The band came together in 1999 with musical friends Justin Wilson (guitar/vocals), Jeff Wilganowski (drums), Brian Pho (bass), and Matt Pitman (guitar). They've perfected their emo style for something charming and desirable, allowing Deep Elm to take interest in the band and inking them a deal in late 1999. They spent most of 2000 recording in Deedle's Room in Austin, TX, recording what would become a full-length studio effort. The fruit of those sessions was Breaking in an Angel (2001,) plus a split disc with Slowride. The next year, the more complex and ferocious Black Phantom Crusades was released in the fall.
Brian quit the band while in Europe touring. Jeff Meaningless was flown out and soon became the permanent replacement.
2004 saw the release of Polizida, recorded by J. Robbins (Against Me!, Jets To Brazil, Dismemberment Plan) which was released through the Ice Planet label.
Their latest release, Seven Year War was released in 2006 on END sounds.
The band had this to say about the release:
This album came together after it became clear that our music was not getting the distribution it deserves. With End Sounds, we have found American, European, and Japanese distribution with Koch, who was the distributior for Epitaph Records for many years. Koch makes our music available to almost anyone that wants to hear it. Orders will be taken through the End Sounds website for anyone that cannot find it in their local stores.
The music is a collection of songs, new and old, that best represent the band since it's inception in 1998. Some of the tracks were recorded at The Hit Factory in NYC, some with J. Robbins at the Echo Lab in Denton, TX, some at Deedle's Room Recording, one at Mad River Post, which is easily the biggest room any of us have ever recorded in, and two of the tracks are early live recordings in two of Dallas's best clubs.
This release will be enhanced and will include 9 music videos, two of which were directed by Travis Kopach, who's done videos for Matchbook Romance, The Juliana Theory, Koufax, and Straylight Run. The live songs featured on the audio section of the disc will have corresponding videos, two videos will be for songs from our 3rd full-length, "Polizida".
The artwork and tracklisting were left up completely up to the band, so for first time we can say we are giving our fans a record that looks and sounds exactly the way we wanted it to. Any song that first appeared on a 7-inch or CD compilation has been re-mastered from the original recording and sounds 100% better.
We totally appreciate the fans that have stuck by our side and to them we say a warm thank you for buying this record that really means something to us. This release is packed to the gills with material and we hope you enjoy it.
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2006 saw several changes within the band. Jeff Meaningless and Jeff Wilganowski quit the band. Replacing them was Todd Harwell (Flickerstick) on drums and Blake Young (Without Sound) on bass.
The band has remained somewhat silent in the past year after canceling their summer tour.
Mouse
Red Animal War Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Red Animal War's song "Mouse" are quite profound and thought-provoking. The song speaks about the desire to do certain things that seem out of reach, a feeling that many of us can relate to. The first few lines suggest that while many people are happy with hating others, the singer feels that their heart is set on something else. Despite struggling to achieve their goals, they still strive to be honest and make a pact to do so tonight.
The song then shifts to talk about the economic turmoil in Argentina, and how the air is polluted. The singer longs to go further south where the climate is better. The lyrics then refer to the singer as a mouse, taking in poison each time anew, but still standing tall. There is a reference to a time in the hall where everyone lost their heads, likely alluding to a moment of chaos or confusion. The singer then tells the listener that instead of bringing fear, they should bring love instead.
The song ends on a somewhat ambiguous note, as the lyrics mention biding time and hitting oneself, and there is no clear resolution. However, the overall message of the song seems to be one of resilience and perseverance in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
and there's just so many things you'd like to do
There are many things you want to do.
you'd love to dream
You want to be able to dream.
people are so satisfied with hate today
People are content with being hateful today.
and now you know for sure your heart is on
You are certain that your heart is set on something.
be frank be honest i know how hard you've tried
Be honest and upfront, I understand that you have put in a lot of effort.
let's make a pact again tonight
Let's agree to something again tonight.
and there's a shift in the economy in argentina
The economy in Argentina is changing.
that air i'm told i must breathe
I'm told that I have to breathe that air.
so please bring me down farther south where it's hot
Take me to a hotter place down south.
hey longview i am the mouse this much is true
Hello, Longview, I really am the mouse.
take in the poison each time new
I keep taking in poison every time it's new.
and i had it all to stand ten feet tall
I had everything to stand tall.
to take in the poison don't take it back
Don't take back the poison I take in.
there was a time in the hall where we all lost our heads
There was a time where we all lost control in the hall.
if fear is the only thing that you bring change that to be love instead
If the only thing you bring is fear, change it to love instead.
i'm taking the poison a gift from you
I take in the poison, which is a gift from you.
to take it straight down where you can crown yourself as king
To take it all in and make yourself the king.
i bide myself time by myself
I wait around by myself.
hit me and there's a million things
If you hit me, there will be many consequences.
things we'd like to do we'd like to dream
There are things we want to do and dream about.
people are so cold to find people are so satisfied with hate
People are indifferent and content with being hateful.
Contributed by Kennedy F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Napoleon Solo
So fucking great!!!
Amy O'Neil
fucking sick!
Anthony Bussey
yeah u all rock