Mike, Carlos, David, Chris, and Bob started Scars Of Tomorrow in October of 2000 with many common goals, one of them being to create a sound that reflected their love of east coast hardcore and the familiar sound of the California scene that they all had been a part of for so long. Scars Of Tomorrow released two full lengths via Thorp Records and released their Victory debut in February of 2002, called Rope Tied To The Trigger.
For Scars Of Tomorrow, these past three years they’ve spent on Victory Records have been tremendously successful. The band has toured the United States and Canada numerous times over with bands like Atreyu, Norma Jean, and Himsa, which built them a rock solid and unstoppably loyal fan base. Features and reviews were seen in AMP, Alternative Press, Revolver, Skratch, Metal Maniacs, and their video could be seen every weekend on MTV2’s Headbanger’s Ball, forging the band to the front lines of all things ferocious and to thousands of shopping carts. Alternative Press commented: “Scars will leave the scene better than they found it….” The metal and hardcore world is more than prepared and anticipating the new chaos from Scars Of Tomorrow.
The Horror Of Realization issues a battle cry for every heavy music scene to wake up and experience the pulverizing melodies and enlightening lyrics that Scars Of Tomorrow has to offer. Vocalist Mike Milford said, “This record differs from the last in a bunch of different ways. It’s more upbeat, has a faster tempo, and the guitar work is a lot more versatile on this record. Lyrically, a lot more emotion was piled into it as well. People blind themselves and try to believe everything is perfect when it’s not. This is something that needs to be shoved in their faces and hopefully they help make a difference.” The Horror Of Realization also shows Scars Of Tomorrow switching gears a bit and experimenting with ambient noise tracks, catching different emotions and mirroring some situations and events from the band’s past.
Produced by Matt Bayles whose fame has come from working with Mastodon, Isis, Pearl Jam and more, The Horror Of Realization also features a guest appearance by Atreyu frontman Alex Varkatzas on the track called “The Hidden Grudge”. Mike commented on his pairing with Alex: “Alex has always been a close friend and one of the few bands around home that have ever believed in us. Atreyu has done nothing but show us love and help us out with everything possible. I was really excited when Alex agreed to do it.”
Suddenly the hot spot of Southern California has gotten hotter with Scars Of Tomorrow’s latest and greatest effort of hardcore savagery, metal ferocity, and luxuriant atmospheric sensibility. A full scale US tour with labelmates Bury Your Dead will commence this fall and will solidify The Horror Of Realization in headbanging history. Be sure to check out Scars Of Tomorrow’s controversially brutal new video for “The Constant Horror Of Reality”, shot by Dave Brodsky (All That Remains, The Red Chord).
Scars of Tomorrow played a reunion show in 2010 and since then have been active in other bands including Butcher Babies (Chris Warner) and Fake Figures (Bob Bradley). Vocalist Mike Milford is a successful artist manager for Artery Foundation and helps run Artery Recordings.
Design Your Fate
Scars of Tomorrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's not in me
It's all in yourself
Raise your fist and speak your voice
Grab your chest
Open your heart
Your emptiness Oh my God
Let's go
Your emptiness that you have for yourself has made you weak
With every day and every breath always holding back
You try to hold on to the things that you won't fight to keep
Alive
Take my hand and slap my face
I can't believe this is what I see
Take my hand and slap my face
I can't believe this is what I see
Disgrace yourself and all that you love
And I say it again
So don't burden me
Don't burden me with your lack of trust in yourself
With your loss of words
Design your fate
The lyrics to Scars Of Tomorrow's song Design Your Fate explore the concept of self-doubt and how it can lead to feelings of emptiness and weakness. The opening lines "When I look in your eyes I can see disgust, But it's not in me, It's all in yourself" suggest that the singer is looking at someone who is projecting their own feelings of disgust onto them, rather than the singer actually deserving such feelings. This person's self-doubt and negative self-talk have made them weak, and they are holding themselves back from fully engaging with life. The chorus encourages the listener to open their heart and overcome their emptiness, to fight for the things they care about and design their own fate rather than being burdened with self-doubt.
The lines "Take my hand and slap my face, I can't believe this is what I see, Disgrace yourself and all that you love" suggest that the singer is frustrated and even angry with the listener's lack of self-confidence. They are essentially telling the listener to snap out of it and stop holding themselves back. The final lines "Design your fate" are a call to action, urging the listener to take control of their life and make choices that will lead them to a more fulfilling existence.
Overall, the lyrics to Design Your Fate are a powerful reminder of the importance of self-confidence and self-belief. The song encourages listeners to overcome their doubts and fears, to fight for what they care about, and to design their own destiny.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look in your eyes I can see disgust
I can perceive your contempt when I gaze into your eyes
But it's not in me
However, the source of this hostility is not me but you yourself
It's all in yourself
All of this animosity is a product of your own emotions
Raise your fist and speak your voice
Express yourself boldly and loudly
Grab your chest
Touch your chest to feel your innermost emotions
Open your heart
Unveil your deepest sentiments
Your emptiness
The void inside you
Oh my God
Expressing surprise or disbelief
Let's go
Show enthusiasm to move forward
Your emptiness that you have for yourself has made you weak
Your own inner emptiness has left you powerless and feeble
With every day and every breath always holding back
Holding back your feelings and thoughts every day and with every breath
You try to hold on to the things that you won't fight to keep
You attempt to cling to what you won't struggle to maintain
Alive
To keep them thriving, and not surrendering to despair or hopelessness.
Take my hand and slap my face
Symbolic gesture, expressing disbelief and surprise
I can't believe this is what I see
I am unable to believe the reality of the situation in front of me
Disgrace yourself and all that you love
Bring shame upon your own character and everything you cherish
And I say it again
I reiterate my point
So don't burden me
Do not burden me with your emotional issues
Don't burden me with your lack of trust in yourself
Do not weigh me down with your absence of self-assurance
With your loss of words
With your inability to express yourself effectively
Design your fate
Create your own future as you envision it
Lyrics © Another Victory Publishing
Written by: Carlos D Garcia, Christopher Alan Warner, David Anthony Rodriguez, Michael Joseph Milford, Robert William Bradley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind