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
In My Veins
Mutiny Within Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take away all my aching,
I can't live to see this end,
Break away,
From the hopeless depending,
As I turn to you again,
You're in my veins,
Breathe until you're here again,
I'm dying in my arms,
Never thought it could be over,
Never thought the day would end,
But such is life,
And here is the ending,
I embrace the pain again,
So disconnected,
Can't break free,
Numb and rejected,
I can't breathe
You're in my veins,
And I can't live without you,
Breathe until you're here again,
I'm dying in my arms,
I've lost my way,
I can't breathe without you,
Feel until you're here again,
So lifeless in my arms
I can't wake from this sleep,
But I still hear you,
There's no absolution?
You can't save me,
I can't wake from this sleep,
But I still hear you whisper
Is this absolution?
I'm so lost in you,
You're in my veins,
And I can't live without you,
Breath until you're here again,
I'm dying in my arms,
I've lost my way,
I can't breathe without you,
Feel until you're here again,
So lifeless in my arms
The lyrics of "In My Veins" seem to tell a story of a person who has become completely reliant on someone else (who is "in their veins"), to the point where they can no longer live without them. The opening lines suggest that the person is in pain, but they can't bear the thought of letting go of the one they depend on. As they turn to this person again, it's clear that they don't know how to break away from the cycle of dependence. They feel lost and hopeless without this person in their life.
The chorus repeats the sentiment that this person is "in my veins" and that the singer cannot live without them. They are so consumed by their dependence on this person that they feel like they are dying without them. The second verse continues to emphasize the singer's despair, noting that they never thought they could lose this person and now they feel like they have lost their way.
The bridge suggests that the singer is in some kind of half-conscious state - they can hear the person they depend on, but they can't wake from their "sleep." There's a suggestion that they need absolution or salvation, but that the person they depend on can't provide it for them. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the idea that the singer feels "so lifeless" without the person who is "in their veins."
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up,
Start being aware of the reality of my situation
Take away all my aching,
Remove the pain and sorrow I'm feeling
I can't live to see this end,
I cannot bear to face the end of what I cherish
Break away,
Escape from something oppressive or negative
From the hopeless depending,
Dependence on someone or something that cannot provide true hope
As I turn to you again,
Seeking help and support from the same source as before
You're in my veins,
This person or thing is deeply intertwined with my identity and existence
And I can't live without you,
I am reliant on this person or thing for my survival and happiness
Breathe until you're here again,
I must keep going until they can once again provide their support
I'm dying in my arms,
Without them, I am slowly wasting away
Never thought it could be over,
Did not anticipate this ending
Never thought the day would end,
Assumed that the good times would last indefinitely
But such is life,
This is just a universal truth about existence
And here is the ending,
This is the conclusion or finale of what once was
I embrace the pain again,
I am willing to endure the discomfort that comes with this separation
So disconnected,
Feeling isolated and cut off from others
Can't break free,
Unable to escape from this current state of existence
Numb and rejected,
Feeling apathetic and unwanted
I can't breathe
My emotional pain is suffocating me
I've lost my way,
I am directionless and lost
Feel until you're here again,
I am waiting to experience joy again until they return
So lifeless in my arms
My once-vibrant life feels empty and without purpose without them
I can't wake from this sleep,
I am stuck in a state of emotional paralysis
But I still hear you,
Despite my numbness, I can still sense their presence
There's no absolution?,
There may not be any way to be forgiven or save myself from this pain
You can't save me,
Even though I am relying on you to help me through this, it may not be enough
But I still hear you whisper,
Despite my doubts, I hear their encouraging words which keeps me going
Is this absolution?,
Wondering if there is any way to be absolved or forgiven for what I am feeling
I'm so lost in you,
I am completely consumed by my attachment to this person or thing
Breath until you're here again,
I must keep going until they can once again provide their support
I can't breathe without you,
My emotional pain is too great to bear without their presence
So lifeless in my arms
My once-vibrant life feels empty and without purpose without them
Contributed by Nathan P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@OaoroaroarImawalrus
Oh. My. God. PLEASE REUNITE SOMETIME!!!!!!!! Hearing these songs just makes me sadder that y'all aren't around anymore.
@arturomlk92
we must get them toghether and have them on a major tour this should blow everyone at the crowd man better chops than trivium better growls and some awesome singing that would make american idol wet thier pants
@trickspk3r
MUTINY WITHIN IS EPIC AND IT WELL DESERVES THE CAPITAL LETTERS!
@dailynator
I am glad this went from 'unreleased' to 'released'!
@kabideeyeeha
If I ever win the lottery, I will donate enough money to you guys to get back in the studio... Because I enjoy your music that much. It's very unfortunate that a band as good as you guys didn't couldn't make it financially.
@RadeMartinovic
This is made of pure awesomeness and manliness!!!
@Tharladyn7
I know there are countless coments saying REUNITE Mutiny Within!!! But I have to say it again... I know that everyone who wrights comments here will do everything possible to support you if you come back again... Awesome song guys!! Hope to hear again from you soon... ;-)
@leviathansfallcolombia
We salute you, brother in arms of #InMyVeins awesome song
@nova495
Listened to their music millions of times; gonna listen to it millions of times more!! MW FOREVER!! \m/
@ipexi_
these guys rocked the shit out! i miss this band. such a great lyrics and great riffs. Got some serious goozebumbs and memories within.