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JuanpaZ
I love this sound, metalcorish guitars and clean singing... Just wow.
Joel John
"if the embers keep burning, WE WILL KEEP IT ALIVE" Mutiny within till I DIE.
MantridBrizon
A friend told me about Mutiny Within, I pirated their music, didn't care that I did it, and when I heard how amazing they were, bought albums to be supportive. That's just how I vet bands I like, and I don't feel bad about it. Preachy intro aside, I still love the hell out of this band though.
Justin Bolton
I love you guys, I'm in a band to so I know that this industry is definitley going through a rough patch. I have bought both albums on itunes and bought the physical copy of your first one. I'm so glad you put out another cd. You guys are some of my heroes, and one of my biggest musical influences. Thank you.
Joseph Clark
I have much respect for this band! Mutiny Within fan forever!!!! Bought their debut album and looking forward to finding this one at a local cd store near me :)
a.k.a Ingmar
as always this is an amazing song guys! i can wait to hear the album
bce5150
I bought it tonight. I love it. I love you. Chris is one of my favorite vocalists and the rest of you guys give me some NJ pride. \m/
DLTyrus
I bought your new album though, and its awesome. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to hear a second album from a band that does the first album justice, but also adds new stuff to keep it interesting. Every other band I have liked in, like, the last 10 years all had one amazing album, which got me into them, and then proceeded to produce increasingly dissapointing albums year after year. Seriously, thank you guys for sticking with making the music you love, and not completely changing.
AllMightyMuthius
Glad to see you guys are back, i remember when i stumbled across your first video on xbox live and immediatly i had to go buy your guys album from the nearest Hastings, so keep it up, as soon as i get back to the states ill definitely be picking up the 2nd
François Le Coadou
i'm SO glad you guys are back, what a good surprise !!! grettings from France !