English post-hardcore band SHVPES grew out of the demise of an earlier iteration when vocalist Griffin Dickinson came aboard in 2015. The band expanded from a metalcore sound into something closer to more aggressive alternative hard rock with touches of hip-hop on their 2016 debut full-length, Pain. Joy. Ecstasy. Despair.
Birmingham band SHVPES existed first as Cytota, forming in late 2009 and remaining active with little fanfare until 2014. Made up of singer Joby Fitzgerald, bassist Oliver Pike, drummer Harry Jennings, and guitarists Ryan Hamilton and Youssef Ashraf, Cytota played a blend of post-hardcore and metalcore, releasing a single EP in 2012. In 2014, Fitzgerald left the group and was replaced by Griffin Dickinson. The band's new singer was coincidentally the son of Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson.
In a state of reshuffling, the band changed their name to SHVPES and began reworking their sound to include nods to hip-hop, nu metal, and alternative rock, sometimes including sections of rapping and DJ record-scratching theatrics in their new material. The band released several singles, beginning with 2015's "Shapes." Pike left the band to be replaced by Grant Leo Knight and they completed work on their 2016 LP, Pain. Joy. Ecstasy. Despair. They toured extensively in Europe and the United States and returned in 2018 with second album Greater Than. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi
On July 10, 2020, the band stated on their social media that they have disbanded and left on good terms with the rest of the band.
https://www.shvpes.com
Afterlife
SHVPES Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dark December
Half 9
When death takes over youLife ain't
As perfect back as when we were kids
I'm reminiscing 'bout the days forgotten 'fore all of this
It's taking me back to the moment you picked up the phone
You lying there bleeding
I dropped the guitar
Hitting the road
Chasing sirens beck & call
Racing through the night
To get to you alive
Checking every patient
Every hospital
I'm running through the lights
Driving on the right
Tryn'a find out if you'll make it all
Clinging onto life
Choppers in the sky
Shutting out the light like I'm fighting off the Afterlife
Clinging onto life
Pulling out the knife
Twenty years gone and I'm fighting off the Afterlife
It's only getting harder looking after your peers
When you're becoming unfamiliar with their current affairs
They're taking a switchblade to the ribcage arguing over theft
They left you bleeding on the pavement six
Holes in your chestRacing through the night
To get to you alive
Checking every patient
Every hospital
I'm running through the lights
Driving on the right
Tryn'a find out if you'll make it allClinging onto life
Choppers in the sky
Shutting out the light like I'm fighting off the Afterlife
Clinging onto life
Pulling out the knife
Twenty years gone and I'm fighting off the
AfterlifeNot the one bleeding while the sirens call
Not the one bleeding while the sirens callNot the one bleeding while
The sirens callI'm out here pleading that you'll make it at allNot
The one bleeding while the sirens callI'm out here
Pleading that you'll make it at all Clinging onto life
Choppers in the sky
Shutting out the light like I'm fighting off the Afterlife
Clinging onto life
Pulling out the knife
Twenty years gone and I'm fighting off the Afterlife
The song "Afterlife" by SHVPES is a powerful depiction of the human struggle to stay alive and fight against death. The lyrics describe a cold December night when the singer receives a phone call that changes everything. He is taken back to the days of his childhood and reminisces about a time when life was perfect. However, his thoughts are interrupted by the reality of the situation. He is racing against time, trying to find the hospital where someone close to him is being treated for a serious injury. As he drives through the streets, he prays for a miracle and clings onto life, shutting out the light like he's fighting off the inevitable, the afterlife.
The singer's journey becomes more chaotic and intense as he checks every hospital and patient. His sense of desperation and urgency increases as he becomes unfamiliar with the current affairs of his peers. He is fighting off a wave of darkness, trying to survive the moment, wishing for a better chance. The song describes his fight to hold on to life as a struggle against a switchblade to the ribcage and six holes in his chest. The singer's emotional journey culminates in a plea that the person he cares for will make it at all. The song's theme is about the fight to stay alive, no matter what the cost, and the desperation one goes through.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold night
On a chilly evening
Dark December
In the month known for its darkness and coldness
Half 9
Around 9:30 PM
When death takes over you
During a moment of intense despair and hopelessness
Life ain't
Life is not
As perfect back as when we were kids
As innocent and carefree as it was when we were young
I'm reminiscing 'bout the days forgotten 'fore all of this
I am thinking about the past, before these difficult times were upon us
It's taking me back to the moment you picked up the phone
My mind is going back to the time when you called me
You lying there bleeding
You were wounded and bleeding
I'm writing at home
I am sitting at home and writing (maybe a song or a letter)
I dropped the guitar
I put down the musical instrument I was playing
Hitting the road
Starting to drive somewhere
Chasing sirens beck & call
Going after the sounds of the police or ambulance vehicles
Racing through the night
Driving quickly through the dark hours
To get to you alive
Trying to reach you while you were still alive
Checking every patient
Examining all the people who could be you
Every hospital
Every medical facility around
I'm running through the lights
I am driving past the streetlights quickly
Driving on the right
Following the traffic laws and staying on the right side of the road
Tryn'a find out if you'll make it all
Trying to determine if you will survive
Clinging onto life
Holding on to dear life
Choppers in the sky
Helicopters flying overhead
Shutting out the light like I'm fighting off the Afterlife
Closing my eyes and fighting with all my might to stay alive
Pulling out the knife
Taking out the weapon used to hurt you
Twenty years gone and I'm fighting off the Afterlife
It has been two decades and I am still battling to avoid death's grip
It's only getting harder looking after your peers
It is becoming increasingly difficult to take care of your friends
When you're becoming unfamiliar with their current affairs
When you are losing touch with what they are going through
They're taking a switchblade to the ribcage arguing over theft
They are getting into violent disputes over theft and stabbing each other
They left you bleeding on the pavement six holes in your chest
They abandoned you after harming you and left you seriously injured
Not the one bleeding while the sirens call
I do not want to be the one in pain while the emergency vehicles are called
I'm out here pleading that you'll make it at all
I am begging and hoping that you will survive
Writer(s): DANIEL WELLER, GRIFFIN MICHAEL DICKINSON, RYAN HAMILTON
Contributed by Zachary Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Freezon14
This is so underrated ! Thanks this Spotify playlist for this discovery ^^
François Fourmy
That's exactly how I discovered them yesterday! So gutted they aren't together anymore!
inactive
Freezon14 Thanks to radios.
Brian Chiaro
A bit of a shocker I discovered. The lead singers father is the lead vocalist in Iron Maiden
TheDnlnext
Love this “rock-rap” sound. Reminds me *kind of Hollywood Undead mixed with their unique sounds.
Ryan Holton
The story behind the song is absolutely devastating, but the video is crazy
Dark Fable Media
Was a pleasure to shoot this for you guys. Love the song too which I think we forgot to mention on the day!
rocknroll_savedmysoul
Just watched Dark Fable Media showreel, they’ve done a few music videos for this band. How bout doing a little research by just clicking on their profile and videos before calling them out. They do some great work!!
Dark Fable Media
You could always watch our showreel, or just ask the band yourself!
Kyle Fortner
Saying you're full of shit and didn't shoot this video.