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.
Onthe15
Scars of Tomorrow Lyrics
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The lyrics of Scars of Tomorrow's song "Onthe15" are quite cryptic and open for interpretation. The title of the song, "Onthe15," could refer to the famous California freeway where many commuters spend hours of their lives in traffic. The opening line, "Your face the sound so hear me," could refer to the act of screaming in frustration at someone in traffic. The next lines, "Nothing's wrong but everything's empty" could be a reflection on the monotony of everyday life and how even when everything is "fine," it can feel hollow and unfulfilling.
Later in the song, the lyrics "Holding onto something that's not worth the strain" could refer to a relationship or a job that is draining and not fulfilling. The chorus, "On the 15 tonight / Stuck with the burden again" could be interpreted as feeling trapped in a cycle of monotony and frustration.
Overall, "Onthe15" by Scars of Tomorrow is a song that captures the frustration and emptiness that can come with the routine of everyday life. Its lyrics are open for interpretation and can be applied to a variety of situations where one feels trapped or unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Your face the sound so hear me
Your appearance is so striking that it demands attention, so listen to what I have to say
A swarm of locusts echoes the end
A chaotic and destructive force, much like a swarm of locusts, signals the impending end or downfall
The wings of solitude now descend
The feeling of loneliness and isolation descends upon me like a pair of wings, overwhelming and suffocating
Held down by shallow stares under the weight of deep despair
Feeling trapped and oppressed by the judgmental looks of others, while also being weighed down by the heavy burden of profound sadness
Fading reveries haunt me
Memories of the past, which are slowly dissipating, continue to haunt and torment me
Your eyes betray what you conceal
Although you try to hide your true feelings, your eyes give away what you are trying to keep secret
Riddled with symptoms of reality
Overwhelmed by the harshness of the real world, with all of its problems, challenges, and struggles
My vision fades as I concede
As I give up and accept my fate, my ability to see and understand my surroundings grows dimmer and dimmer
Empty halls echo my screams
In a desolate and abandoned space, my cries and pleas echo back to me, amplifying my feelings of loneliness and desperation
Time stands still, my heart still beats
Despite feeling frozen and stagnant in time, my heart continues to pump and beat, a constant reminder of my existence and my pain
Writer(s): Robert William Bradley, David Anthony Rodriguez, Christopher Warner, Carlos D Garcia, Michael Joseph Milford
Contributed by Sadie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.